Some of the worst stereotypes I hear about immigrants are that they are bringing in drugs and crime and that they abuse social welfare programs. As a third-generation Latine, I feel the sting of these prejudices. On the surface, they sound like reasonable things that we should all be wary of. But, if you pull off the mask and look at the perpetrator beneath, these prejudices are fueled by racism and xenophobia. They are not based on facts and are harmful to people like me.
First, let’s go over some key differences between immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees.
Asylum seekers flee their home countries, and when they arrive, they go through a screening process that decides whether they stay or not.
Refugees apply for protection from the host country, have to be approved, and then might be able to travel to the country.
Only properly documented immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees can get very limited help from social welfare programs, and it can take years to access everything a US citizen can. That’s mostly because becoming a US citizen is very difficult and requires a lot of red tape.
Now, let’s turn to some facts. Immigrants use significantly fewer social welfare programs than U.S.-born citizens do. And, get this: undocumented immigrants pay taxes when they work, but they can NOT access any social welfare programs. They pay into the system we all benefit from, but do not receive those same benefits.
Certain local leaders fear-monger by pointing at immigrants for fentanyl coming into the U.S., but most of the fentanyl coming through our borders is not coming from migrants. Between 2019 and 2024, 80.2% of fentanyl seized at ports of entry was from U.S. citizens. And, in 2019 – 2024, 88% of fentanyl was seized at ports of entry, not through undocumented entry routes. Those statistics come from a recent FOIA request to Customs and Border Protection. Making immigration the issue does not solve our fentanyl crisis when the U.S. needs better harm reduction policies instead.
According to a report by the CATO Institute (hardly a bastion of “wokeness”), immigrants (including undocumented immigrants where applicable) are less likely to be incarcerated in prisons, convicted of crimes, or arrested than U.S.-born Americans. Additionally, terror statistics can be misleading. U.S.-born mass shooters are not considered terrorists, but in the last few years, they’ve inflicted more damage and death on our population than foreign-born terrorists.
When our country helps asylum seekers and refugees, we act as good stewards. I understand that we should care for our people, including veterans. But our policymakers do nothing to care for our people while still spreading misconceptions about immigrants.
Why are our legislators so focused on trying to repeal Medicaid expansion, ignoring Idaho’s low wages, supporting tax breaks for the wealthy, opposing harm reduction policies, and failing to resolve the housing crisis? If they had the will, policymakers could address these real issues without making people who look like me into scapegoats.
Cecile Pérez is a concerned citizen who wants to make a difference. She is a Chicane serving on the Bonneville County Democratic Central Committee as chair of Legislative District 32.