National Association of Social Workers

From the President

A United Front on Immigration

By Elvira Craig de Silva, DSW, ACSW

As a country, we tend to be very proud of the heritage provided by the various waves of immigration. However, we also tend to become protectionists when the economic and cultural scales get unbalanced and we perceive the newcomers as a threat to our financial status and way of life. When this is the case, immigrants are seen more as invaders than as contributors. The generosity of the past gets trampled by the fears of the present.

In December 2005, the U.S. House of Representatives passed border control legislation that includes enlisting the help of local law enforcement authorities to stop the entrance of undocumented immigrants; requiring all U.S. employers to verify legal status of their workers; and building a fence along part of the U.S.-Mexico border. In addition, a related proposal was submitted in January 2005 to require hospitals that want to continue receiving government subsidies to ask emergency room patients about their immigration status.

The topic of immigration creates feelings of ambivalence among most people in our country. However, for a nation historically defined by the struggles and accomplishments of immigrants, these recent actions should greatly concern all social workers committed to the profession's core values of human rights and social justice.

Throughout history, social workers have been instrumental in helping newcomers of all descriptions make the transition into American society. Social workers have also worked with communities that receive immigrants, preparing them for increased diversity and new complexity in cultural dynamics. But this legacy will be tarnished if we watch idly as years of progress disintegrate into a pile of questionable political motives and re-energized fears of foreign "invaders."

Immigrants are a significant portion of the U.S. population. In many cases, they leave their countries out of desperation. They may become vulnerable to prostitution, human trafficking, substandard living conditions, job abuses, detrimental health conditions, extreme safety issues. Whatever the situation, immigrants face a series of stress-producing events that result in the need for assistance and support.

NASW's policy statement on immigrants and refugees states that "the plight of refugees and immigrants [must] be considered on the basis of human values and needs, rather than on the basis of an ideological struggle related to foreign policy."

The current political context of immigration makes the job of social workers much harder and more perilous. It endangers human rights and civil liberties of immigrants, refugees and social service workers.

As social workers, we must present a politically active, united front to stem the disappearance of services and resources and ensure equal protection from discrimination for all immigrants, refugees and undocumented individuals who come to live in the U.S. To do nothing is to ignore the core of who we are and what our profession stands for.

Social workers must continue to be part of — and in some instances lead — discussions where decisions about immigration status and rights are being made. Social workers can push for the development and implementation of fair and humane domestic immigration laws, knowing that healthy families will result.

We have done it before. When a proposal was made in the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act to help hospitals defray the cost of providing emergency services to undocumented and uninsured patients, social workers made the case that trying to obtain immigrant-status information from families would place social service workers in the role of de facto immigration investigators.

As many families are composed of both documented and undocumented immigrants, this type of interrogation would prevent individuals from seeking and using necessary services due to fear of prison or deportation. It would also severely hinder the patient/provider relationship.

NASW's advocacy with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services during this debate explained the negative consequences on the health of patients, their families and the public and helped get the provision withdrawn. Now, as social service agencies — religious and secular — as well as immigration groups have begun to rally against new measures passed in the Border Security Bill, it is time again for social work to be alert and get more involved.

To comment to Elvira Craig de Silva: president@naswdc.org

From February 2006 NASW News. © 2006 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. NASW News articles may be copied for personal use, but proper notice of copyright and credit to the NASW News must appear on all copies made. This permission does not apply to reproduction for advertising, promotion, resale, or other commercial purposes.