Dwain Northey (Gen X)

There is a striking irony in the way some Americans simultaneously label immigrants as “lazy” and “leeches,” while also arresting them at workplaces and schools—locations that symbolize productivity and aspiration. The accusation of laziness contradicts the reality that many immigrants, especially undocumented ones, often fill labor-intensive jobs in agriculture, construction, food service, and caregiving—sectors that are vital yet frequently shunned by citizens. These individuals are not idle drains on society; they are part of the economic backbone, often working long hours for low wages under harsh conditions.

Equally paradoxical is the practice of detaining immigrants at schools, where children and young adults strive for better futures through education—another value supposedly central to the American dream. The image of students being arrested while pursuing learning undermines the narrative that immigrants don’t want to “contribute.” In truth, these actions reflect a deep societal contradiction: the same system that exploits immigrant labor and benefits from their ambition turns around and criminalizes their very presence.

This hypocrisy exposes a broader discomfort with immigration that has little to do with work ethic or value to society. It’s not about what immigrants do—it’s about who they are, and what their presence reveals about America’s unfulfilled promises of inclusion and fairness.