Reading: The Criminalization of Immigration and the Privatization of the Immigration Detention: Implications for Justice
I believe immigration has always been seen and treated with a negative attitude by US citizens despite being a nation of immigrants and that promotes new opportunities and experiences in the new world, as well as the American Dream. Immigrants of different regions receive different treatment, mainly welcoming Europeans, but the overall voice of the US speaks of an anti-immigrant narrative. Even if newer generations have been moving towards a more open-minded and all-accepting attitude, once people believe immigrants are stealing their jobs, scholarships, places in school, and overshadowing US culture with their foreign culture, people become defensive and feel contempt with the circumstances. US citizens worry far too much about immigrants taking their jobs. Although statistically immigrants do add more competition to employment, most immigrants work jobs that US citizens do not want to do, and feel too high class for, like hair dressing, nail salons or construction work. If immigrants take high paying jobs, it is simply because they are more qualified. I don't understand why people believe immigrants are stealing their jobs when companies and jobs show reluctancy in hiring immigrants, whether it be their supposed lack of education or language barrier. Such circumstances lead to immigrants needing to take risks and involve themselves in criminal activity. They put themselves in danger for the sake of making a living and proving for their families. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 in 2001 caused a significant increase in national security and immigration laws, but the many mass shootings that have occurred in the pass few years have all for no action. Even when the president recognized the killings as issues tied with mental illness, nothing was done to support the mental health industry or to gain more awareness for the issue. Although there are outlier issues as recognized in the article, majority of immigrants are not involved with such schemes and simply have been economically forced out of their own country to search for life in another. In both extra credit opportunities that I attended, the guest speakers talked about how their parents gave up middle class economic careers and statuses to move to the US for the sake of their children's futures. In particular, Eddy Zheng's story ties well with this week's theme and readings. His story demonstrates well how the criminal justice system does not serve its purpose well, and treats all people undergoing the system poorly, especially immigrants, who also will face greater difficulties once out of prison and trying to reconnect with society. Not only does media focus on immigrants and people of color in terms of criminal activity, people and companies continue to hold onto their original prejudice against these groups, causing for impossible living circumstances. It becomes a cycle of poverty and criminal activity. People simply like to blame their problems on a scapegoat, which happens to be immigrants for the US.
Question: Who's controlling media portrayal and depicting immigrants as a harmful group when they help nations in many ways instead of diminishing living standards? Who gains from such a narrative?
Flagg, Anna (March 30, 2018). The Myth of the Criminal Immigrant. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/03/30/upshot/crime-immigration-myth.html
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