Immigrants really tried to explain how migrant worker programs work and why there should be a closer read only to get screamed back "you believe ICE?!" by ppl in media who don't know the system at all. I still am amazed (read: deeply saddened) by how that happened, that's all.

I really sat a long time before saying anything publicly and kept all my thoughts offline but the way this narrative has been written is deeply disappointing and frankly heartbreaking as an immigrant POC myself who has also reported on the dregs of the immigration system.

Like I legit cried over it. A lot of you all don't understand what you did and are doing and believe your friend who believes her parents who ultimately should not have to speak for the sins of her family - but she did, and what she did was harmful and bad on many levels.

And anyone should know me well enough to know that I don't align with that torrid mean white girl side of leftist media or whatever.

I hate that I even have to put a million caveats like " I think she's a talented writer and didn't think she had to speak on this" to justify my commenting so I don't get pilloried by ppl I respect, it's so fucked. I am a Black immigrant who grew up dirt poor & undocumented.

I know I should let this go but I can't. I literally have tried to talk to 5 separate people I care about to get this off my chest to let it go. But it has so deeply unsettled me in ways I can't describe and so I just have to say it pushback be damned or whatever

I'm almost embarrassed that this has me so fucked up.

This is not me trying to start drama or be malicious - I don't have the reach for that anyway.

I hope a lot of y'all do the work of trying to understand and learn where people are coming from. This is something that I am absolutely willing to do the free labor of breaking down.

But seriously the first person who tries to call me a cop - absolutely not.

It's Eid, don't get got.