When political elites debate immigration, it can often sound like an argument over which side will be tougher. Missing is a point of view shared by most Americans: immigration is basically good!
This week, Sonali Kolhatkar says welcoming immigrants, especially those fleeing poverty or danger or both, is ultimately a moral issue. “But immigrants are also a boon to society in purely economic terms,” she writes, pointing to the $100 billion they contribute annually in taxes and their valuable work in agriculture, construction, and other industries. That’s why “we all deserve a just, humane immigration system that doesn’t penalize people who contribute so much to our culture — and our economy.”
Yet our immigrant neighbors are increasingly being criminalized. This week, Farrah Hassen catalogs the mounting abuses of ICE, from racial profiling to detaining citizens to deporting children with cancer.
“If these attacks on immigrants were really about ‘following the law,’ then immigrants fleeing war and persecution would be able to exercise their right to seek asylum — a human right long enshrined under international and U.S. law,” she argues, and “their due process rights would be respected… The vast majority of immigrants in this country — including those kidnapped by ICE — have no criminal history.”
“We must stand together and demand that ICE leave our communities. We are a nation of immigrants after all,” Farrah concludes.
Finally, recent grad Kaleigh Brendle explains what’s a stake for Americans like her in a GOP lawsuit challenging federal disability protections. If their suit is successful, Kaleigh warns, “the next steps could be discrimination, segregation, and then institutionalization of people with disabilities. It’s not far-fetched.”
Calling on Americans to protect those rules, she concludes: “Our disabilities are not what’s going to stop us from succeeding. But politicians who are all too willing to sacrifice us might.”
New This Week…
A Nation of Immigrants Under Attack | Farrah Hassen
Over 70 percent of the immigrants kidnapped by ICE have no criminal record. Some are even U.S. citizens.
Immigrants Are a Boon to Society | Sonali Kolhatkar
Even in purely economic terms, immigrants are a gift to the United States. That’s why we all need a more just immigration system.
70 Million Disabled Americans Could Soon Lose Our Rights. I’m One of Them. | Kaleigh Brendle
17 Republicans are suing to block federal protections for people with disabilities — and the Trump administration won’t even defend them.
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We can’t let violence or intimidation keep us from the duty we owe ourselves, each other, and our country.
Militarism Threatens Our Democracy — But Americans Are Waking Up | Christine Ahn and Leslie Cagan
The “No Kings Day” protests that ran counter to Trump’s military parade show an effort to resist the dangerous consequences of militarism.
No War with Iran! | Phyllis Bennis and Khury Petersen-Smith
U.S. support for Israel’s hardline government risks getting the U.S. involved in yet another Middle East war. That can’t happen.
Trump’s Cuts to Job Corps Will Hurt All of Us | Paul Epstein
As a social worker, I’m shocked and appalled at this cruel decision to deny struggling kids the opportunity of a lifetime.
