Immigration in Social Work

In a world with growing political uncertainty and unrest, we continue to see large numbers of people who need to migrate for their safety. Many of the conditions that force them to migrate were created by the wealthy through the geopolitical and geoeconomic policies of the Global North countries. At the same time, there is an increase in restrictive immigration policies in the US. With the threat of family separation and mass deportations that have inflicted systemic trauma on immigrant communities, there is an ongoing need for intervention. Historically, the profession has long claimed to be committed to social justice. Now we must move that commitment into action to protect our neighbors, advocate for their rights, and lobby for changes in immigration policies and practices. We cannot sit back while ICE systematically violates human rights.

To exact change, we must shift in the direction of supporting immigrants, as well as addressing the violence and discrimination they face at every stage of migration. As social workers, we must equip ourselves with advocacy tools that help ensure the dignity and worth of all individuals, regardless of their legal status.