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Lelwala NagithaCopy of AmLa 80 Zoom Spring 2025

Professor Esther Lee

Amla 80 Spring

18 April 2025

Immigration Myths

Immigration has always been a part of the history of the United States. However, many people still believe myths about immigrants that are not true. （These myths can hurt how others treat immigrants and how immigrants feel about themselves. One of the most damaging myths is that immigrants are lazy and do not want to work. This essay will explain why this myth is harmful, what problems it causes, and how we can fight against it. As stated in “Ten Myths About Immigration”, “This myth continues despite overwhelming evidence that immigrants work hard in difficult jobs and are essential to the U.S. economy” (“Ten Myths about Immigration”).） This myth ignores the deeper reasons why people migrate, such as poverty and family separation. The myth that immigrants are lazy is very harmful because unfair treatment ignores the real reasons people move, like poverty and wanting to be with family and it hurts both immigrants and their communities.

One common myth from “Ten Myths About Immigration” is that immigrants are lazy and take advantage of the system. This is not true. In reality, many immigrants work very hard, often in difficult jobs that others do not want to do. These jobs include farming, cleaning, and construction. The article says, “Immigrants are more likely to be working than native-born citizens” (“Ten Myths About Immigration”). Many immigrants come to the U.S. not for free benefits, but to escape economic struggles. In The Distance Between Us, Papi says, “There was no future for us in Mexico” (Grande 24), showing how poverty pushed him to find work in the U.S. His dream was to reunite the family and give them a better life, which reflects the themes of both economics and family. 

This myth can lead to many negative consequences for both immigrants and the communities they live in. When people believe immigrants are lazy, they may not want to hire them or treat them fairly. This can lead to discrimination at work or in schools. In The Distance Between Us, Reyna writes, “We were treated like we didn’t belong, like we weren’t good enough, simply because we were immigrants” (Grande 184). These myths affect how immigrants are seen in society, even if they work hard every day. “The Distance between Us” is shown when Mago hides Papi’s abuse from Mami to protect the family (Grande 163). Immigrants often deal with emotional and physical struggles while being blamed unfairly. In “A Brief History of Immigration in the U.S.”, it says, “Immigration policy has often been shaped by political fear rather than facts” (“Brief History”), connecting to the theme of politics and how myths affect national policies. 

To fight against the consequences of this myth, we need to take action. First, we can educate others with facts. For example, the Somali woman in “How a Somali Refugee is Creating Community in Minnesota “built a welcoming center to support other refugees and connect people from different backgrounds (“Somali Refugee”). This proves that immigrants are active, hardworking members of society. Second, we need to listen to immigrant voices. In “The Danger of a Single Story”, Adichie warns, “The problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete” (Adichie). This shows how myths limit how we understand people. If we listen to more stories like The Distance Between Us, we learn about the poverty, danger, and family struggles that drive people to immigrate, not laziness. When people hear real immigrant stories, they are less likely to believe the false myths. This helps everyone understand each other better.

In conclusion, the myth that immigrants are lazy is one of the most hurtful myths because it leads to unfair treatment and makes it harder for immigrants to succeed. It ignores the poverty, economic struggles, and family sacrifices that many immigrants face. By sharing real stories and facts, we can change people’s minds and build more understanding communities. As “A Brief History of Immigration in the U.S.” reminds us, “Immigrants have shaped every part of American life, and they continue to contribute in powerful ways today” (“Brief History”). We must reject harmful myths and choose compassion and truth instead.

Works Cited

Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi. *The Danger of a Single Story*. TED Talk, 7 October 

2009.

“A Brief History of Immigration in the U.S.” Learning for Justice, 

https://www.learningforjustice.org/classroom-resources/lessons/a-brief-history-of-

immigration-in-the-us.

Grande, Reyna. "*The Distance Between Us: Young Readers Edition"*. Simon & 

Schuster, 2016.

“How a Somali Refugee Is Creating Community in Minnesota.” Facing History and 

Ourselves, 

https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/how-somali-refugee-creating-com

munity-minnesota.

“Ten Myths About Immigration.” American Immigration Council, 

https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/top-10-myths-about-immi

gration. Accessed