First-Generation Immigrants: Struggles, Success & The American Dream!

1st Generation Immigrant: When Does My American-ness Count?

I am a 43-year-old man who has been in this country since I was 10 years old. I’ve lived, worked, and paid my dues—probably more in taxes than some of these so-called "real Americans" ever will. And yet, I still have to watch some peckerwood racist walk around with his chest puffed out, acting like being born white in this country automatically makes him more American than me.

What’s worse? Some of these people haven’t even been alive as long as I’ve been here. I’ve spent decades contributing to this country, but to them, my existence is still an inconvenience. Their privilege isn’t just about opportunity—it’s about entitlement. They believe that by simply being white, they deserve more. More respect. More rights. More opportunities.

But let’s be real—what did either of us do to "earn" where we were born? Nothing. I didn’t choose to be born in another country, and he didn’t choose to be born here. Yet somehow, he’s convinced that his American-ness is superior to mine.

This mentality isn’t random. It’s programmed. It’s the result of generations of hate passed down like an inheritance, reinforcing the idea that whiteness equals ownership of America. That’s why immigrants—especially Black and brown ones—are always the scapegoats. The system feeds them the lie that we are stealing something from them, when in reality, it’s their own leaders robbing them blind.

This is why MAGA hates immigrants. This is why they blame DEI and affirmative action instead of questioning their own shortcomings. It’s easier to believe that someone "stole" your job than to accept that you weren’t the most qualified for it.

So let’s talk about how hate is seeded into the minds of white America—how it keeps them angry, keeps them ignorant, and keeps them fighting against the very people who should be their allies. Because the real problem isn’t immigrants, it’s the system that convinces them we are the enemy.

Why MAGA Hates Immigrants: The Easy Scapegoat for Their Own Failures

Hate is easy. Accountability is hard. That’s the real reason why so many people in the MAGA movement have such a deep-seated resentment toward immigrants. Instead of facing the reality that their struggles—whether economic, social, or personal—are often the result of their own actions or systemic issues, it’s easier to point fingers at “the other.” Immigrants, people of color, and policies aimed at equity become their scapegoats.

This isn’t new. Blame has always been a tool used by those who refuse to take responsibility for their own downfalls. We see it in workplaces, in politics, and in conversations across the country. It’s a cycle of ignorance, fueled by those in power who benefit from keeping people angry at the wrong targets.

The Job Market Myth: “They Took Our Jobs”

One of the loudest MAGA talking points is that immigrants are “stealing jobs” from hardworking Americans. But let’s break that down.

Imagine a company hires 12 white workers and 3 Black workers. Now, let’s say a few white applicants didn’t get hired. Instead of questioning whether they were the best candidates or what those 12 white employees did to secure their positions, they direct their anger at the 3 Black workers.

“They took our jobs.”

No consideration for qualifications. No acknowledgment that maybe those 3 Black hires worked just as hard, if not harder, to earn their place. This is the same mentality MAGA supporters apply to immigration.

Immigrants aren’t taking jobs—many of them are doing the jobs that Americans won’t. Agriculture, construction, caregiving—industries that desperately need workers are often carried by immigrant labor. Meanwhile, companies making hiring decisions prioritize cost-cutting and profit over fair wages for all workers, yet somehow, the anger never gets directed at those making those decisions. It gets aimed at the immigrant trying to survive.

The Political Manipulation of Hate

What makes this cycle worse is that intelligent but misguided figures—politicians, media personalities, and business elites—feed this ignorance and turn it into a political weapon. Instead of encouraging personal growth, education, and economic independence, they fuel resentment.

They tell struggling white Americans that their problems aren’t caused by:

• The billionaire class hoarding wealth

• Corporations outsourcing jobs for cheap labor

• A broken education system that limits opportunities

Instead, they tell them:

• It’s the immigrant taking your job.

• It’s affirmative action keeping you from getting ahead.

• It’s DEI making it harder for white men to succeed.

None of these are facts, but the narrative is effective. It gives people an external enemy rather than forcing them to reflect on the realities of capitalism and systemic inequality that harm everyone, regardless of race.

The Legacy of Racism in America

The hatred toward immigrants is just an extension of the deep-seated racial biases that have plagued America for centuries. The real issue isn’t slavery itself—because every civilization in history has had some form of slavery. The problem in America is that white America has never let go of the mentality that came with slavery.

• In Africa, Europe, and Latin America, former colonies have built new societies and moved forward.

