Beyond Welcome: Reimagining the Immigration Conversation with Karen González
On May 1st, the Immigration Resource Center and the Center for Racial Reconciliation at Fellowship presented “Immigration at the Crossroads,” an ongoing webinar series about the intersections between faith and immigration. We welcomed writer, changemaker and immigrant advocate, Karen González. The title of this talk was “Beyond Welcome: Reimagining the Immigration Conversation.” In the presentation, González challenged us to think beyond the often black and white thinking around immigration issues.
Like our previous speaker, Dr. Robert Chao Romero, González reminded us that migration is a “source of grace,” not only to the migrants themselves but to those who provide the hospitality. It is a mutual grace--and hospitality is only the first step. As the one welcoming, we must be aware, González reminded us, that we still intrinsically hold power. So, how do we bridge the gap between power differentials and find commonality, mutuality and even, “kinship” with our immigrant neighbors?
Language plays a powerful role. According to González, our language has the power to diminish humanity. For example, a common misconception is something she calls the “good immigrant” scenario. In this scenario, one expects immigrants to be “model citizens” holding them to much higher standards than we hold ourselves. Or one may naturally find it easier to extend acceptance to immigrants who speak perfect English or assimilate to the culture, in the process, relinquishing their own. González challenges us to be willing to take a step back from these deeply ingrained biases in our society and see immigrants for what they are, and to even “learn at their feet.” Indeed, there is so much to learn in this place of humility.
Often, in the role of ally or service provider, we meet immigrants who are in crisis. It might be easy, González says, to see immigrants as always in need, always in crisis, always intrinsically or perpetually “less than.” If so, our relationship with immigrants remains cemented in a power dynamic that may temporarily allow for needs to be met, but not for deep kinship to form. And this is where we often miss out on the most important and meaningful part of the journey - to experience deep, mutual connection with our fellow humans.
When we reduce a person to a single characteristic of their experience we take away from the glorious and beautifully complex creation that they are, truly, she says “image bearers of God.” Terms like stranger, voiceless, the “least of these,” although perhaps well meaning, can reduce a human to one aspect of their experience. This widens the distance between us.
González posited a four-step process toward meaningful connection with immigrants in our everyday lives. We start with hospitality. Then we move into a place of solidarity. From there, we seek to enter into kinship or mutuality and finally to posture of advocacy.
In her powerful conclusion, González shared a phrase taken from ancient Mayan culture that perfectly summed up for me how we may look at the promise of this kind of human connection that seems all but lost in today’s society. The phrase in Spanish is “Tu Eres Mi Otro Yo.” It literally means “You are my other me.” In other words, without you, there is no me. We need each other to be our best selves. Now more than ever, this kind of thinking is what we need to bring healing, growth and transformation in our country and in our hearts. May we strive for humility, tenderness and hope. Tu Eres Mi Otro Yo!
-Jean Grant
“As an immigration attorney, I am grateful for this presentation, as it informs my advocacy as a believer and lover of Jesus. Mil gracias for “un-othering” our immigrant brothers and sisters.”
--Alma Puente, IRC Board Member
"I am so grateful to have heard Karen González speak about reimagining the conversation around immigration. I especially appreciated what she had to say about how being an immigrant is only one facet of being human and how quickly we can begin to “other” those with that experience with our language and our actions, even when our intention is to welcome and support those on that journey." --Bonnie James, Justice Circle Member, a community of monthly givers
Our next “Immigration at the Crossroads” speaker series is Sandy Ovalle of Sojourners, in September. Stay tuned!
Karen González’ book The God Who Sees is available wherever books are sold. (No recording available.) We anxiously await her next book in 2022.
*Art by Monica Curca at the Beautiful Resistance Store
For more information, email jperez@ircsgv.org