Grounded in Justice this Election Season
Grounded in Justice this Election Season: 5 Truths to Remember About Immigration
Immigration is a hot topic, especially in an election year like this one. It has become a central issue for debates, news stories, polls, research studies, and more. Yet with so much coverage, what’s most important – the real, complex, human lives at stake – are forgotten and too often politicized.
To help us remain grounded in justice this election season, we’ve compiled a list of five core truths about immigration:
1. Seeking asylum and other humanitarian protections is a legal and human right.
ILAP helps immigrants who are seeking humanitarian protections, including asylum, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), U and T visas for survivors of violence and trafficking, and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), among others. Asylum and other humanitarian protections are defined by federal law, in line with our country’s moral and international obligations to provide safety to those who need it most. People sometimes need to cross borders to save their lives and they have a human and legal right to do so.
While options for protection remain restrictive and limited, the pathways that do exist are critical and need fierce protection, especially when the number of people being forcibly displaced from their homes is at an all-time high.
2. The immigration system is not “broken,” it was built this way.
The immigration system continually fails to protect the rights of those attempting to navigate it, particularly Black and Brown immigrants and people living in poverty. This does not indicate its “brokenness,” but instead reflects a well-documented legacy of the immigration system’s exclusion of non-white people.
When first codified in 1790, birthright citizenship was only available to free white people. From the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 to today’s border policies, the U.S. has consistently used immigration laws to exclude people based on both race and nationality. Being able to see the immigration system in its historical context challenges us to move beyond minor reforms and re-imagine a new system built, instead, on shared values of humanity and justice.
3. From the Southern Border to Maine, it is both possible and necessary to welcome people with dignity.
The arrival of immigrants is not a crisis. The only crisis lies in the circumstances forcing people to risk their lives to find somewhere to live free from the threat of violence. “Migration has been a part of our experience as human beings for as long as we have existed on this planet,” reminds ILAP’s Policy Director Lisa Parisio.
The U.S. government has both the resources and capacity to welcome those seeking safety, as demonstrated by the immediate and effective response to Ukrainians fleeing war. On a local level, communities are providing examples of the possibility and necessity of welcoming people with dignity. Examples abound here in Maine – from the state’s creative housing solutions to the collaborative welcoming and collective advocacy of the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition (MIRC) and other immigrant-led groups.
4. Immigrants benefit our communities. More humane and just immigration laws benefit everyone.
You don’t have to look far to see the countless strengths immigrants add to our communities. Beyond playing an essential role in the workforce, immigrants bring vibrancy, new ideas, and a desire to build strong communities. “Many immigrants from different communities who are here are loving Maine. They bring their love of Maine,” says ILAP’s Senior Intake Paralegal Francine Ngabu.
A report from the Center for American Progress found that rural areas that welcomed immigrants slowed or even reversed population decline while enjoying a resurgence in small businesses, strengthening health care services, and a growing labor pool. Ron Stegall, who served on ILAP’s Board for over a dozen years, has witnessed this here in Maine. “Clients have become productive citizens in all aspects of Maine life, and some former clients have become ILAP Board members.”
5. Anyone can be an advocate for immigrant justice. It will take all of us to create a more welcoming and just immigration system.
A more just and humane immigration system benefits everyone – and it will take all of us to help create it. Like many times before, Black and Brown communities, this time immigrants, are leading the way in calls for justice. You don’t have to be an expert in immigration to be a powerful advocate for immigrant justice. The foundation of powerful advocacy lies in staying true to your values and amplifying the experiences of the people and communities most directly impacted.
ILAP has a 30+ year history of supporting Maine’s immigrants and we know that even though immigration law and policy is complicated, welcoming people with dignity doesn’t have to be. Thanks for being with us on our continued journey toward justice this election season and beyond!
We would love to continue this conversation. Follow ILAP @ilapmaine on social media and join us this fall for a panel discussion that will share more on this important topic. More details to come!