So many of us have relatives whom we have known, personally or through family stories, who came to the United States as immigrants. These are people who have amazing stories to tell and are people we honor and respect.
How has it happened that suddenly “immigrant” is a dirty word? Today’s immigrants are family, friends, neighbors, members of our community. Can you think of someone you know and respect who is an immigrant?
During the last months of Gladys’s life, my 99-year-old mother-in-law was cared for by a team of devoted home health aides in her home, all of them immigrants, so she would not have to go into a nursing home. They are part of the team of “essential workers” for whom we are so grateful during this pandemic. They are part of our community.
Don’t fall for the provocative, hateful, anti-immigrant stories. Don’t fall for believing ICE and Customs and Border Patrol are protecting us from criminals and need more and more funding. These are the same agencies that separated families and caged children; they continue to separate families and warehouse children in hotel rooms with minimal supervision, no legal representation, before returning them to their countries of birth. Isn’t it more important to create a humane immigration policy?
Our members of Congress need to know we reject the toxic definition of “immigrant,” and respect our immigrant ancestors and community members for their contributions.
DORIS HAMPTON
Canterbury