“Everyone has a family member that arrived in this country at some point, whether it was from Europe or Korea or Africa. Immigration is what makes this country better than anywhere else. 

When your great grandfather arrived from Eastern Europe or India, somebody housed them. Somebody took care of them. Somebody got them a job. I am that person. I take care of the people that are arriving now. 

Within three years, I want you to be as fluent and navigable to the United States as anyone else here. But without somebody helping, that integration process can take 10 years in other places. 

The reason why I’m optimistic is that no other country integrates immigrants the way America does, by far. Are there institutional laws and mechanisms that stop or limit immigration? Yes. But if you look at the average American with no connection to politics, most that I’ve met are welcoming. 

Most immigrants that live here are more successful than their counterparts in other countries. I’m from Somalia and I can tell you that most Somalis are wealthier here. We are more educated here than in any other country. We are healthier here. Why is that? Because we take care of our immigrants here better than any other country. 

Last week, when the president said Somalis are “garbage,” was the first time that I felt like a second-class citizen in 25 years. 

From the beginning, being in America made me feel like I belonged. I was confident I was American. I watched basketball like an American. I raised my kids like an American. So, it really, really hurts to be called garbage. 

But at the same time, I’m glad the hate is coming from a small minority. A couple bad actors do not represent an entire people. I know Americans are better than that.” 

Tariq Tarey is the Senior Director of Refugee Services for Jewish Family Services. He is also a visual ethnographer, and his portraits and film of refugee life have been internationally celebrated.