PHOTO COURTESY OF JONESBORORIGHTNOW.COM

Approximately 200 protesters took to the streets of Highland Drive, Jonesboro on February 1st, 2025, to protest the mass deportations and call for immigration reform.

America has a problem: selective criticism. Have you ever heard the phrase, “America is built by immigrants?” Where does that phrase come from? 

As of 2024, studies show 46% of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or children of immigrants. Famous food chains such as Jollibees, Charley’s Philly Steaks and El Pollo Loco are created and owned by immigrants.

In the town of Jonesboro alone, we have hundreds of small businesses owned or majority run by immigrants who come from different countries, including famous grocery chains and restaurants like the Asian Food Market, Bodega and Taste of India. 

Another phrase, “they are taking our jobs!” strikes a personal nerve with me as an international student. Most of us come here paying triple tuition compared to in-state students, competing against native English speakers and building connections from the ground up just to be able to have the same opportunities as everyone else. 

When coming from a third-world country, the currency conversion alone is astronomical. Also, international students coming into universities cannot even work outside of campus.

Moreover, we do not even qualify for more than half the institutional scholarships and we cannot even apply for financial aid unless it is a private university–and we all know how expensive those are.

All this rant, just to say, we are really in a lose-lose situation here. However, instead of wallowing in a depressive rant, I want to focus on the many contributions immigrants have provided to America.

One of the most important contributions immigrants have made to this country is their influence on the labor force. Many major industries, including health services, construction and retail, rely heavily on immigrant workers.

Apart from contributing to the existing industries, we are often driven to create opportunities for ourselves, including startups like Discord, Uber and Instacart. These startups not only provide opportunities for other immigrants, but also for American citizens.

Widely used platforms such as Discord, LinkedIn, Instagram and Snapchat are all co-founded by immigrants or children of immigrants, and they provide not only job opportunities but also a space for content creators to share their creativity. 

To be clear, I am in no way discrediting the hard-working Americans who work for their opportunities and pull their weight. All I’m saying is don’t discriminate against the people who come to this country and have to fight for equal opportunity.  

If you are one of those people who say that immigrants or international students are coming here and taking your jobs, maybe try to get to it first, then? Or maybe you were never qualified enough for it to begin with; that is why someone from a third-world country had to come and step in. 

When you enjoy your quesadillas, made by a sweet Mexican lady in a food truck, remember the fact that these people simply come here to make a living for themselves, often making your life more exciting. For example, bringing their food cultures into this diverse potluck.

So, no, we are not stealing or even trying to push you away from your jobs. Take it as a challenge, if you will. Immigrants make this country more colorful, tasteful and interesting. Instead of making hurtful comments to push them away, try to understand what they bring to the table. 

Categories: Opinion