Did You Know...?
- In the U.S. immigrants account for more than 50% of workers (link is external) in cleaning, landscaping, personal appearance, and graders/sorters of agricultural products—each of these sectors is low-paying and does not typically provide health insurance or paid sick leave.
- In Canada, 35% of immigrant workers (link is external) are in accommodation and food services. These sectors tend to be low-paying, and in the U.S. do not typically provide health insurance or paid sick leave
- Immigrant children tend to achieve education levels (link is external) equal to or exceeding that of their native-born peers, despite a language barrier that often inhibits their parents from helping with their homework.
- In the U.S., asylum-seekers are imprisoned (detained) or returned to dangerous territories in Mexico to live in makeshift camps while they await their court hearing. These overcrowded and unsanitary detention centers and camps are hotbeds for infectious diseases and have limited medical resources available in the inevitable event of a Covid-19 outbreak. (link is external)
- Both Canada (link is external) and the U.S (link is external). have restricted the right to seek asylum during the coronovirus pandemic, despite the dubious effects of shutting down borders (link is external)..
- Many immigrants are afraid to visit foodbanks because of the Trump Administration’s policy (link is external) that anyone who uses government aid or is deemed likely to become a “public charge” will not be able to seek U.S. citizenship.
- The Supreme Court is scheduled to rule on DACA (link is external) in June. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants and their families are waiting to hear their fate while dealing with this health crisis.
10 Things You Can Do to Help Immigrants RIGHT NOW
- Contact immigrants you know and check on their needs.*
- In the U.S. share Spanish resources (link is external) from the CDC website.
- Order local take-out, purchase restaurant gift cards, or buy fast food. Help to keep immigrant workers employed.
- Make yourself available to immigrant neighbors for homework help or tutoring—over the phone or by Zoom.
- If you hire an immigrant to clean your home or do yard work for you, continue to pay them even if you are not using their services temporarily due to social distancing.
- Or Donate to the National Domestic Workers Alliance’s Coronavirus Care Fund (link is external) today!
- Start a virtual food drive: Go to your local food bank (link is external) and fill a virtual box. When you are done, share the link with friends.
- Join or start a Neighborhood Quarantine Response Team (link is external) to offer your services, such as buying groceries for neighbors in need.
- In the U.S. as the federal government provides critical aid to American workers, continue to encourage support for low-paid workers who are not Americans, including those who might be undocumented. They, too, have families and children who need food—and they often do pay taxes (link is external).
- In the U.S. advocate for safe conditions and healthcare (link is external) for migrants and asylum-seekers in detention centers to protect them during this pandemic. Or better yet, urge Congress to adopt alternatives to detention and avoid this public health risk altogether.
- Tell the Supreme Court to do the right thing — Delay ruling on DACA during a global health crisis (link is external)!
*Remember: Never offer legal advice or advice on dealing with government agencies. You may unintentionally put your friend at risk. If an undocumented immigrant asks you a questions about receiving unemployment, refer them to their lawyer or immigration support like Catholic Charities.
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