Dangerous aliens. Criminals. Felons. Illegals. Invaders. Peasants. Foreigners. Outsiders.
These are only the few discriminatory names migrants are called daily. What society forgets about migrants is one word not used.
People.
They are people. They are parents. They are grandparents. They are friends. They are coworkers. They are human.
Immigrants make up 14.3% of the United States population, according to the US Census—Bureau from 2023. About half are from Latin America. Immigrants to the United States have increased the overall population by a net gain of 2.8 million. “This accounted for 84% of the nation’s 3.3 million increase in population between 2023 and 2024,” stated the US Census.Â
But why do all these people want to come to the U.S.? The answer is simple. Opportunity and hope.
Work
Many migrants come to seek work in the U.S. However, the jobs most look for aren’t the fancy corporate jobs the majority of Americans desire. 68% of foreign immigrants take labor jobs. This includes construction, plumbing, farming, cooks, cleaners, etc. These jobs are essential to our country for the sake of simple living. Who is going to farm our crops? Who will help keep our buildings up? Migrants are crucial in sustaining the U.S. economy, yet they are often overlooked and underappreciated. While many Americans pursue higher-paying corporate careers, these essential labor jobs remain the backbone of society. Without migrants filling these roles, industries like agriculture, hospitality, and construction would struggle to function.
Not only are migrants crucial parts of low labor, but they are also part of thriving businesses needed for our economy. For example, an anonymous source said she came from Colombia to run a business for accessibility and closed captioning. She built her company in the U.S. for 20 years. She has a doctorate and two master’s degrees. She is not an “animal,” as President Trump previously described immigrants. She is a testimony to what intelligent, hardworking, and human immigrants are capable of.Â
Education
Another significant reason migrants come to the U.S. is for educational opportunities. Many people move to the U.S. to take advantage of its universities and academic degrees offered. As families grow, they hope to raise their kids in a strong education system. Sending their children to school in the U.S. will help them later find jobs in the country as well. The title and name of certain universities attract families as they want what’s best for their kids.
Refuge
Families choose to immigrate to America as the violence in their home country is out of control. As Americans, we fail to realize how fortunate we are to live in a country without worrying about someone stealing our car wheels at a red light. We don’t have to worry about daily insurgence from terrorists. We don’t have daily cartel attacks on the innocent. Of course, we have our own violence/crime problem in the States, but it is not comparable to our countries, specifically in Mexico and Central America. The ability to have a reliable 911 system and even police on duty around schools is a privilege. Is it such a crime to want to be safe?Â
There are many other reasons for wanting to come to the U.S., but one reason doesn’t dismiss another. The want to move is a right. The debate of becoming legal is one in which many Americans are blindsided by failing to realize how complex the citizenship process is.Â
On average, the process is supposed to take 18-24 months. This is ironic because people have been waiting for multiple years. With the elimination of CBP One, the chance to make an appointment at border entry to seek asylum is even more complicated. So many factors come with getting citizenship, including high costs, language barriers, policy changes, and the lengthy wait.
Why care?
With all of this said, why should an American care about the discrimination of immigrants but also the mass deportations? Empathy.
Our country has seemed to lose the value of empathy and morals. Our country has become selfish. Many Americans don’t care because they don’t think it affects them. Spoiler alert: this new era of deportations does.Â
Economically, we are going to have a labor shortage that disrupts supply chains, rising prices for goods and services, and economic downturns in communities that rely on immigrant workers. Immigrants, including undocumented ones, contribute billions in taxes. Removing them reduces funding for schools, healthcare, and social services that benefit everyone. Families can be separated, including U.S. citizen children, from their parents, causing trauma and instability.Â
The most important reason is that they are human beings. They contribute to our country in different ways. No one is illegal on stolen land. If only more people took a moment to see the world through the mind of a migrant.