BEWARE: Myths that Scapegoat Immigrants and Divide Us from Each Other
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MYTH: “It is easy to immigrate here legally. Why don’t “illegal” immigrants just get in line?
FACT: It’s very difficult to immigrate legally to the United States. Authorized immigration is reserved mostly for a) family reunification (you have to have a qualified family member sponsor you and wait lists exceed 10 years), b) for those in high-skilled occupations with recognized credentials, c) humanitarian protection, or d) for the very wealthy. This leaves most people without any lawful way to live and work in the US. The trump regime is also not letting people apply for political asylum and dismissing or denying almost all current applications to shut down the system altogether. The trump regime eliminated Temporary Protective Status for 500,000+ people that previous presidents granted to those escaping violence and environmental disasters; the regime is now deporting these people. See Migration Policy Institute
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MYTH: Birthright Citizenship (i.e. the 14 th Amendment of the US Constitution) creates unauthorized immigration as people come to have “anchor babies.”
FACT: The instant-citizenship through an “anchor baby” is a lie: it takes 20+ years to gain legal status if one has a child in the US. One can only apply through that child when that child is an adult. After the child applies, typically, years pass while the application is considered – with no guarantee that legal status will be approved. The trump regime ended the policy that the undocumented parents of immigrant children who enlisted in our armed services would be allowed to stay in the USA while their children tried to get their status adjusted. Now those parents are being deported. See Human Rights Watch
3
MYTH: “Immigrants are a major source of crime.”
FACT: Immigrants, whether they are naturalized citizens, permanent residents, or unauthorized immigrants, are less likely to be incarcerated in prisons, convicted of crimes, or arrested than US citizens. Statistics show that high rates of immigration are associated with lower rates of both violent and property crime. See American Immigration Council
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MYTH: “Immigrants pose a unique risk today because of terrorism.”
FACT: As with crime, the data shows that most terrorist activity is conducted by U.S. citizens, not immigrants. In fact, terrorism experts identify “domestic terrorism” by white male far-right groups to be the greatest danger. See Carnegie Corporation of New York and Southern Poverty Law Center
5
MYTH: “The worst” people from other countries are coming to the US.
FACT: Immigrants come to this country for a few primary reasons: to work, to be reunited with family members (many of whom are disqualified from sponsoring them), or to escape a dangerous situation. Most are couples, families with children, and workers without whom the economy would shut down. Immigrants create more jobs in the US economy, use less social services than US citizens, are generally better educated than US citizens, and start more new businesses – small and Fortune 500 firms – than US citizens. See: American Immigration Council
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MYTH: Things are better in Hawai‘i. Police Departments across Hawai‘i are not cooperating with ICE to raid homes, schools, workplaces, or disappearances off our streets.
FACT: The ACLU of Hawai‘i has reported that Honolulu, Maui, Hawai‘i Island, and Kaua‘i police departments have MOUs with Homeland Security Investigations. These MOUs allow for local police cooperation with ICE in specific cases. While these MOUS state that local police are not allowed to get involved with general immigration enforcement, there is credible evidence that this is, in fact, taking place. Eyewitnesses have reported (and videotaped) local law enforcement presence during ICE raids, including our Hawai’i County Police Department. Mayor Alameda, HPD Chief Ben Moszkowicz, and 5 of our 9 County Council members approved to expand HPD cooperation with ICE – including giving ICE office space in our HPD headquarters! See ACLU HI