Don't believe the hate about immigrants

Eric Ortiz lives in the Wedge with his family. He is executive director of the Strong Mind Strong Body Foundation, a nonprofit youth and community development organization based in Minneapolis.

Forget the stereotypes. Most immigrants are hardworking, law-abiding people who come to the United States for a better life. And the data proves it.

According to a 2024 explainer by the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than native-born Americans. This pattern has been consistent for over 150 years.

As the explainer states:    

"Immigrants in the United States have had lower incarceration rates than the native-born population since at least 1870 (when such data were first recorded). In 2020, immigrants were 60 percent less likely to be incarcerated than the U.S. born, according to a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research. And though a 2021 Justice Department study points out prosecutions of immigrants increased between 1990 and 2018, nearly 90 percent were for violations of immigration-related laws. Notably, U.S.- born citizens were ten times more likely than immigrants to be incarcerated for committing weapons-related offenses, five times more likely for violent offenses, more than twice as likely for property crimes, and nearly twice as likely for drug offenses."

Immigrants don't just commit fewer crimes. Research shows that immigration can reduce crime in communities with inclusive policies and support systems.

Yet today, anti-immigrant rhetoric fuels fear and division. Calls to “build the wall” and portrayals of migrants as dangerous criminals “poisoning the blood” of America stoke alarmist fears that exploit the nation’s deepest fault lines of race and identity.

Hate and fear of newcomers are nothing new to America. Just as immigration is woven into the fabric of the nation's history, so too are xenophobia and nativism. 

In 1958, former President John F. Kennedy, then a senator, wrote “A Nation of Immigrants” and examined the “emotions of xenophobia—hatred of foreigners—and of nativism—the policy of keeping America ‘pure’ (that is, of preferring old immigrants to new)” as he chronicled the country's immigration story and offered thoughtful policy suggestions.

JFK reminded us that every American, aside from Indigenous people, is either an immigrant or a descendant of one. "Since 1607, when the first English settlers reached the New World, over 42 million people [now over 100 million] have migrated to the United States," Kennedy wrote. "This represents the largest migration of people in all recorded history."

This rich, complex history continues to shape our nation, influencing how communities large and small navigate immigration and inclusion.

Even George Washington, America's first president, "hoped that this land might become a safe and agreeable asylum to the virtuous and persecuted part of mankind, to whatever nation they might belong."

Of course, immigration is complex, a mix of inspiring ideals and painful contradictions. But it doesn’t have to be complicated in our communities. 

Strong values endure, not just in speeches or books, but in real-life organizations that live out the principles of inclusion and second chances.

Look at Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, the largest gang intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program in the world. Their founder, Father Greg Boyle, speaks powerfully about undocumented people:

"No human being is illegal. It's kind of how we roll here at Homeboy. We stand with anybody who's demonized or left out, or excluded, or seen as disposable. We stand with them. We will never abandon you, ever."

Closer to home, Minneapolis strives to be welcoming. One key policy is a city ordinance that separates local law enforcement from federal immigration enforcement to build trust and promote community safety.

"The separation ordinance says that we do not conduct enforcement operations with federal immigration agents because that is not our role," explained Michelle Rivero, the director of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs in Minneapolis, during an episode of "Youth Community Journalism" on why immigrants matter. "Our responsibility is to support the safety and well-being of the community. That’s why we have the separation ordinance."

These are challenging times for public safety and trust. Minnesotans, and all Americans, can protect themselves by knowing their rights and responsibilities. 

Here are some helpful resources:

• Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota — Know Your Rights
• Volunteer Lawyers Network — Family and Immigration Preparedness
• Creating Safe and Supportive Schools for Immigrant and English Learner Students
• Welcoming America — Preparation and Rapid Response Resource Collection

Information is power. Action is how we use it. 

With undocumented people forced to live in fear in ways that are completely unnecessary, being informed has never been more important.

"There will always be hard moments, as in everything," said a teenage high school student who came to Minnesota from a South American country in 2023. "The important thing is to always look for the personal solution."

Human rights are the foundation of a just and equitable society. In every community, from Minneapolis to every corner of the globe, the struggle for dignity, equality, and respect remains urgent.

Standing up for human rights means standing with those who are marginalized and silenced. It means supporting fair treatment, safety, and opportunity for everyone, regardless of background, identity, or circumstance.

We have the power to build communities rooted in compassion. This is more than a moment. It is a movement where every voice counts, every action matters, and collective courage leads to peace, dignity, and justice for all.

Now is the time to stand up for human rights everywhere. Together, we can build a future where everyone belongs.

Eric Ortiz lives in the Wedge with his family. He is executive director of the Strong Mind Strong Body Foundation, a national youth and community development nonprofit based in Minneapolis, and associate director of research for The Pivot Fund, a venture philanthropy organization that invests in community newsrooms serving underserved communities.