I am writing to address Somali bias in Minnesota.

Many of us believe that the Somali people who moved here as refugees drain the U.S. economy. From my point of view, these refugees do not hurt the economy.

Yes, it is true that their path to citizenship is paid by the government, but they are on their own once they are left in this country. Many economists note studies that have shown immigrants grow the economy because they bring more demand for food and services, and, more effectively, they bring cheap labor.

Wages, jobs

I am sure that immigrants may seem like they push down wages for some, but why do not we ask American corporations to pay better wages?

Some mega-retailers and corporation kill all the small businesses around them and push jobs overseas. Their low wages also may create a demand for more employees than there are legal immigrants in this country.

Minnesota’s unemployment rate is lower than many other states. … Minnesota’s rate of job growth is higher than most of states regardless of their immigrant increase. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment in Minnesota is about 5.5 percent, and the lowest annual unemployment rate since 1990 was 4.4 percent.

To see an overall increase in the jobless rate of only about 1 percent in the past 23 years is positive, especially considering the recession, new technology, more demand for highly skilled workers and increased immigrant populations.

According to Forbes, 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies are founded by immigrants or their children. Not to mention many second-generation immigrants now hold high-paying jobs.

We can help

Another bias that we, as Americans, have the feeling of being invaded when people from other countries move into our local areas.

Stop and think about how other countries feel when we station a base on their land. We do it with the best intentions, often trying to create democracy in the world even if it is not our matter. Yet some Americans will refuse to help refugees who come with the same intentions of living free and under a democracy. Can we justify that we acquired lands to protect our people and economy, but yet we can’t help people who have no food because of civil war there?

When it comes to the 14th Amendment issue, all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the U.S. and of the state wherein they reside. No state can edit these laws or change the privileges that come with being a citizen.

… And looking at our immigration history, especially Ellis Island, I don’t see why we should separate people by country of origin. This totally clashes with the foundation of America.

People simply need to change their opinions about Somali immigrants in Minnesota. Negative opinions directed to one nationality only will cause bullying at schools, foster racism and bring a class difference to our society. Remember we are not only the citizens of Minnesota, we are people of the world.

This is the opinion of Paynesville resident Gulhan Miller.

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St Cloud Times

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