Before immigration became about targeting a specific racial group, it began with Europeans. According to history.com, the earliest documentation of immigration was a biblical account of Israelites fleeing Egypt. Early colonists migrated in search of religious freedom, like the pilgrims, or for economic opportunity. Now, it’s moving to the focus of families being torn apart and American citizens being scared to go to simple places like Home Depot in fear of being interrogated by ICE. For the future of all immigrants, documented or not, America’s deportation policies need to change.
Today, it’s become a common misconception that all immigrants of any status are criminals who just freeload here and don’t pay taxes. This idea is entirely far from the truth. The Migration Policy Institute states that immigration of all groups, including undocumented commit crimes at lower rates than U.S.-born citizens. Multiple studies have proven that immigrants commit crimes at way lower rates. Immigration can be associated with declining homicide rates, a reduction in property crimes, and robberies. This makes them way less likely to be offenders than people think. Not only are they less likely to commit crimes, but they also pay billions in state and local taxes every year that fund benefits they don’t even receive. Immigrants actually pay taxes day to day living here. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) says undocumented immigrants paid 9.4 billion dollars in state property and sales taxes alone that fund schools, police, etc. Everyone who lives or visits the US pays these when they do things like fill their gas, cars, houses, and clothes. The American Immigration Council states that undocumented immigrants and others who don’t have a Social Security number report their income through an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN). The state and federal governments receive taxes on undocumented immigrants’ income and employment. Undocumented immigrants pay taxes and are a powerful economic force. Cornell studies also show how undocumented immigrants help the US economy. According to Forbes, Undocumented workers make up 25% of farm workers, 19% of maintenance workers, 17% of construction workers, and 12% of food workers. This all goes to show that immigrants make America great. A lot of them deserve to be here, not torn from their families and the lives and jobs they created here. In the future, we need to change how difficult it is to become documented because most documented immigrants deserve to be here. They’ve built a life, they shouldn’t have it torn apart because of mass deportation policies.
On the topic of mass deportation policies, the US government is conducting campaigns of raids and detention across the country to advance a policy of mass deportation that’s ripping families apart. Immigration officers rely on tactics to detain people based on race, ethnicity, or origin. This just straight up violates human rights that people deserve. According to the Human Rights Watch, ICE officials stalk and seize people they suspect lack the authority to be here. They also completely ignore our 4th amendment right regarding unreasonable search and seizure. We’ve seen them constantly disregard this. The State Department of the United States says it has revoked over 100,000 visas since Trump took office as part of his deportation policies. This includes work and student categories. And even 6 people getting their visas revoked for speaking out about Charlie Kirk’s death, according to BBC. These people are simply using their First Amendment right. People shouldn’t be getting their Visas revoked because our president is on a power trip. It’s changing their futures negatively, and it shouldn’t have to. ICE has been separating families since May of 2025. Law enforcement has stayed hundreds in and around the LA area. In places, Latinos shop, eat, work, and live. They do this with the intention of violence and completely disregard basic human rights. In the words of John Raphling, “They tear apart families, cause people to live in fear, and showcase the cruelty of the Trump administration’s immigration policies.” Families have been treated terribly in ICE facilities. Some have been starved and denied contact with family and lawyers. This can permanently affect the futures of people, leaving them with trauma from experiences in ICE detention that shouldn’t have happened. This goes to show that mass deportation is terrible. Nobody should have to live in fear. In the future, and as soon as possible, this mass deportation policy needs to change. We need to stop focusing on breaking up families, taking people’s visas, or hurting those who are working jobs most US-born citizens don’t wanna do. Instead, focusing on catching criminals in general. This still doesn’t give ICE officials the ability to take away human rights.
Cary López Alvarado is a great example of someone directly affected and poorly treated by ICE. Alvarado was 9 months pregnant when she was arrested by immigration officials with her husband, who is an immigrant from Guatemala. She was held overnight in custody but never sent to detention. After spending a night in ICE custody, ICE learned Alvarado was a US citizen. Immediately upon her release, she experienced sharp pains in her stomach, according to a claim she filed opposing the government. She gave birth just days later. Under Biden, a policy was made that restricts ICE from arresting or detaining immigrants when pregnant, postpartum, or nursing, except in extreme circumstances. Trump has not voided this policy. It’s been made clear by 19th news that the policy hasn’t been followed. Following Alvarado’s arrest, she seeks $1 million, saying, “the unconstitutional conduct, unlawful arrest, and the torturous conduct of border patrol and ICE agents.” Alvarado says her daughter is completely healthy. But they are both dealing with the aftermath of detention. Footage of her arrest has been made public, and it shows agents holding Alvarado’s hands behind her back. Despite law enforcement being advised not to use restraints on pregnant people, and if they do, to keep their hands in front. Alvarado’s husband was deported, and she’s been left with no income. Leaving her to work multiple jobs just to make ends meet. Meaning she has to rely on her family to watch her baby while she works, leaving her little time with her baby. Everyday Alvarado is haunted by the terrors she felt while in government custody. One day in custody is absolutely haunting. Think of how life-changing it is for kids to be separated from their families, and people’s life changing overnight because ICE detains them over the race they perceive. What ICE has been doing is disgusting and needs to change. It’s changing people’s lives like Alvarado’s for the worse.
For the better future of our country, there needs to be a change in the mass deportation policies. It’s made clear that under these policies, ICE has been ignoring the law, and it’s affecting US citizens with arrests as well. Overall, change needs to happen because nobody should be scared to leave their home for fear of having to forcefully leave their families.
