With the new administration officially taking the reins, the future of immigrants in the United States is precarious. Immigration was a significant factor for about 6 in 10 voters in the presidential election, and they will be looking to newly minted leaders — who ran on a platform promising to address it — for action. But as we begin to explore the immigration issue in Utah and across the country, we need to remember the benefits that immigrants bring to our country and work together to develop comprehensive, bipartisan solutions.
Immigrants’ contributions to our country’s economic growth cannot be understated. As of last year, there were 31 million immigrants working in the United States — or 18.6% of the total labor force. In Utah, almost 10% of our population is foreign-born. These immigrants are essential workers, accounting for 14.7% of entrepreneurs, 10.6% of STEM workers and 20.5% of the construction workforce in the state. To sustain this growth and allow our economy to thrive, our legislators must simplify and create more legal pathways for immigrants to come to the United States. But our communities need immigrants for more than the economic benefits. These individuals and families contribute to our society as neighbors, friends, students and much more.
Communities are stronger when they consist of people with diverse ideas, backgrounds and perspectives. Our businesses, schools, churches and communities are made better by acceptance and openness. To be sure, there are steps that we must take to strengthen immigration policy, but as our elected leaders take these steps, they must endeavor to better understand these issues and develop more comprehensive solutions that foster creativity, innovation and better decision-making in our workplaces, schools and neighborhoods.
Having lived overseas for several years because of my husband’s work, I can sympathize with the immigrant experience. It is difficult to be a foreigner in an unfamiliar land. You’re functioning in an entirely new language. You lack the cultural cues and shared experiences that are crucial for navigating the school system, health care and everyday life. Still, I was fortunate to have the support of my husband and family, which not everyone does. This experience made clear to me just how much courage it takes to move to another country permanently. I admire immigrants — in the United States and beyond.
For instance, while living in the Middle East, I met families who fled their native countries for their safety and religious freedom. Many individuals fled their countries due to political instability or because they were driven by their most deeply held beliefs. They faced incredible danger to reach safety. Hearing their touching stories about escaping their countries was humbling and inspiring.
They were allowed temporary refugee status in neighboring countries, but many were applying for asylum in the United States, Canada or other countries that offered more stability and opportunity. This process was long, expensive and filled with uncertainty. Some waited years — and others are still waiting. According to the International Rescue Committee, there are currently “more than two million pending asylum cases in the U.S. The backlog of asylum cases has led to unprecedented waiting times, forcing asylum seekers to endure waits of up to seven years.”
These families live in limbo: They can’t return to their home countries due to the danger they face, and they can’t stay permanently in their current country. The long, arduous pathway to citizenship in the U.S. often puts people in difficult positions, even if they are trying to do things legally.
When I moved back to Utah, I was welcomed by my neighbors, my church and my community at large. Every immigrant who is here to contribute should be met with the same receptivity. Our laws and communities must be more open to people from other countries. Change and growth are difficult, but integration makes us stronger — and immigrants aren’t the only ones who benefit. Regular interactions with people from different cultures promote tolerance and challenge stereotypes, helping us see each other as individuals, neighbors, co-workers and friends. Accepting others into our communities doesn’t mean betraying our beliefs or traditions; it means recognizing that, as humans, we share more in common than we differ.
We need immigrants as workers — but moreover, for their ideas and friendship. Legislators must create more legal pathways for immigrants — and as citizens, we must welcome them when they arrive.
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