Washington, DC — In a new Fourth of July op-ed for Salon, Vanessa Cárdenas, Executive Director of America’s Voice, and Héctor Sánchez Barba, President and CEO of Mi Familia Vota, call for a bold and honest reckoning with the right’s anti-immigrant narrative, and a reclaiming of the truth about immigrants’ contributions to the United States. The piece warns of the dangerous consequences of disinformation and dehumanization, and lays out a path forward grounded in values, facts, and the rich contributions of immigrants in America.
Below, read key excerpts from Vanessa Cárdenas’ op-ed in Salon, “How We Can Reclaim the Truth About Immigration”:
“The Donald Trump–Stephen Miller anti-immigrant machine didn’t emerge overnight. It was deliberately built — brick by brick, lie by lie… It worked. The noise became deafening. The disinformation echo chamber grew. And now we are witnessing its dangerous consequences — in policy, in rhetoric and in real people’s lives.”
“Most immigrants are not criminals. They are our coworkers and classmates. Our neighbors and friends. They are nurses, construction workers, teachers, and small business owners… These are not just immigrant stories. They are American stories.”
“The truth? Immigrants are building America every day. They fuel our economy, care for our families, and enrich our culture… And with an aging workforce and slowing population growth, immigrants are not just a benefit. They’re essential to America’s future prosperity.”
“We must use this moment to ask deeper questions: Why do people come to the U.S.? What happens when they arrive? And how do we build a 21st-century immigration system that reflects both our values and our interests?”
“When Ronald Reagan first used the phrase ‘Make America Great Again,’ he was also referring to immigrants… In this moment when entire communities are under attack, let’s make it clear that immigrants have always been central to America’s recipe of success — and they always will be.”
