September 15 – October 15 is National Latinx Heritage Month. Can You Celebrate?
In 1968 President Johnson designated a week in the fall as “Hispanic Heritage Week.” That celebration, of some of our nation’s least-appreciated neighbors, was expanded in 1988 into a month-long commemoration by President Reagan and enacted into law later that year. Even though we are in the midst of that celebration, it’s likely none of us has heard a word about it. Sadly, there’s been very little celebration of our Latinx neighbors in the last few years.
National Latinx Heritage Month (originally known as Hispanic Heritage Month) is not about immigration; although, the way Latinx people have been belittled recently, almost universally stereotyped, often assailed as “illegals” (or called much worse), the words are almost synonymous. In an effort to celebrate Latinx people who live and work in the United States, people who have hopes and dreams, like all human beings, let me remind you of a few common myths about immigration.
I have mentioned immigrants/immigration many times in sermons. There are two sermon files dedicated to the topic. In a 2014 sermon entitled, “At Home: The Lesson of an Old Fool” and in a 2010 message called “When Memory Fails,” I outlined five of the myths by which our Latinx friends are often reviled. (The sermon includes more detail, but here are the basics.)
Immigrants are a drain on the economy: Undocumented workers contribute more to the economy in taxes, economic growth provided through their labor, and consumer spending than they receive in benefits. All undocumented workers pay sales and property taxes and may also pay income and social security taxes. A study in 2006 showed an annual net gain of $7 billion to the Social Security system – this is money paid in that will not be returned.
Immigrants don’t learn to speak English: English proficiency is roughly equivalent to Italian, German, Eastern-European immigration of the 18th and 19th centuries. First-century immigrants are slow to learn the language. However, second-generation immigrants are 91% fluent, and the third generation is 97% fluent.
Immigrants are criminals: Immigrants commit fewer crimes than native-born Americans. A Harvard study found that “first-generation immigrants are 45% less likely to commit violent crimes than Americanized third-generation immigrants.” Immigrants take our jobs: Studies have shown that increases in immigrant populations do not negatively impact the employment of native-born workers.
Immigrants are a burden on healthcare: Finally, claims that immigrants are a burden on the healthcare industry need to be carefully considered. “Federal, state, and local governments spend approximately 1.1 billion dollars annually for undocumented immigrants… approximately $11 in taxes for each U.S. household.” So, yes, you are spending about $11 of your money each year to provide health care for undocumented workers. All things considered, and with Jesus’ call to take care of the last and the least among us, I believe this is a price the followers of Jesus should be willing to pay.
(Most of this information comes from two fact sheets provided by the NC Council of Churches. For online help, see: www.welcometheimmigrant.org/toolbox.)
I am personally grateful for the millions of hard-working immigrants, both documented and undocumented, the citizens and the sojourners who are working tireless hours in thankless jobs, those who have come here, like our immigrant ancestors, in order to provide safety and security for their families.
In the process, immigrants contribute to the success of the nation and make life better for us all.
I ended that 2014 sermon with these words: “In the heated battle immigration has become, American Christians would do well to remember our own past: we, too, were “aliens”… “sojourners”… immigrants. We all come from somewhere else, literally, but more important than our geographic heritage is our heritage of faith. Living with an immigrant’s attitude is humble ground. A reminder that we all owe much of our success to someone else is a good place to begin as we form a political stance, and advocate policies of action.
To my Latinx brothers and sisters during this month of celebration, let me add both applause and appreciation.
Dios bendiga! (God bless you!)
- Russ Dean