Fighting the "Invisible Enemy": Discrimination Against Immigrants During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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By Nina Simone Grotch

Recently, the Trump administration recently attempted to use the coronavirus pandemic to halt all immigration into the U.S. for the next 60 days. From racist comments to pending legislation, immigrants and others perceived as foreigners have been continually blamed and othered during this health crisis. These words and actions have very real consequences and escalate fear and prejudice during already uncertain times.

 
The Statue of Liberty wearing a white face mask

The Statue of Liberty wearing a white face mask

 

RECENT NEWS

The wave of COVID-19 infections and deaths in the United States has highlighted the enormous social disparities. Many of the “essential workers” who continue to work despite very real health concerns are immigrants, who are disproportionately represented in many fields that are on the front lines, including doctors, nurses, hospital workers, farmworkers, and home health workers. According to the International Rescue Committee, “Refugees and immigrants are integral to the coronavirus response in the United States with 17 percent of the health system made up of immigrants, and 29 percent of doctors born outside of the country.”[1]

Huge numbers of undocumented workers are also employed in industries that are most negatively impacted by the shelter-in-place orders; working as chefs and busboys, domestic workers, and childcare providers before the orders were imposed, many have been left furloughed or unemployed. The U.S. economy relies on these undocumented workers yet limits their access to legal immigration. They are held up as “heroes” while being denied this basic human right.

Due to the devastating unemployment rates, the government is assisting many Americans in the form of a stimulus payment.  Despite contributing billions in federal and state taxes, undocumented American workers are ineligible for this benefit. Even some American citizens who are married to undocumented workers have been denied. A lawsuit is currently challenging this policy, claiming that punishing Americans for who they marry constitutes illegal discrimination.

“INVISIBLE ENEMies”

President Trump’s language reflects the same anti-immigrant bias that are behind his administration’s policies. Many in the administration now refer to the coronavirus as “the invisible enemy.” This phrase has a troubling history that is worth examining. Historically, the term “invisible enemies” has been used to describe immigrants, Jews, and anyone outside of mainstream society. These “enemies” have been accused of spreading disease, stealing jobs from citizens, and for a host of other problems. By conflating COVID-19 with immigrants, the administration has attempted to shift the blame for its own missteps and mishandling of the virus to immigrants and others.

Unfortunately, none of this is new or specific to the United States. Leaders throughout history have identified and blamed scapegoats to stir up fear and anger of the other while deflecting responsibility. In times of hardships – epidemics, natural disasters, and economic downturns, for example – immigrants and “outsiders” are often scapegoated. Examples from our own history include: the Chinese Exclusion Act, the deportation of hundreds of thousands of Mexicans and Mexican-American workers during the Great Depression, and post-9/11 Islamophobia.

IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS

International human rights laws and standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, include protections for immigrants.

  • The UDHR states that the family is the fundamental group unit of society and as such is entitled to protection by the State. By withholding stimulus checks from citizens who are married to non-citizens (and their children), the administration is directly impacting family units across the country, privileging some families over others.

  • Article 25 of the UDHR states that everyone has a right to “a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family.” Without financial assistance, adequate medical care, or other resources, many immigrants and their families are being further harm and marginalization.  

Immigrant rights are human rights. It is crucial that immigrant communities receive support during times of crises.

WHAT CAN EDUCATORS DO?

  • Push back against xenophobic statements. If you see anti-immigrant content online, report it.

  • Call and email elected officials to share your thoughts about increasing xenophobia in your community.

  • Organize a campaign at your school or in your community to raise awareness of the issue and to counter misinformation about COVID-19 with accurate statistics and information.

  • Assignment: Have students select two or three recent news stories about immigration, then carefully analyze the wording to look for bias. Students can write a short essay about their findings and how specific words and phrases are used to promote certain viewpoints.

RESOURCES

NOTES

[1] International Rescue Committee, “Resettlement and asylum: Refugees in America - Crisis Watch,” rescue.org, https://www.rescue.org/topic/refugees-america (accessed April 27, 2020).