Why Immigration Matters to Every Student, Regardless of Your Citizenship Status- Elementary School

If you turn on the TV or listen to adults talking, you might hear the word immigration a lot. You might hear about new rules, borders, or laws. You might understand it, or you don't. Either way, it you hear about immigration constantly. Why is that?

Even if you were born in the United States and have lived here your whole life, these big news stories affect you and your daily life!

1. Our Friends and Classrooms

The most important place we see immigration is right inside our schools.

• You probably have friends or classmates who moved to America from other countries, or whose parents did. Learning, playing sports, and sharing lunch with kids from all over the world makes our schools much more fun and interesting!

• When immigration rules change, it can sometimes make families feel worried or stressed about whether they can stay together. When our friends are worried, it affects us too, because we want everyone in our class to feel safe and happy.

2. The Food We Eat and Things We Buy

Did you know that the things you eat and use every day are connected to immigration?

• Many people who move to the U.S. work very important jobs. They help pick fruits and vegetables on farms, build houses, and cook food in restaurants. Without them, you might not be able to enjoy some of your favorite foods!

• If immigration rules change and make it harder for these workers to do their jobs, it can be hard for farms and stores to find help. When that happens, the price of things like apples, milk, or toys can go up at the grocery store.

3. Cool Inventions

Think about your favorite video games, apps, or treats. Many of them exist because of people who moved to America!

• The U.S. has always been a place where creative people from other countries come to share their big ideas. For example, some of the people who helped invent popular websites, cell phones, and cool toys moved here from outside the U.S.

• The new ideas of the future will come from the kids in school today, including kids who just moved here!

4. Playing Fair and Following Rules

At school, we have rules to make sure everyone is treated fairly on the playground. The government has rules for the same reason.

• When we make sure the rules are fair and kind for immigrants, it helps make sure the rules stay fair and safe for everyone who lives here.

Immigration isn't just a topic for grown-ups to talk about. It is about our friends, the food we eat, the inventions we love, and how we treat one another. By learning about it, you are helping to make your school and community a welcoming place for everyone!