• In the U.S., racism was embedded into the system so deeply that civil rights remain a constant battle.

• The resentment against Black progress, Latino immigration, and other marginalized groups comes from the same place: a belief that these people were never supposed to demand equality.

The MAGA mindset, at its core, is about preserving an old racial and social hierarchy where white men never have to compete fairly. That’s why they fight so hard against policies that level the playing field. That’s why they blame Black workers, DEI initiatives, and immigrants instead of looking inward.

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At the end of the day, the problem with America isn’t immigrants. It isn’t DEI. It isn’t affirmative action.

The real problem is a refusal to take responsibility. It’s easier to hate than to reflect. It’s easier to blame than to improve.

If MAGA supporters really wanted to fix their problems, they’d be demanding fair wages, affordable education, and better job training programs. But that requires effort. It’s easier to point at an immigrant and say, “They did this to me.”

And that is the real tragedy of their ignorance.

What’s even more fascinating is how they champion a president and a political party that actively works to destroy the education system for the lower class. They cheer as funding is slashed from public schools, as college becomes more unaffordable, and as vocational training programs disappear. Then, when they find themselves unqualified for high-paying jobs, those same politicians turn around and import highly educated immigrants on H-1B visas to do the work they can’t.

And yet, despite being trapped in this cycle, they still believe the lie that immigrants are the problem.

It’s the craziest case of a dog chasing its own tail. They are, in some twisted way, right—immigrants are taking their jobs. But not because of DEI, not because of affirmative action, and not because of some liberal conspiracy. Immigrants are taking their jobs because they refuse to demand better education and economic policies for themselves. Instead, they buy into the very system that’s keeping them stuck.

And that, more than anything, is the saddest irony of them all.

The Crime Myth: Who’s Really Committing the Crimes?

Another key MAGA claim is that immigrants bring crime. Yet study after study has proven that citizens commit more violent crimes than immigrants. FBI and DHS reports have repeatedly shown that undocumented immigrants actually have lower crime rates than native-born Americans.

But facts don’t matter when the goal is to fuel hate. MAGA politicians push the idea of immigrant crime because fear is a powerful motivator. It’s easier to tell people that immigrants are bringing danger to their communities than to address the real sources of crime: poverty, lack of education, and systemic failures.

Take a look at the charts . You’ll see just in 2019 the difference in crime convictions between immigrants and non-immigrants. Non-immigrants overwhelmingly commit more crimes than illegal immigrants, yet people still push the false narrative that undocumented individuals are driving crime rates. The numbers tell a different story.

Go Back to Your Country”: The Insult That Makes No Sense

One of the most common, tired, and illogical insults hurled at first-generation immigrants is, “Go back to your country.” This phrase is often used by individuals who see themselves as the “real Americans,” but the irony is this isn’t their country either.

America is a nation of immigrants built on stolen land. The only people who could rightfully say, “Go back to where you came from,” are Native Americans, whose land was taken through colonization, genocide, and forced displacement. If there is any group of people who have the moral authority to challenge someone’s claim to this land, it’s them—not the descendants of European settlers who benefited from centuries of oppression.

A Nation Built on Immigration—But Selective Acceptance

America has always been a melting pot of cultures, yet history shows a consistent pattern: every new wave of immigrants has been met with hatred, discrimination, and demands to “go back.”

• The Irish (1800s-1900s): When the Irish arrived in the 19th century, they were viewed as subhuman, uneducated, and unworthy of being “real Americans.” They were called "white n*****s," denied jobs, and accused of bringing crime and disease.

• The Chinese (1882): The Chinese Exclusion Act was the first federal law in U.S. history to ban immigration based on race. Chinese workers built America’s railroads, yet they were told to “go back.”

• Italians & Eastern Europeans (1900s): Southern and Eastern European immigrants were treated as “non-white” and blamed for crime and economic struggles. The Immigration Act of 1924 severely limited their entry into the U.S.

• Mexicans & Latin Americans (1940s-Present): Despite millions of Latin Americans contributing to the economy, working in industries like agriculture, construction, and service jobs, they are still demonized as “illegal aliens” and blamed for taking jobs—jobs that most Americans won’t even do.

What’s the common thread? Every time a new group of first-generation immigrants arrives, they are treated as outsiders, no matter how much they contribute to the country.

