Immigration has long been a hot-button topic in the United States. From blanket statements insisting that immigration is acceptable if done “the right way,” to our most recent budget crisis being hung on the false narrative that the government has been shut down because one political party wants to fund health insurance for “illegal aliens,” it seems that our migrant brothers and sisters have become scapegoats for all of the political shortfalls faced within our country.
Multiple myths exist that jade how we all interact with our migrant neighbors and, often, these myths elicit violent responses that place already vulnerable human beings in deeply precarious situations. Whether it’s trafficking young migrant workers — luring teens and young adults to work in the U.S. food processing industry on the promise of education and opportunity — or not fully understanding how the various doors to residency in the United States can be opened, people who come to the U.S. seeking both safety and opportunity are often denied both.
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