- December 16, 2019 Social Justice
Sister Ida Berresheim ministered for 17 years at the Mexican/American border region in El Paso including at Annunciation House, where she continues to serve on the board. Annunciation House serves migrants and refugees through hospitality, advocacy and education.
As an expert on the issue of immigration, Sister Ida says that one way to bring about justice for immigrants is to “tell the truth” and communicate the realities of immigration today by knowing the facts. Here, she comments on some of the most prevalent myths.
MYTH: Most immigrants are illegal and don’t follow the proper procedures.
Most foreign-born people living in the United States have permission to be here, despite the challenge of complicated procedures to obtain status. Only 25.5 % of immigrants are unauthorized, and some experts say that up to 40 % of those are people who let their visas expire. The process is rigorous for obtaining documentation to enter the United States as a resident, including applying for visa and green card status.
S. Ida says of the people crossing the border, “They present themselves at the port of entry, but the steps to take are not easy. They spend many years and many dollars to become citizens.”
MYTH: The worst people from other countries are coming to the United States and bringing crime and violence.
Immigrants come to this country primarily to work, to be reunited with family members or to escape a dangerous situation.
“The immigrants from Central America are in the position of having to leave their homes because of the threats of gangs, of extortion and of terrible living conditions,” says S. Ida.
Statistics show that the overwhelming majority of immigrants are not criminals. Most are couples, families with children and workers who are integral to the U.S. economy.
MYTH: Immigrants take good jobs from U.S. citizens.
Unauthorized immigrants only account for 5% of the entire U.S. workforce, and research indicates there is little connection between immigrant labor and unemployment rates of native-born workers. They are only overrepresented in service, farming and construction occupations, and are put at risk of being exploited by unscrupulous employers."
"They are taking these jobs no matter what the pay, and, sometimes, they are taking them illegally because they can get a job in the fields, in roofing and in gardening where there are few citizens to fill the roles,” says S. Ida.
Immigrants also have a high rate of entrepreneurship and often create jobs by starting their own businesses.
Source: www.tolerance.org