‘Immigrant’ Is Not a Dirty Word: Our Voices Matter

I am an immigrant, and I raised my children to be multicultural and proud of their roots. My kids are the children of parents who came to this country, a place that welcomed immigrants, valued their contributions, and offered opportunities to grow.

We worked long hours, often exhausted, but never too tired to show up for them. Our dream was simple: that our children could build lives doing work they are passionate about in a place where they could thrive.

And yet, as events unfold across the United States and rhetoric around migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers grows increasingly hostile, I find myself unsettled. Even as a U.S. citizen and a mother to two American children, the escalation of federal enforcement actions and the sharp rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric leave me deeply concerned for our communities.

Watching protests in Minneapolis and the violence that has erupted during immigration enforcement—including fatal shootings involving federal agents in public spaces—has been a sobering reminder of why our voices must be heard, not only as immigrants but as citizens.

In early January, federal immigration agents shot and killed 37‑year‑old U.S. citizen Renée Nicole Good. Last week, federal agents fatally shot 37‑year‑old U.S. citizen and ICU nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti during enforcement operations in Minneapolis, sparking widespread protests and national debate over federal conduct on American streets. The Department of Homeland Security has said agents acted in self‑defense in both cases, though multiple bystander videos and critics contest parts of the official narratives.

These are not distant headlines. These are warnings.

The Weight of Being “Othered”

Immigrants know what it means to grow up being “othered”—to navigate a lifetime of mispronounced names, mocked accents, and suspicion over the foods we eat or the languages we speak.

We know how it feels when our identities are turned into things to fear instead of stories worth understanding.

Too often, immigrant communities are framed as threats before we are ever seen as neighbors. And yet, we carry extraordinary resilience and cultural richness. We build bridges between worlds many people never have to cross.

Our stories are not problems to be solved. They are testaments to human courage.

It is also crucial to say this plainly: constitutional and human rights protections must apply to everyone on U.S. soil, regardless of immigration status. Due process, freedom from unreasonable searches, and the right to speak and assemble are not privileges reserved for a few—they are fundamental rights.

What We Are Seeing Isn’t Normal

What is happening in Minnesota is not an isolated event. It is part of a broader national pattern.

A major federal immigration enforcement operation has deployed thousands of agents into communities across the state, resulting in thousands of arrests, including U.S. citizens detained on protest-related charges. Civil rights advocates warn that these tactics raise serious concerns about due process and constitutional protections.

These are not abstract policy debates. These are real experiences affecting real families—and what is happening in Minnesota can happen elsewhere.

America’s strength has always been tied to its openness. President Ronald Reagan once said that no other nation matched our ability to welcome newcomers and turn diversity into a “beacon of freedom and opportunity.” He called this the “American Miracle,” noting:

“You can go to live in France, but you cannot become a Frenchman… But anyone, from any corner of the Earth, can come to live in America and become an American.”

That promise is worth defending.

This Is a Call to Action

Anger is not a flaw. It is a human response to injustice. But action is what transforms pain into collective power.

If you are wondering how to turn empathy into impact, here are steps you can take today:

Call your representatives.
Contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives. Urge them to oppose increased funding for ICE without meaningful reform, demand investigations into enforcement abuses, and insist that constitutional protections apply to everyone on U.S. soil.

• Find your members of Congress: congress.gov/members/find-your-member

• Identify your House Representative: house.gov

• Locate your U.S. Senators: senate.gov

• Support organizations on the front lines.
  These groups provide legal aid, advocacy, and community defense:

  • RAICES — raicestexas.org

  • National Immigration Law Center (NILC) — nilc.org

  • United We Dream — unitedwedream.org

• Build Community: Donate to mutual aid groups, support local immigrant-owned businesses, and amplify immigrant voices so they are never erased.

We are not OK. And pretending otherwise helps no one.

Our communities deserve better. Everyone who honors our laws and our shared journey as a nation deserves the dignity of a life lived without fear and violence.

Immigrant is not a dirty word.
It is at the heart of the American story.