I don’t know much about America’s immigration policy. I’m not an immigrant; I’m an American citizen and a descendant of African slaves.
But I know when I’m not welcome, and the same goes for the Haitians.
The get-them-gone-now efforts and tactics to clear out a multitude of Haitian migrants at the Texas border were one for the Guiness Book of Records. What other migrants or illegal alien groups were met with such force and frenzy to send them back to their own country?
It seems as if the opportunities afforded other migrants who crossed the U.S. border aren’t extended to Haitians.
But whether America is an equal opportunity nation for current and future migrants isn’t the question.
Does America even want to be known as a nation of immigrants?
Important people say who and what America is to the world. Among the many admirable words used to describe America’s hopes and prosperity include: land of the free, land of opportunity, and a land of immigrants. Some will experience that image of America, but many will experience something much different.
In light of recent changes to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) mission statement, does America want to be a ‘melting pot’ of the world?
Again, does America still consider itself a ‘nation of immigrants’?
An immigrant is someone who emigrated or left their native country and moved or immigrated to a new country for a better life.
One important man who immortalized the way foreigners and the world viewed America was George Washington.
In 1783, George Washington, America’s first president, said the following:
“The bosom of America is open to receive not only the opulent and respectable stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all nations and religions; whom we shall welcome to a participation of all our rights and privileges, if by decency and propriety of conduct they appear to merit the enjoyment.”
Washington made the invite, and they came while human traders also brought slaves in chains.
Washington’s words didn’t pertain to slaves. Although they were foreigners brought to a strange new land, they weren’t immigrants. Kidnapped and purchased African slaves weren’t respected strangers. They were valuable possessions without rights or privileges in America. They built this country forced to work like beasts of burden but didn’t reap any fruits of their labor.
America enticed millions to its land who feared and fled oppression in their countries. She was a taskmaster to African slaves but a haven for other races and ethnicities fleeing persecution.
Don’t forget George Washington’s words also didn’t pertain to Native Americans, the original inhabitants of this land. The Native Americans endured many atrocities at the hands of Europeans and others who oppressed them and took their land.
Millions of slaves and their descendants died in the long fight for freedom, citizenship, the right to vote, and other fundamental American liberties.
And today, America still stands as a nation of hope for many without religious, economic, and personal freedoms in their countries.
In 1958, President John F. Kennedy wrote an essay entitled “A Nation of Immigrants.” America was that nation that Kennedy, a senator at the time, praised. And he talked about the many achievements and contributions of America’s immigrants to our society.
When important people like Kennedy speak, people listen, quote them, and create catchphrases and sound bites that pop up everywhere, even in slogans.
What Senator Kennedy said not only sounded good, it was true. Pretty soon, the USCIS incorporated his viewpoint about immigrants in its mission statement as written below:
“USCIS secures America’s promise as a nation of immigrants by providing accurate and useful information to our customers, granting immigration and citizenship benefits, promoting an awareness and understanding of citizenship, and ensuring the integrity of our immigration system.”
In 2018 the word immigrant was removed from the USCIS mission statement, which now states:
“U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services administers the nation’s lawful immigration system, safeguarding its integrity and promise by efficiently and fairly adjudicating requests for immigration benefits while protecting Americans, securing the homeland, and honoring our values.”
They eliminated the word immigrant, but they can’t erase their contributions to this country. How can anyone recognize immigrants and not recognize those who were before them—Native Americans and African slaves?
The prosperity created by slave labor and the achievements of African descendants are a great part of this nation. And no one can repay the debt owed to both Natives and slaves.
Don’t misunderstand; I’m not advocating for or against the phrase ‘a nation of immigrants.’
America needs to advocate for the truth.
Be safe.