By Chris M. Ingram, LL.M., ESQ
Early immigrants to the US had opportunities in building America’s infrastructure, roads and railroads, construction, agriculture, factories and commerce. Because America was so young it needed to build everything from scratch. Therefore, for many years (indeed decades), America has been desperate for workers to come to the US. Being an immigrant was a proud thing because it showed that you had the courage to leave where you were and put your life towards building America, the ‘New World’.
US immigrants, for the most part have always had it very tough. It’s never been easy to uproot yourself from all that you know (and sometimes love) to start over in a new country. In many cases, immigrants would have never been to the US before. Just the reputation of America being ‘the land of the free and home of the brave’ was enough of a hope that millions of immigrants made the long journey to America. If the journey was not hard enough, once they arrived they had to find somewhere to live, find a job, learn the language and go after the America Dream of ‘Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness’ (from the Declaration of Independence).
Let’s fast-forward to modern times, every immigrant arriving in the US today made a tremendous sacrifice to get to the US, and like many immigrants before them have to find somewhere to live, find a job, learn the language and assimilate. Only the bravest people will do whatever it takes to come to America, which is why when they arrive they are highly driven people, they have to justify to themselves, their family and extended family that it was worth the sacrifice.
Immigrants have always been slighted, subject to bigotry and discrimination by a few uninformed Americans, but the vast majority of Americans are the most generous and supportive people you will ever meet. Why? Because Americans have this, ‘we’re all on this together’ attitude, and it’s this willingness to support each other, especially in times of difficulties that’s one of the beauties of America. Most Americans have your back no matter what color, religion, or country of origin. Just a few days ago two Americans lost their lives when a racist agitator begun abusing and threatening minorities on a train, these Americans represent the very best of America. You see it every day all around you. Sure, not everyone is good, American or immigrant, but the vast majority are. Sadly, what often gets reported is mostly the bad.
To modern would-be immigrants, America is losing its shine and its appeal, because most Europeans have an excellent quality of life in Europe. Asians, especially the highly educated, also have an excellent quality of life, same for many parts of the world. We cannot afford to make them feel less welcome, otherwise they will simply not come. Millions of American jobs depend on tourism to the US and since talk of the travel ban emerged, the New York Times reported that according to the app ‘Hopper’ interest in traveling to the US has dropped 17%.
According to the Pew Research Center as at 2010, there are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world, about 23% of the global population. Millions of Muslims visit the US each year to go to Disney World, Universal Studios, and many of the US attractions. If we send the message that Muslims should be banned or are otherwise not welcome, not only will they stop coming in the same numbers, but tourism from around the world will also fall and this will cost many Americans their jobs. Remember, Muslims can be British, Canadian, French, Dutch, as well as being Pakistani or Iranian, just in the same way Christians can be British, Canadian, etc, as well as being Pakistani or Iranian.
Muslims and Christians have shared citizenship since these religions were founded. According to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) recent study, the origin of extremists and the threats to America published March 2017 found that country of citizenship was an unreliable indicator as to whether there was a greater risk. Indeed, the DHS reported on another study with a finding that the bulk of extremists who committed crimes in the US came to the US often as children, and become radicalized in the US. Most European countries will attest to the exact same thing for their citizens who find themselves leaving to join terrorist organizations.
Here is my main message, immigrants have always had to overcome obstacles, the more obstacles and setbacks they face pursuing their American Dream, they harder they will work when they get here. Immigrants, by definition are resilient, who have a destiny to thrive and prosper. America was founded by immigrants, for immigrants and as a result America has the largest economy in the world.
Next time you use Microsoft software think of CEO, Satya Nadella. Next time you do a Google search think of Sergey Brin and next time you pick up your Apple device, think of Steve Jobs and so forth. Immigrants past, present and future will make American Great again, but we must welcome them and encourage Congress to do more to allow the best and the brightest from around the world to continue this tradition of making American Great.
One final word – I wonder how many discoveries have been made in America by U.S. Immigrants that have resulted in improving all of our lives. As an Immigration lawyer, I wonder how many talented people I’ve helped bring to America who have gone on to do great things for all of us. As a fellow immigrant, it’s a real privilege to help other immigrants enter the US the right way and prosper, even in when in some cases other immigration lawyers did not give their case a chance. I fight for my clients ten times harder because I know first hand what I’m fighting for and I want nothing more than to help my clients, who are very talented hard workers, to have the opportunity to make the country that I’ve come to love greater still.
Comments on this entry are closed.