At Thanksgiving tables across America this week, talk may turn to immigration. You may hear heated rhetoric about “invasions” and calls for mass deportation. 

We’ve learned that the best response is to stick to what’s really at stake: our neighbors, our communities, and our shared humanity.

Here are the facts about what’s happening in Nebraska and throughout the country:

The crisis in our courts

• 7 out of 10 of our immigrant neighbors face their first removal hearing alone
• Initial court hearings last just 3.9 minutes on average
• Nearly 1,000 unaccompanied children arrive to Nebraska each year – triple the number from 4 years ago
• 2,500 children in Nebraska still need legal representation
  

These aren’t just statistics. They’re our neighbors, essential workers, and children in our schools. They’re the 140,000 Nebraskans who contribute $1.3 billion in annual taxes and help keep the state’s economy strong.

So, here are 5 facts for your holiday conversations

1. 5.1 million U.S. citizen children could lose one or both parents to deportation
2. 4 million families face separation
3. Mass deportation would shrink America’s economy by 6.8% – matching or eclipsing the Great Recession
4. Undocumented families paid over $96 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2022
5. Nebraska leads the nation in refugee arrivals per capita. That’s not by accident – it’s because of our welcoming communities, strong schools, and neighbors who care. 

We hope these facts help you have meaningful conversations at Thanksgiving or other gatherings. 

So, while others debate policies, CIRA’s legal teams are already in courtrooms protecting families and the communities they call home. And we’re preparing for what’s ahead. From Council Bluffs to Scottsbluff, we’ll be there providing free legal services for immigrants, helping refugees build new lives here, and ensuring that children facing crisis get the help they need. 

Thank you for standing with us. Please consider sharing these facts on social media to help spread the word.