The Parallels Between Colonialism and Anti-Immigrant Policies and Rhetoric

What is Colonization and Colonialism?

Colonization is the infiltration to and settlement into an inhabited or uninhabited area and subjugation of a people or area, especially as an extension of state power (Colonization definition & meaning). It is also the exploitation of indigenous people and land. The goal of colonization is to take over and enforce one’s way of life, language, culture, religion, and ideals onto other people using any means necessary, including violence. Most of the world’s nations were eventually colonized (Blakemore, 2023). Imperialism, the policy of using power to control other peoples or nations, is the foundation of colonialism (Blakemore, 2023). The practice of colonization can be traced back to Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome. The purpose has always been to increase the power and wealth of the colonizers. The act of colonization is a violent one and has caused great loss to the Indigenous people of colonized lands. Often Indigenous people were enslaved, raped, tortured, and treated inhumanely. Often, religion was a tool used by the colonized to justify the colonization of people, claiming they were saving their souls because their way of life was barbaric. And all of it was to benefit the colonizer. 

Anti-immigrant Rhetoric and Policies 

Now, looking at the anti-immigrant movement focusing on the rhetoric in the United States, there seems to be a particular sentiment amongst very conservative Republicans that undocumented immigrants are criminals. I want to focus specifically on the words of former President Donald Trump, the person leading the charge to demonize immigrants and implement racist and dangerous policies in the U.S. Former President Trump has called immigrants and, in particular, Mexicans, criminals, and rapists. His words have dehumanized immigrants by calling them animals and saying that he doesn’t consider them people. Even the term “Illegal Alien” on federal documents dehumanizes immigrants by not addressing them as human. Trump has also vowed to follow through with mass deportations and ending birthright citizenship if he is re-elected. The Courts have also challenged programs like DACA, which benefits more than 600,000 immigrants. Other Republicans refer to the migration to the United States as an invasion to spark fear among Americans. There have also been bans, such as the Muslim ban in 2017, a signed executive order by then-President Trump under the guise of protecting the country against terrorism-related and public safety risks (2020). There have also been multiple attempts to prevent entry, deny status, strip status, remove due process, detain, deport, terrorize, and retaliate against immigrants (n.d). The language and actions taken speak volumes about how these individuals and those associated with them view immigrants in the United States.

The Parallels

This type of rhetoric paints a picture to the American people about immigrants that generalizes and again dehumanizes immigrants. Addressing immigrants as criminals and subhumans creates justification for terrible treatment and attempts to tear families apart. This parallels the tactics used by colonizers to subjugate Indigenous people and exploit them, their land, and resources. They used words such as “savage to describe the Indigenous peoples. There was also the popular slogan, “Kill the Indian, save the man” (n.d.). This quote was used to show that the Indigenous people’s way of life and being was wrong in comparison to the white men. Similarly, current policies and anti-immigrant rhetoric are used to prove that immigrant’s being in the United States is wrong. Some people mention that immigrants should come to the United States the “right way,” alluding to applying and waiting for a visa. In both circumstances, there is an attempt to control who can or is worthy of being in the United States. In the case of colonization, the native people were not worthy, and as a result came their slaughter and violently forced acculturation. In the case of anti-immigrant policy and rhetoric, a lack of worthiness is shown through the treatment of migrants in detention centers, the existence of detention centers themselves, the separation of families, and anti-immigrant policies. Treatment of the oppressed in both situations is less than humane, which is at the core of both colonialism and the anti-immigrant movement, making the anti-immigration movement essentially a symptom of colonialism.

What Can We Do About It?

In the same way, Indigenous people have fought back, we also need to fight back and act. Changing the narrative is one of the most important things we can do. Changing the narrative moves beyond just telling our stories, which is where we can start. The problem with just sharing our stories is the exploitation of our pain and trauma. It is no secret that being an immigrant comes with its challenges. Oftentimes, many immigrants have faced a lot of pain and trauma. When we share our stories, oftentimes, those negative aspects of our stories can overshadow the positive ones. When sharing our stories, it’s important not to get stuck in the negativities and let them define us. This is where changing the narrative comes in. When changing the narrative, we acknowledge that, yes, pain and trauma have been a part of our stories, but it is exactly that, just a part of us. By acknowledging and highlighting the positives in our stories, we send the message that we are human as well. Engaging in joy and rest is vital to our movement to fight back. Allowing ourselves to do things that make us happy and promote rest, allows us to continue to do the work without getting burnt out. Being in a community and having support systems is also very important because we will create change together. We cannot do this alone. Through community building, everyone has a role to play and contributes in their way. By standing together and strengthening our relationships and community bonds, we create alternative systems of care that nourish us in ways that the current systems cannot. Lastly, we must continue to advocate for and call out inhumane policies. We need to continue to press leaders to support and uphold the communities that they were elected and accepted to represent. When they don’t do so, then it is up to us to call them out and hold them accountable, otherwise, these leaders will continue to make the same mistakes that could put our community members in harm's way.

Takeaways

The principles and goals of colonialism have never left. Its ideas and strategies continue to be used against minority groups, including the immigrant population. However, we have the power to do something about it. We can connect together to support the immigrant community.

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Sources

Blakemore, E. (2023, October 6). What is Colonialism?. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/colonialism 

Immigrant Legal Resource Center. (n.d.). 100+ policy changes that have devastated immigrants and asylum seekers. ILRC. https://www.ilrc.org/100-policy-changes-have-devastated-immigrants-and-asylum-seekers 

“kill the Indian in him, and save the man”: R. H. Pratt on the education of Native Americans. Carlisle Indian School Digital Resource Center. (n.d.). https://carlisleindian.dickinson.edu/teach/kill-indian-him-and-save-man-r-h-pratt-education-native-americans 

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Colonization Definition & meaning. Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colonization

Muslim travel ban. Immigration History. (2020, April 20). https://immigrationhistory.org/item/muslim-travel-ban/