A Shared Struggle, A Shared Future: The Untold Story of Immigrants

For too long, immigrants have been cast as the cause of job shortages, rising living costs, and crime. But the truth tells a different story: immigrants have been essential to building America, while facing many of the same struggles as all of us, from economic insecurity to housing and healthcare challenges. When we move past familiar stereotypes, we uncover a shared history and realize how deeply bonded we are in our shared humanity and struggle.

Throughout history, many different immigrants arrived in the United States with hopes of building a better life. And nearly every time, they’ve been met with a mix of welcome and worry. It’s not new to hear that immigrants are “taking jobs,” “driving up crime,” or “straining public resources.” These ideas have been repeated for centuries, dating back to the 1700s, when immigrants from Ireland and France were discriminated against for their cultural and religious differences.

Those myths still persist despite data that says otherwise. Numerous studies show that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than native-born citizens. According to the Cato Institute, immigrants make significant contributions to the economy, paying over $330 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2019 alone. 

A Buried History

The U.S. is often called a “nation of immigrants,” and for good reason. With the exception of Native American communities, most of us trace our roots to someone who came here from somewhere else. Whether they were seeking opportunity or fleeing hardship, immigrants have helped build and shape the country we know today.

Immigrants contribute to society in countless ways, often quietly and without recognition. They play an integral role in agriculture, healthcare, education, technology, construction and service industries. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Kaiser Family Foundation, immigrants make up nearly 17% of the U.S. labor force and are especially vital in essential sectors, accounting for 73% of crop workers in agriculture, 25% of healthcare support roles, and 24% of the construction workforce.

Many are small business owners, community leaders and caretakers. During the pandemic, a large number of immigrants were considered “essential workers,” helping to keep our country running during an incredibly difficult time.

Beyond their economic impact, immigrants contribute rich cultural traditions and creative problem-solving, often forming the backbone of neighborhoods and local economies.

It’s important to understand why many immigrants come to the United States in the first place. In many cases, they are fleeing conditions that make it difficult or even dangerous to stay in their home countries, like war, poverty, environmental disasters or political instability. In some cases, these challenges often stem from a complex history of global conflict, colonialism, and international policy, including those involving the U.S.. 

For most people, their home country plays a crucial role in shaping their identity, culture, and traditions. It’s the place that holds many of their memories and where the legacy of their ancestors lives on. Although they may leave with hope, it’s still not easy, and the challenges only grow once they arrive. Many immigrants are faced with language barriers, legal obstacles, racism, and the pressure to assimilate to American cultural norms and traditions in order to be accepted. 

Even within immigrant communities, that pressure can create tension. In systems where “belonging” is measured by how someone’s proximity to the American dominant culture, people may feel compelled to distance themselves from their own community. And that’s not a reflection of character, it’s a result of the difficult choices people feel they have to make to be safe or succeed.

A Broken System

Immigrants and non-immigrants are connected not only in our shared humanity but also in our shared struggles. That’s because the challenges we face, whether it’s accessible healthcare, the rising cost of living, or unstable employment, impact communities across the country. These aren’t “immigrant problems,” they’re systemic issues that affect many people across the country. And the data reflects how widespread these issues are:

• More than 26 million Americans don’t have health insurance

• Over 500,000 people face homelessness 

• A majority of Americans (over 70%) express concern or stress over their financial well-being

Moving Forward, Together

When we look beyond the surface of the stories we’ve often heard, we see that most of us want the same basic things: safety, dignity, the ability to care for our loved ones, and a sense of belonging. These shared values can be the foundation for solidarity and meaningful change.

At BCTRHT, we believe that truth-telling and a sense of belonging are essential to healing and transformation. That’s why we’re hosting Immigration in Focus: Facts, Pathways, and the Systems We Interact With—a community panel that brings together leaders across law, healthcare, education, and advocacy to ground us in facts, uplift lived experiences, and move past the myths.

We invite you to join us in this conversation as we explore what it means to protect one another, build community across differences, and create solutions that allow all of us to thrive. Because when we move forward together, we all do better.