Immigration is always a hot-button issue in Arizona, and this year it dominated as a national issue in the election as the current administration’s inability to meaningfully stem the tide of migrants from south of the border turned into one of the primary hot-button issues of the year. Even after the election it is continuing as a major issue, as Elon Musk’s statements regarding H-1B visas have sparked a small-scale civil war amongst conservatives.
Lost in the political battles are the success stories of immigration however, and Arizona’s November election provides two of such.
Yassamin Ansari and Abe Hamadeh took their oaths of office last Friday and are now members of Congress representing Arizona, and while they are very, very different, they both have one significant commonality: they are success stories of immigration.
Ansari traces her roots to Iran, where her parents were born. Her father came to the United States for college, but after the Islamic revolution there found himself on the wrong side of the regime and unable to go back home without severe consequences. He built a life for himself as an engineer and then an entrepreneur and became an American success story, paving the way for his daughter to reach impressive political heights at the ripe young age of 32.
Less is known about Hamadeh’s family, but it is known that they immigrated from Syria, presumably in search of a better life like so many. Like Ansari, they set the state for Hamadeh’s success and opportunities that would undoubtedly be impossible in the war-torn country, and Hamadeh is set to join Congress at a similarly young age of 33.
While Ansari’s family lineage wasn’t scrutinized so much, as doing so would be considered highly problematic in Democratic circles, it is worth noting that Hamadeh’s background was the source of many ugly and sometimes racist charges. There was a website made about him with a title mentioning Sharia Law, a charge that is patently absurd fearmongering, and baseless charges of him being in the pocket of extremist Islam dominated the Republican primary. The darkest aspects of Republican politics came to light in a major way and exemplified issues that immigrants have to deal with regularly.
It is easy to throw the baby out with the bathwater and see all immigration through the prism of those who are crossing our southern border to pursue a better life, but often do so through illegal means and with the help of bad actors. But at its best, immigration is a source to bring some of the best and brightest to contribute to the greatness of America.
We have plenty of people who take this country for granted, who are willing to coast with the relative ease that this country provides as a first world nation. Shouldn’t we give a bit more respect to those who are willing to work their tails off to contribute to its greatness?