America has an “idea”—of liberty, opportunity, and progress. But it is also true that this country is standing on the dam of immigrants itself. Yet today the same America is treating undocumented immigrants like criminals.
Just recently 104 Indian immigrants were deported—that too after using handcuffs, as if they were criminals! This is not happening only with Indians, but with thousands of people from Latin America, Africa and Asia. Does America just “use & throw” immigrants?
America: An Immigrant Nation
If you look at history, America is based on immigration.
1600s: British and European settlers came and settled on the land of Native Americans.
1800s: Millions of immigrants came from Europe, China, and Latin America—some in search of a better life, some out of compulsion.
People like Nikola Tesla, Albert Einstein, Alexander Hamilton, Levi Strauss were also immigrants, who gave America everything from science, economics to fashion.
The irony is that as long as immigrants are making America grow, everything is fine. As soon as they start demanding their rights, problems begin.
Modern America: Incomplete without Immigrants
Even today, America’s agriculture, construction, tech industry is running on the strength of immigrants.
Farms:
The farming of California, Texas and Florida will come to a halt without illegal immigrants.
Construction:
The skyscrapers that you see from NYC to LA are mostly built by immigrants.
Tech:
Many of the startups in Silicon Valley have been started by immigrants.
But the irony is that when America needs a labor force, immigrants are fine, but when it comes to giving them legal status or citizenship, America becomes ruthless.
Deportation and the Double Standard of the Trump Era
Since the time of the Trump administration, immigration policies have become even more strict. This is not just about illegal immigrants—restrictions are increasing on legal immigrants as well.
H-1B visa holders are finding it difficult to get citizenship.
Green card approvals have slowed down.
Undocumented immigrants are being treated like prison.
This is not just about deportation, but about a selective hypocrisy.
When Tesla gave America an electricity revolution, immigration was okay.
When Einstein laid the foundations of nuclear physics, immigration was okay.
When Levi Strauss created the jeans industry, immigration was okay.
But if an immigrant survives in America today, is he treated like a criminal?
America: A thought or just an interest?
America is not just a land, it is a thought—of liberty, equality and democracy. But do these values only exist as long as it benefits America?
Is America only running a use and throw policy?
When work is needed, treat immigrants well, and when they have to be treated like humans, throw them out?
If there were no immigrants today, would America have been able to develop the way it appears to be today?
This is not just an issue of policy, it is an issue of double standards. On one hand, America calls the world a “land of opportunities”, and on the other hand, it rejects the people who want to build their own foundation.