As a dedicated healthcare worker at a nursing home, I take immense pride in caring for our senior residents. Among them are grandparents, retired US veterans, teachers, and doctors who have spent their lives serving others. It is a privilege to offer them the high-quality care and respect they deserve.
I moved to the US from Honduras as a teenager to reunite with my parents. I worked diligently to excel academically, learn English, complete high school, and become a certified nurse assistant. Thanks to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, North Carolina is now my home, where I strive to contribute to my community. I have also started a family and am the proud mother of two boys, aged 8 and 6.
I am one of more than 800,000 young adults, often referred to as “Dreamers,” who have received work permits and protection from deportation through DACA. After passing a background check, I, along with approximately 24,000 other Dreamers in North Carolina, have been able to build our lives here. We are studying, raising families, and contributing to our communities and the economy through our hard work and taxes. Immigrant workers, like myself, are ready to fill essential roles and ensure that our aging population receives the care they need.
The baseless accusations made by some federal and state politicians, blaming immigrants for rising crime rates and other issues, are not only deeply offensive but also create a hostile environment in our communities. This fear-mongering fosters unnecessary mistrust and should be strongly condemned.
The spread of fear affects everyone, not just immigrant communities. Many of us, regardless of immigration status, face racial profiling and unfair treatment. This makes us reluctant to report crimes or accidents to the police, fearing judgment based on our appearance or how we speak. The fear generated by these accusations often makes us anxious about going to work, worried that we might be questioned or detained due to our appearance.
It is time for politicians to stop using immigrants as scapegoats and address the real issues facing our communities. Climate change is worsening storms in the Carolinas, and access to affordable healthcare, housing, and safety from gun violence are critical for our well-being. Recently, a student at my local high school brought a gun to school, highlighting a real threat to our children and communities.
The truth is that immigrant workers like myself are here to make valuable contributions to our country, support our neighbors, and ensure the well-being of our families.
The thought of returning to a government agenda that seeks to separate families and place children in cages is unbearable. Such policies would not only impact my American children but also the senior residents who rely on me for their daily care and well-being. It is clear that some politicians with extreme agendas are intent on causing harm.
For Dreamers like me, the choice is clear this November. We cannot and will not go back.
— Esther Alejandra Sierra, a DACA recipient and Certified Nurse Assistant in Durham