Pathways to Citizenship: Bridging Divides and Building a Stronger Society

By Oprah Cunningham

In recent months, anti-immigrant rhetoric has surged, creating deep divides in our communities and shaping public discourse around immigration with fear and disinformation. Politicians and media outlets frequently exploit immigration issues, falsely portraying immigrants as threats to society and fueling division, misinformation, and xenophobia. This has left millions of undocumented immigrants marginalized, living in fear and uncertainty with no clear path to legal status or citizenship. The creation of accessible pathways to citizenship is essential not only for the well-being of immigrants themselves, but also for the entire country — fostering a stronger, more inclusive society. Such pathways enhance the integration of immigrants into society and help combat the harmful stereotypes that fuel anti-immigrant sentiment.

The Moral and Humanitarian Imperative for Citizenship Pathways

At the heart of the argument for expanded citizenship pathways lies a fundamental moral principle: People who contribute to the social and economic fabric of a country deserve a fair and humane chance to secure permanent residency and citizenship. Many immigrants come to this country fleeing war, persecution, economic hardship, or environmental disasters. Their journeys are often long, dangerous, and filled with obstacles. Immigrants overcome these challenges and build new lives, enriching their communities with their own cultural anecdotes and contributing to their new homes in countless ways — including by stimulating our economy. Many of them have lived in the United States for decades.

They work, pay taxes ($492 billion in 2019), and raise families, but many lack the basic rights and protections that come with full legal status. The denial of these rights is not only unjust but also dehumanizing, reinforcing the idea that immigrants are “others” who don’t belong. This fuels exclusionary narratives that scapegoat immigrants for economic or social problems. Creating comprehensive pathways to citizenship is therefore a matter of fairness and human dignity. It allows immigrants to gain security and stability, freeing them from the fear of deportation, family separation, or the inability to fully participate in society. 

Economic and Social Benefits of Pathways to Citizenship

Pathways to citizenship also provide significant economic benefits to the country as a whole. Immigrants are often a vital source of labor, innovation, and entrepreneurship. When immigrants become citizens, they are more likely to invest in their communities, purchase homes, start businesses, and contribute to local economies. For instance, immigrants in the United States added $2 trillion to the country’s GDP in 2016, according to the New American Economy. Moreover, they are 80 percent more likely to start businesses than people born in the United States and in turn employ millions of people. When immigrants are granted citizenship, they gain the ability to contribute more fully to the economy, challenging the misconception that they are “outsiders” or “temporary” workers. 

Furthermore, immigrants with citizenship status are more likely to integrate into broader society through education and social ties within their communities. They feel a greater sense of belonging and investment in their communities, which fosters a stronger social fabric and reduces tensions between native-born citizens and immigrant populations. The inclusion of immigrants as full citizens helps to strengthen community bonds, making societies more resilient and cohesive. 

Combating Systemic Inequality and Racism

Pathways to citizenship also help address systemic inequality and racial discrimination. Many immigrants, particularly from marginalized racial or ethnic groups, face heightened challenges due to the intersection of racism and anti-immigrant bias. These challenges can include barriers to employment, housing, and health care, as well as increased vulnerability to exploitation and discrimination.

Creating pathways to citizenship can significantly reduce institutional racism that many Black and non-white immigrants face. Citizenship allows for stronger legal protections, enabling immigrants to resist discrimination and advocate for policy reforms that address systemic inequalities. In this way, pathways to citizenship serve as a crucial tool in the fight against both anti-immigrant and racial discrimination, creating more inclusive societies that value diversity and equality and ultimately contributing to the dismantling of institutional racism.

Building an Inclusive Future through Civic Engagement

Citizenship is not just a legal status — it is a gateway to full civic participation. When immigrants become citizens, they gain the right to vote in federal elections, run for office, and shape the policies that impact their lives. This increased civic engagement strengthens our democracy, as it brings new perspectives and voices into the political process. It is a natural deterrent to the abhorrent anti-immigrant rhetoric that is continuously perpetuated by politicians who do not see immigrants as part of their constituency and therefore believe they do not deserve the same respect and humanization as others.

An inclusive society is one in which all people, regardless of their background, have a say in how they are governed and whose humanity is considered during policy decisions. By extending pathways to citizenship for immigrants, governments can ensure that their political systems are more representative of the diverse populations they serve. This, in turn, helps to create policies that are more responsive to the needs of their communities, fostering unity rather than division. 

A Call to Action

The need for pathways to citizenship is not just an immigrant issue — it is a societal one. Providing accessible, humane routes to citizenship helps to combat anti-immigrant rhetoric by integrating immigrants as full, equal members of society. It acknowledges their contributions and rights, breaks down harmful stereotypes, and strengthens democracy by empowering all citizens to participate in civic life. The majority of voters support pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, as evidenced in the past by the widespread congressional support  of DACA and Dreamers.

At The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, we have long called for and will continue to advocate for legislation that offers pathways to citizenship for all undocumented people, including people who are eligible for DACA, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients, farm workers, and various other essential workers. It’s time for Congress to pass legislation that codifies these protections into federal law, such as enacting the American Dream and Promise Act and renewing immigration provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929.

As we move forward, it is crucial that our government recognize the value of inclusion. By creating policies that facilitate citizenship, we can build societies that are not only just but also resilient, prosperous, and united. Anti-immigrant rhetoric thrives on division, but pathways to citizenship are a powerful antidote, offering hope and belonging to those who seek a better life and, in turn, helping all of us build a better future together.

Oprah Cunningham is the strategic communications associate at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.