The Double Standard of Immigration: Who Gets to Succeed?
The Immigrant Success Story You Haven’t Heard
Imagine a young woman, born in Arizona to Mexican immigrant parents during the Great Depression.
At just eight years old, she and her family were deported to Mexico amidst widespread anti-immigrant sentiment.
Undeterred, she returned to the United States at 18, settling in Los Angeles with only a few dollars to her name.
Through resilience and determination, she started a small tortilla business that flourished into a multimillion-dollar enterprise.
Her name? Romana Acosta Bañuelos—the first Latina Treasurer of the United States, serving from 1971 to 1974.
Yet, despite her remarkable achievements, Bañuelos's story remains relatively unknown compared to high-profile immigrant entrepreneurs like Elon Musk.
Who Gets to Be the ‘Right’ Kind of Immigrant?
Elon Musk, a white South African immigrant, is celebrated as the epitome of the American Dream.
He co-founded Tesla, SpaceX, and other tech giants, becoming one of the richest individuals in the world.
His story is held up as proof that America rewards talent and hard work, regardless of where you come from.
But here’s the ethical contradiction: If Musk had immigrated from Mexico or Nigeria instead of South Africa, would his journey have been the same?
Would a Mexican Musk have been granted the same visa opportunities?
Would an African Musk have been welcomed into elite networks of funding and investment?
The truth is, immigrants of color face far more barriers—not just in gaining entry into the U.S. but in accessing opportunities once they are here.
The Double Standard in Immigration Policy
The U.S. has a long history of favoring European and wealthy immigrants while placing extreme restrictions on immigrants from Latin America, Africa, and other non-European regions.
Consider these facts:
High-Skilled Immigration Bias: Nearly 75% of employment-based green cards in the U.S. go to workers from just five countries, mostly in Asia and Europe, while immigrants from Central and South America are underrepresented.
Wealth Requirements: The U.S. investor visa (EB-5) requires immigrants to invest at least $800,000 to qualify for residency—favoring the rich over working-class immigrants.
Racial Bias in Deportations: Undocumented European immigrants make up 11% of the U.S. undocumented population, yet 95% of deportations target individuals from Latin America.
America loves the idea of immigrant success, but only when it fits a particular mold.
What If We Valued All Immigrants the Same?
This isn’t just about fairness—it’s about national progress.
Some of the most innovative, economy-boosting, job-creating businesses have been started by immigrants, yet we continue to close the doors on the very people who could help build our future.
As Pope Francis has said:
"Migrants are not a danger – they are in danger."
And Barack Obama reminded us:
"We are a nation of immigrants. The simple fact is that America’s success has been driven by its ability to welcome and harness the talents of those born elsewhere."
What if, instead of fear and exclusion, we embraced a humanist approach to immigration—one that values people not for where they were born, but for what they can contribute?
The Call to Action: Rethinking the Narrative
The American Dream should not be reserved only for those with European heritage or inherited privilege. It should be available to all who seek to build a better life—just as it was for Romana Acosta Bañuelos, Elon Musk, and countless others who dared to dream.
Immigration is not a threat. It is our greatest strength.
Let’s stop treating success as a privilege for the few and instead create pathways for all people to thrive—no matter where they come from.
Stay Curious. Stay Human. And Always, Be Kind.
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