Enough is enough! I am posting this because I am sick and tired of the vilification of immigrants, migrants and refugees by right-wing conservatives. It's sad that many Americans believe Donald Trump's lies. It's sad that they believe Fox News. It's tragic that they they buy the myth that caravans of "illegal alien" criminals are invading the United States. Have Americans forgotten the message inscribed at the base of the Statue of Liberty, which has welcomed scores of newcomers to the New World. As a reminder, here is that message. It needs to be heard now more than ever because if Trump and MAGA had its way, America would be a nation of Archie Bunkers.
The New Colossus
By Emma Lazarus
"Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
'Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!' cries she
With silent lips. 'Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!'"
My grandparents were immigrants from Sicily. They eventually settled in Toronto, Canada, but in those days, newcomers from Southern Italy had to go to Ellis Island. My grandparents were some of the many who have contributed to the building Canada.
Here is a post from Caroline Codsi, a Canadian businesswoman, founder of Women in Governance & Party Certification, a non-profit organization, created in 2010 to assist women in accessing decision-making roles. Codsi writes about the value of immigration. It is worth reading.
For decades, from Eisenhower to Biden, U.S. presidents — both Republican and Democrat — have spoken with pride about what truly makes America strong: its immigrants.
They reminded us that diversity is not a threat but a foundation, that people come to the US not for handouts but for opportunity, that America’s greatness has always been built by those who came with nothing but determination.
From JFK to Reagan, from Bush to Obama to Biden, they all echoed the same truth: the United States is a nation of immigrants. That is its power.
And then came Trump…
Dear American friends, remember who you are. Don't let fear, ignorance, and cruelty rewrite the soul of your nation. Refuse to be dragged backward by those who thrive on division.
Dear Canadian friends, let’s stand firm in who we are. Let’s not allow the current U.S. administration to poison our values, our compassion, or the inclusive society we’ve fought so hard to build. Our identity is not up for negotiation.
Here is a quote from American-born Elizabeth May, leader of Canada's federal Green Party. After a vacation on Cape Breton Island, her family was inspired to make Canada their home.
Canada wasn't perfect, but it was -- and continues to be -- quite profoundly, a work in progress. I have always loved the Canadian narrative. The U.S. has the notion of a melting pot. Sure they'll put up with immigrants, but they're expected to emerge from that pot homogenized..
The building of the railroad from the Atlantic to the Pacific was instrumental in bringing about Canadian Confederation. "The National Dream", as historian Pierre Berton called it, was completed in 1885. When British Columbia joined Confederation in 1871, the decision was based upon the promise of a railway to the Pacific coast. Canada would be a country from sea to sea. So, who was instrumental in building the national dream of a Canada from coast to coast. Foreign workers, that's who. Here are the facts according to the website government of British Columbia in an article entitled "Building the Railway."
* Over 17,000 Chinese men came to Canada to work on the Canadian Pacific Railway, with more than 70% of the Railway Workers being of Chinese origin.
* Difficult working conditions: Chinese workers were paid less than white workers and were often given the most dangerous tasks, such as handling explosive materials.
* Harsh living conditions: The work was dangerous and living conditions were poor, leading to the deaths of hundreds of Chinese workers.
Many of the Chinese workers were unprepared for B.C.’s harsh winters, especially at Port Moody where ice prevented supply ships from docking and, thus, providing the workers with some relief. It is estimated that more than 600 Chinese workers died during the building of the CPR—more than four for every mile of track. In 1891, a Chinese community association collected over 300 unidentified bodies to be flown back to China for proper burial.
- Asian Heritage Society website, "Chinese Labour on the Canadian Pacific Railway"
Note: According to some estimates, between 600 and 2,200 Chinese workers died during the construction of the Canadian National Railway between 1880 and 1885.
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| Canadian Pacific Railway workers |
By the way, Chinese immigrants built the American Transcontinental railroad, which Abraham Lincoln described as the United States' most important goal.
"As a once Illinois railroad lawyer, Abraham Lincoln was convinced that railroads were essential to America’s future – drawing the nation together by trade, by travel, and by the defusing of yeomen farmers and immigrants, across the United States."
"Abraham Lincoln and the Transcontinental Railroad," from the official website of the Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement
This is not an argument for unrestricted or unfettered immigration. However, immigrants are no more responsible for crime than native-born Americans and Canadians. In addition, immigrants and migrants do work that most native Americans refuse to do.
"A lot of Canadians don't want to do the jobs that are so called low-skill of low-pay, which are things like processing your chicken, slaughtering your beef, or getting fish."
- Economist Armine Yalnizyan
Unfortunately, right-wing conservatives stoke fears that immigrants are taking jobs away from native-born Canadians. At the same time, immigrants are condemned if they are unemployed. They are accused of living off of Canada's social programs. It can't be both ways. The real threat to jobs is Artificial Intelligence (AI), not immigrants.
In a September 23, 2025 column for the Toronto Star, David Olive points out that according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, immigrants comprise about 26% of the Canadian workforce and they account for 35 per cent of commuter programmers, 43 per cent of engineers and 57 per cent of chemists.
I despise the term "illegal aliens." The correct term is "undocumented immigrants." They are human beings, many trying to escape persecution in their countries of origin. Others simply want to earn some money to help out relatives, They are not creatures from another planet.
Anti-immigrant sentiment is caused by ignorance. It is a fear what we do not know or understand, including people of different cultures and religions. The truth is that we all share a common humanity and we all want the best for our families.
- Joanne
