MY TURN: On Haley’s distorted narrative on immigration 

By Will McCorkle  |  It may seem ironic, but one of the most damaging and distorted narratives on immigration comes from our former governor and current presidential candidate, Nikki Haley. We are used to more anti-immigrant approaches and rhetoric from candidates like Donald Trump, but it carries specifically troubling implications coming from Haley who is herself a child of Indian immigrants. 

Since she ran for governor back in 2010, Haley has used her own immigration story and heritage to go after undocumented immigrants. As she stated in a campaign ad for governor, “My parents are immigrants, they came here legally. They put in the time. They put in the money. They did what they were supposed to. It makes them mad when they see illegal immigrants come into this state.”

When she became governor, she signed one of the most anti-immigrant laws in the nation, which would have made it a crime for certain immigrants not to have their papers on them at all times. Some of the more draconian aspects of this law were blocked by the federal 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, but nevertheless she contributed to the already hostile environment in South Carolina towards immigrants. For example, we are one of the few states in the nation that bars undocumented students from studying at state colleges.

Unfortunately, this type of narrative that Haley has put forward deeply distorts the realities of immigration.  It makes it appear that it is just a choice for people who decide to come in legally versus those who do not. Many people do not realize the strong limitations for who can immigrate. 

For example, Haley’s parents were extremely educated. Her mother had studied law and her father had a Ph.D. before coming to South Carolina. In contrast, very few working to middle class immigrants can just legally migrate to the United States. Unless they have a close family member who can sponsor them, their only options are usually to come illegally or to seek to come through the asylum system. 

I am sure Haley is aware of this great discrepancy between her parents’ experiences and the realities of many poor migrants at our Southern border, but it nevertheless plays into the anti-immigrant sentiment of the GOP base.

We have to be honest about what the current immigration system lacks – specifically the chance for more working and middle class individuals to actually legally migrate. The truth is that we are in desperate need for more workers. This is especially the case as the birth rate in the United States has declined. 

We need to have an honest discussion about how to make it easier to migrate and avoid these distorted, often moralistic narratives about those who migrate the “right way” versus the “wrong way.” It overlooks how our immigration system actually works and the way privilege and wealth usually determines who is able to migrate. 

I am glad that Nikki Haley’s family was successful and helped contribute greatly to our state. However, from my time working at the Southern border with asylum seekers, I also know that many of these migrants who do not come from wealth or privilege could also be making a positive impact if we could stop demonizing them and instead support them in their journey. 

Summerville resident Will McCorkle teaches educational foundations and social studies education at a South Carolina college.