The Hypocrisy of White American Identity

Many of the same people who yell “Go back to your country” are descendants of European immigrants themselves—people whose ancestors fled famine, persecution, war, and economic hardship to come to the U.S. Yet, they conveniently forget their own family’s history and act as if their American-

ness is inherent while others must "earn" it.

According to the Pew Research Center, as of 2023:

• 77% of Americans have immigrant ancestry within the past three generations.

• 13.6% of the U.S. population is foreign-born, the highest percentage in over a century.

• Immigrants contribute $2 trillion to the U.S. GDP annually.

Despite these facts, first-generation immigrants are still told they don’t belong—by people whose families were in the exact same position just a few generations ago.

Whose Land Is It, Really? The Native American Perspective

If anyone has the right to say, “This isn’t your country,” it’s Indigenous Americans, who were here long before European settlers arrived.

• The U.S. Government signed over 500 treaties with Native American tribes—and broke nearly all of them.

• Between 1492 and 1900, the Native American population dropped from 10 million to 250,000, due to forced removal, massacres, and disease.

• The Indian Removal Act (1830) led to the Trail of Tears, where over 100,000 Native Americans were forcibly relocated, and thousands died along the way.

The entire foundation of the U.S. was built on stolen land, broken promises, and forced assimilation—yet, ironically, the descendants of those who took this land now claim the right to decide who gets to stay.

First-Generation Immigrants Are More American Than You Think

What does it even mean to be American? If we go by the principles of hard work, perseverance, and a belief in opportunity, then first-generation immigrants often embody those ideals more than anyone.

• They work longer hours and take on jobs many refuse to do.

• They start businesses at double the rate of U.S.-born citizens.

• They serve in the military at higher rates than native-born Americans—proving their commitment to defending a country that doesn’t always defend them.

If being American means contributing to the nation’s success, then first-generation immigrants are more American than those who sit on the sidelines, spewing hate while benefiting from an immigration system that once allowed their ancestors in.

So the next time someone yells, “Go back to your country,” let’s be clear:
This country isn’t yours to claim, and it never was.

The American Dream Comes at a Cost: Navigating the Immigration System

For many first-generation immigrants, the journey to American citizenship isn’t just about hard work and perseverance—it’s also about surviving a complicated, expensive, and often predatory immigration system. While the U.S. promotes itself as a land of opportunity, the reality is that the legal immigration process is deliberately lengthy, costly, and full of bureaucratic roadblocks.

The Cost of Becoming "Legal" in America

Many Americans assume that immigrants can "just do it the right way" and become citizens by filling out some paperwork and waiting in line. However, the process is far from simple:

• Application Fees – The cost of applying for citizenship (N-400) is $640 plus an $85 biometric fee, totaling $725. For many working-class immigrants, this is a significant financial burden.

• Processing Delays – On average, it takes 14 months to 2 years for a citizenship application to be processed, with green card wait times often exceeding a decade for certain nationalities.

• Legal Fees – Immigration attorneys can charge between $1,500 and $5,000 just to assist with paperwork, making legal representation a luxury that many cannot afford.

Even those who follow every rule can still be denied or delayed indefinitely due to constantly changing immigration policies, quotas, and political influences.

Beware of Immigration Scams

Desperation often forces first-generation immigrants to seek shortcuts, which makes them vulnerable to fraudulent immigration services that promise quick results but deliver nothing. Scammers posing as “immigration consultants” or “notarios” often:

• Charge thousands of dollars for fake services.

• File incorrect paperwork, leading to application denials or deportation risks.

• Disappear after taking payment, leaving immigrants without legal recourse.

To avoid falling victim to these scams, USCIS provides official resources to help immigrants find legitimate legal services. Visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website to learn how to find trusted, authorized attorneys and legal aid organizations.

America’s Immigration System: A Rigged Game?

The reality is that the system is designed to make legal immigration as difficult as possible, particularly for those from non-European countries. Some facts:

• There is no “line” for many immigrants. Quotas on family-based immigration mean some applicants must wait 20+ years for a green card.

• H-1B work visas primarily go to highly skilled professionals, but even they face annual caps and arbitrary rejections.

• Undocumented immigrants pay taxes but get no benefits. They contribute billions in taxes, yet can’t access Social Security, Medicare, or unemployment aid.

While some Americans demand that immigrants "do it the right way," they fail to recognize that the system itself is broken, outdated, and intentionally exclusionary. Until real immigration reform happens, first-generation immigrants will continue to face an uphill battle—one that they must navigate with caution, patience, and resilience.

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