{"id":14980,"date":"2026-04-28T15:48:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T20:48:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/empowermissouri.org\/?p=14980"},"modified":"2026-04-28T17:04:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T22:04:34","slug":"the-great-american-scapegoating-of-immigrants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/empowermissouri.org\/es\/the-great-american-scapegoating-of-immigrants\/","title":{"rendered":"The Great American Scapegoating of Immigrants"},"content":{"rendered":"

America is frequently touted as \u201cthe greatest nation in the world.\u201d Anytime that I hear someone say that, I can\u2019t help but think of this dazzling opening scene from the 2012 HBO drama \u201cThe Newsroom,\u201d where a college student asks a prominent nightly news host (played valiantly by Jeff Daniels) to explain why we\u2019re the \u201cgreatest.\u201d Watch the response here.<\/a> (Pardon the cursing!) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As brilliantly pointed out by the show\u2019s writer, Aaron Sorkin, there are few, if any, metrics to suggest that America is the greatest country in the world.  But as the show goes on to explore, it perhaps once was, and, perhaps, it can be again. Unfortunately, the Trump administration espouses that the only way to \u201cmake America great again\u201d is by ridding ourselves of one of our single greatest strengths: our cultural diversity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a nation made almost entirely of immigrants (less than 3% of our current population stems from families who are native to this land), America established itself 250 years ago as a place where anyone in the world seeking freedom from oppression of any kind could come and have the opportunity to thrive. Unfortunately, that vision has been twisted and abused over the years. For centuries, immigrants from all over the world have endured waves of violence and animosity in routine intervals. From violent attacks on both Chinese and Spanish-speaking immigrants in the late 19th century, to the \u201crepatriation\u201d of nearly one million people to Mexico in the 1930s (many of whom were actually US citizens), to the violence and harassment faced by Middle Eastern immigrants following 9\/11, America has a well-established pattern of scapegoating immigrants when it suits its leaders politically. During times of economic or political uncertainty or strife, people in positions of power attempt to distract from their own culpability in the situation by blaming immigrants instead.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tactic is rooted in a base psychological hostility towards or suspicion of \u201coutsiders.\u201d This fear is primal, developed by early human instincts to distinguish between insiders (those who you are safe with) and outsiders (those who may cause a threat). Powerful people capitalize on that instinct to sow discord amongst people who may otherwise rise up against them or force them to change their behaviors. Immigrants are an easy target for this tactic, because they may have defining physical characteristics (skin tone, eye shape, etc.) or cultural practices (language, religion, diet, etc.) that set them apart from those in power. There is ample evidence of these attacks throughout history, but I\u2019ll focus on the most recent wave of scapegoating against immigrants that has been rampant over the last decade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are living in tumultuous times. We are facing a global climate crisis that is shifting weather patterns and causing increasing damage via natural disasters. We lived through a global pandemic, forcing hard conversations about future biological threats and inequitable access to healthcare. Artificial intelligence and other technological advances are fundamentally reshaping the workplace, growing fears of mass layoffs in the near future. The US housing market is short 6.5 million homes, forcing growing rates of poverty and homelessness. These are big problems that need bold solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, rather than facing these issues head on as true public servants, many of our federal and state leaders are choosing to distract from these real concerns by instead blaming immigrants for\u2026 well, seemingly, everything! <\/p>\n\n\n\n