Immigrants: Enriching America

In March 2021, the Administration for Children and Family Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement, sent out a request for federal employee volunteers to work with migrant children in facilities along the Southwest U.S. border. I participated in this mission with a strong desire to help reunite these children with their families in the U.S. Often fleeing violence in their home countries, the children had undertaken difficult and very hazardous journeys traveling through Mexico to the U.S. They arrived as strangers in a strange land, ranging from four to 17 years of age.

These children joined a larger, growing, and important demographic. Approximately 45 million—or 14% of the current U.S. population—are immigrants according to the PEW research organization.¹ About one million immigrants arrive in the U.S. each year. One in six U.S. workers is an immigrant, making up a vital part of the country's labor force in a range of industries.

Migration can be life-changing and lifesaving, but it also can be perilous. Migrants encounter numerous risks to their health and increased barriers to care before, during, and after migration.

Thousands of migrants all over the world including Afghanistan and Ukraine are desperate for work and are fleeing from oppression, poverty, national disasters caused by climate change (hurricanes, tsunamis, drought), violence and war every day. They risk their lives for a better life filled with hope, safety, shelter, health care, and a future for their children.

The children that I met and helped as part of my time on the border spoke Spanish and were mostly from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Most of the children bonded well with each other and were grateful to have clean clothing, three meals a day, snacks, showers, medical care, and a bed to sleep in. I was struck by their resilience, courage, and spirit. Because we were located in the warm climate of southern California, the children were able to play outdoors and have social and recreation activities as well as receiving care in a facility with behavioral health services, Spanish-speaking staff, case management—and even learning English as a second language.

I will never forget the first child who arrived on the long bus ride to southern California from the border. A little, disheveled, four-year old boy departed from the bus alone carrying two plastic bags as tall as he was, filled with all of his worldly possessions. He was dazed and scared not knowing what was next. The little boy was immediately sent to intake with other children, examined, offered a shower and snacks, and assigned a bed where he could rest and recuperate from the long journey.

My fondest memory was of a small Mayan girl about eight years old who sat up on her bed and began to sing a song from her church. Her voice was beautiful and pleasant. This euphonious voice resonated with the other girls in the dorm. One by one, others joined in with her. I will never forget that moment. It was so sweet to see others chiming in. It made the Mayan girl smile. That beautiful, haunting voice made me cry knowing that she was alone and had traveled so far. Soon after she arrived in southern California, she was reunited with her family.

It seems that these children can manage and endure difficult times. Based on my experience, I expect the children will thrive once they have rejoined their families. I am reminded that the United States of America was built by and on the backs of immigrants. We all come from somewhere and must learn to embrace each other's culture, language, and traditions. These children will enrich American society in the future.

In May of 2016, Richard Reeves from the Brookings Institute wrote an article entitled "In defense of immigrants: Here is why American needs them more than ever."² He says "America is stuck," and we are! We need immigrants to get us unstuck and grow in ways that contribute to culturally rich businesses and help cities thrive throughout the country.

Immigrants bring new...