The Choice: Immigrants are NOT the problem.
The policies of Donald Trump and his racist and incompetent administration are the problem.
Issue #978 The Choice, Friday, January 16, 2026
Donald Trump, Stephen Miller, and Kristi Noem have declared a war on immigrants in this country, but only certain immigrants. Trump is the son and grandson of immigrants, and two of his three wives (all of whom he cheated on) are immigrants. Stephen Miller is the grandson of immigrants.
In 2024, one of Trump’s campaign promises was to institute “mass deportations,” and many of his supporters agreed. He promised that only immigrants who commit crimes would be targeted. Now, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP) have actual daily quotas to meet, using the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) to round up anyone they think is an “illegal alien.”
Undocumented immigrants are not criminals, as DHS claims, because being undocumented in the United States is a misdemeanor, which is a civil offense, similar to a traffic ticket. Unlike Donald Trump, more than 90% of undocumented immigrants are not felons.
Not only were many of the Founding Fathers immigrants (including Alexander Hamilton), but everyone in this country, except for members of the indigenous nations, is descended from immigrants. Their ancestors came to this country by fate (choice) or by force (slavery).
The history of immigration in the United States is a story of opportunity, struggle, and transformation. From its founding, the U.S. has been shaped by waves of immigrants seeking freedom, prosperity, and a better life.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, European settlers arrived in the Americas, primarily from England, Spain, and France. Many sought religious freedom or economic opportunities, while others were forcibly brought as enslaved people from Africa. This early immigration laid the foundation for the colonies that would later become the United States.
The 19th century saw a surge in immigration, driven by industrialization and the promise of land and jobs. Millions of Irish immigrants fled the Great Famine in the 1840s, while Germans sought refuge from political upheaval. The California Gold Rush and the construction of the transcontinental railroad attracted Chinese immigrants, who played a crucial role in building the nation’s infrastructure despite facing severe discrimination.
The late 19th and early 20th centuries marked the peak of immigration through Ellis Island, where millions of Europeans, including Italians, Jews, and Eastern Europeans, arrived. These immigrants often settled in urban areas, worked in factories, started businesses, and contributed to the rapid growth of American cities. However, this period also saw rising nativism, leading to restrictive policies like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Immigration Act of 1924, which imposed quotas based on national origin.
The mid-20th century brought significant changes to U.S. immigration policy. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 abolished nationality-based quotas, opening the door to immigrants from Asia, Latin America, and Africa. This shift diversified the immigrant population and reflected the country’s growing commitment to equality, which wasn’t the reality.
Recently, immigration has continued to shape the U.S. economy and culture. Latin American and Asian immigrants have become the largest groups, contributing to industries like agriculture, technology, and healthcare. However, debates over immigration policy have intensified, with issues like border security, undocumented immigrants, and refugee resettlement sparking national debates.
Today, the Trump Adminstration has made immigrants “the problem.” Immigrants are accused of everything from taking people’s jobs to raising home prices by buying up homes to abusing welfare and other government programs (undocumented immigrants do not qualify for welfare, Social Security, or healthcare programs) to committing the majority of crimes. None of this is true; immigrants are just being used as scapegoats. The DHS, including ICE and the CBP, is breaking laws and going against the Constitution (especially the 1st, 4th, and 5th Amendments) through their mass deportation activities that include targeting women and American citizens.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it is legal to target people based on their perceived race or national origin.
Our Choice: The current actions of the Trump Administration against immigrants are not only illegal, but are also hurting all of us, including green card holders and American citizens. Trump continues to target Blue states and Blue cities. He hasn’t targeted Detroit yet because we had a white mayor for 12 years. But now that we have a Black mayor again, and a woman at that, it’s just a matter of time before he comes after us in this state and city. The immigrants are not the problem. The Trump Administration is the problem.
We must demand that our Congressional representatives do their jobs and rein in the lawless Department of Homeland Security and Kristi Noem. Now.
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