Immigrants and the Character of a Nation

In 1883, American poet Emma Lazarus wrote the words now associated with the Statue of Liberty.

One measure of a nation's character is how it welcomes those who arrive seeking safety, work, or a better life. For generations, many Americans saw those words as a reflection of the country's ideals.

Demonizing immigrants feeds fear. It encourages suspicion where there could be understanding, and anger where there could be openness.

America has long drawn strength from people who came from somewhere else and helped build something new together. That history is not incidental. It is central to the country's identity.