Immigrants in America

by Brian Dugas

Today I’m going to speak about the issue of immigration. I am currently involved with an organization that is seeking to work on local immigration issues. I will share information about that organization and how you can get involved at the end of this social action minute. I have to admit that in the short time that I have been working on the issue I have learned a lot about the needs and issues of the local Latino community. There is a lot that many of us do not know. I think it is time that we all start learning.

Most of us understand that we are actually a nation of immigrants. Many of us trace our heritage back to a foreign land. The only true inhabitants of these lands are the Native Americans whose population was thoroughly decimated by those foreign immigrants, also known as our ancestors. Throughout American history we have blamed and scapegoated one immigrant population after another for the problems of our society, when in fact it was the society itself that is toxic. I think that the only positive thing that can be said about these difficult times that we are now facing is that many of us have had the blindfolds torn off, and we have had to face the true causes of our prejudice and misogyny. You can’t even begin the process of healing until you recognize the real issues.

Just a few facts about immigrants in America:

• There are approximately 53.3 million legal and illegal immigrants in America representing 15.8% of the population
  
• California is the state with the most immigrants with 10.6 million foreign born residents
  
• California also leads in undocumented immigrants with 2.6 million in 2022, Texas follows closely with 2.1 million. These two states alone account for 42% of the total unauthorized immigrant population.
  
• The vast majority of unauthorized immigrants originate from Latin America and the Caribbean with the most coming from Mexico and then followed by other Central American countries like El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
  
• Immigrants in America can access some benefits, depending on their immigration status, like food assistance, health coverage, and cash assistance programs.
  
• Undocumented immigrants have limited access to most federal benefits but can still receive emergency medical care and certain programs like WIC.
  
• Undocumented immigrants are disproportionately represented in lower wage, less skilled jobs such as construction, agriculture, hospitality, food service, and domestic work.
  
• Immigrants generally contribute positively to the US economy by increasing the labor force, boosting tax revenue, driving innovation and business growth, and filling important labor shortages.
  

Just as in our past, this population is being scapegoated for many of our societies problems. They are being targeted by politicians for political advantage and propaganda reasons. In fact it is those same politicians who could have solved these issues years ago with common sense reforms and laws that welcomed those who contribute to society, and restricting those who may be problematic. That means providing a legal path for those workers who we are once again going to have to learn are critical employees who keep our society operating and functional. And of course they are doing this work that no one else wants to do at wages that no one else wants to earn. Instead of choosing a path of decency and common sense, our government has chosen the path of suffering and pain caused by fear, deportation, and imprisonment.

Because of this, numerous concerned individuals and organizations have decided to come together to try and find a way to help. We have formed an organization called the Community Justice Alliance. It is made up of NEPA residents who have an interest in supporting the Latino population in the Wyoming Valley. We have had multiple meetings and sponsored a Sabol Lecture at Kings College where local and regional attorneys shared their concerns and recommendations. This group has continued to meet and expand and has decided to make it a goal to support and uplift the local Latino population.

This is being accomplished through two main efforts: one is developing closer ties to the Latino community through informal community gatherings, and the second is to provide legal support and access to social services to those in need. Both of these efforts are being done through partnerships with local organizations that already support extensive Latino populations.

I have learned:

• That there is an enormous unseen and unheard Latino population in Luzerne County.
  
• That most people don’t have a clue about who they are, where they are, what their customs are, and what their lives are like.
  
• That many of them are here legally but are still justifiably terrified of what is happening to their rights in this country.
  
• That their issues are widely varied depending upon their immigration status, the work that they do, and their country of origin.
  
• That the immigration system is complex and inefficient and has caused many of the problems that they now face,
  
• That most are hard working people wanting to contribute positively to this society.
  

There is no doubt that this is an enormous, complex issue that we will be dealing with over the next few years. What I think is important is that we remember that behind that complexity are people who just want a better life. I believe It is worth our time to get to know them, and to find ways to provide support and friendship. If you would like to be involved in doing that, the next meeting of the Community Justice Alliance will be in May.

Because of my involvement in this group, I have had the opportunity to learn a lot more about the legal issues associated with our immigration laws, and the obstacles it provides for immigrants just trying to follow the rules and do what’s right. At our next meeting we will have one of the few immigration attorneys operating in this area with us talking about ways that we can better support the Latino population. This may include creating a group of trained advocates who can serve as a point of contact for those in need. Please join us to learn more.