Why is National Immigrants Day so important?

A new National Immigrants Day will be commemorated this October 28th in the United States. This is a very important date, as it not only aims to highlight the contributions that immigrants have made to North American society, but also to reclaim their rights and those of their families.

Those who leave their homeland behind to try their luck in this North American country do so, in most cases, because of their desire to seek a better quality of life and have better opportunities in terms of work, health and the economy. Currently, the United States is a country made up of immigrants from different parts of the world and even its history as a nation is closely linked to immigration.

Most of the people who live in the country are immigrants or the children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren of immigrants.

National Immigrants Day: the origin and reason for its commemoration

National Immigrants Day is commemorated on October 28th when in 1987 the United States Congress adopted a resolution to commemorate immigrants. It’s a day to “reflect on the United States as a cultural melting pot and a nation of immigrants,” says part of the aforementioned regulations.

It continues with the words of Ronald Reagan himself, who was president of the United States of America at the time: “I hereby proclaim October 28 as National Immigrant Day, and I call on the people of the United States to observe that day with programs, ceremonies, and activities.”

History of National Immigrants Day

National Immigrants Day also calls us to reflect on the diverse cultures of those who make up the American people, the importance of living together peacefully and respect for multiculturalism. With more immigrants than any other nation, the United States is a place that has always welcomed people who come from elsewhere to try their luck and carve out their own path in the U.S.

Even if we go back to the year when the country became independent- 1776- we see that from that moment in history a large number of immigrants arrived on its soil, including many Irish who were exiled from their homeland, as well as Asians who were drawn to the West Coast by the discovery of gold. Likewise, the oppression of Jews in Eastern Europe was another motivator for immigration.

So, on this National Immigrants Day, we salute those whose roots may be Hispanic or have come from elsewhere, but are now planted in the United States of America, and celebrate the importance of coexisting with diverse cultures while respecting their own unique customs and traditions.