Internacionales

Opinión: From 9/11 to COVID-19… and immigrants are still in the shadows

Immigrant workers were there during the tragedy of September 11, 2001 (9/11). 20 years later, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, they have also been here, doing what they do best, which is work. So we can ask ourselves: how and when does the United States government plan to be there for immigrants?

After 9/11, things changed for the political system in the United States. It changed the relationship between national security and the way the US government views immigration. Under the slogan of so-called “national security,” the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was born, which was created in 2002.

9/11 was also an excellent opportunity for xenophobes to label immigrants as “dangerous entities”. And many of the most punitive policies against immigrants were also born in this era.

Many of the workers who were so essential to help after the damage caused by the attacks of September 11, 2001 were never recognized for their important work. Many of these workers even became ill over the years, while others died from diseases that arose from cleaning up the mess of the days following 9/11.

The truth is that, despite times of crisis, immigrants never stop working. Just take a look at Mexico, whose remittances sent by Mexican migrants have set records in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, essential workers also take on the brunt of the work, but the enormous work they do is not recognized. Immigrants, without even realizing it, have helped make the pandemic more bearable for the American nation.

Many of them died for having committed the “sin” of being part of the essential to the workforce of the United States; they died for not having the privilege of being able to stop working and for always being at the front line of the battle.

On this 20th Anniversary of 9/11, let us remember all the victims of the attack with great respect. Let us remember with great respect those whose bodies were never identified (quite possibly, many immigrants among them). Let us remember the most forgotten, those who are essential and have given their lives since they never stopped working, not even in the most difficult moments, whether during 9/11 or COVID-19.

From the events of 9/11 to the COVID-19 pandemic; from George W. Bush to Joe Biden, immigrants remain in the shadows. Legalizing millions of undocumented immigrants through immigration reform would be an act of justice. However, Uncle Sam has not even thanked them.

Marco I. Dávila C. | Email:maidaca85@gmail.com| Facebook: Ixtli Amoxtli | Instagram: @xmiraza | Twitter: @pormiraza1

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