Fourth of July Message on Immigration and Justice
America “is nothing” without embracing all immigrants and their quest for justice, stated a Syrian immigrant, Mahmoud Khalil, who is currently facing deportation due to his pro-Hamas advocacy and charges related to immigration fraud at Columbia University.
“Like many immigrants, I came to America seeking opportunity, stability, prosperity, and justice,” he expressed. His legal team is actively appealing his deportation case, which is heading to the U.S. Supreme Court.
He emphasized his fight, saying, “I believe America can live up to its promise. That promise is meaningless unless it means freedom and justice for everyone. Happy American Independence Day!”
Other immigrants are sharing similar sentiments, asserting that America has a promise to uphold for newcomers. For instance, on July 3, New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani, who is also an Indian Muslim immigrant, in his Independence Day address, portrayed immigrants as crucial to American history, asserting how much power individuals possess to drive the nation closer to greatness.
“The truth, my friends, is that America is exceptional because nothing here is fixed in place,” he noted, reflecting on the two-and-a-half centuries since the Declaration of Independence solidified American ideals.
Likewise, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, an Indian immigrant from Washington State, shared thoughts on her social media, highlighting how America’s greatness stems from its commitment to inclusion and opportunity for all. She mentioned, “Diversity…is our greatest strength,” and she is expected to lead the House Immigration Committee if the Democrats reclaim the majority.
In a piece for July 25, she asserted that America is a promise from its founders, not a guarantee, and emphasized that it’s everyone’s responsibility to maintain that promise. Her interactions with various immigrants, including those who have endured hardships for better lives, reaffirm her commitment to doing everything possible to fulfill it.
Interestingly, immigration lawyers interpret the Declaration of Independence as a commitment to welcoming immigrants, despite the challenges immigration presents to many Americans.
Conversely, President Donald Trump, on July 3, positioned immigration within the context of American culture, stating that a nation’s identity shapes its destiny and asserting America’s uniqueness. He also acknowledged the complexity of the situation, saying, “Whatever the reason, it is what it is.”
Views on immigration in America tend to be mixed and often contradictory, yet there is a prevalent expectation that newcomers should assimilate into the existing culture. Author Chart Westcott commented, “America’s greatness was never its ability to attract immigrants; it was its ability to turn immigrants into Americans.”
However, it’s crucial to note that some immigrants strive to preserve their unique cultures, which can sometimes clash with American norms and the principles espoused in the Declaration of Independence.
For instance, Khalil has an American citizen child named Dean, and his wife Noor, deeply rooted in Michigan’s Muslim community, has expressed pride in his commitment to advocacy. She described him as an ideal partner, standing up for liberation with unwavering conviction.
A significant portion of Americans oppose Khalil’s pro-Islam advocacy, which has found support among certain activists in New York City and elsewhere.
