How to Talk About Immigration

November 25, 2025

Conversations about immigration can get complicated fast. Emotions run high, headlines move fast, and it can be hard to separate political talking points from the experiences of real people.

But here’s what often gets lost: When we talk about immigration, what we’re really talking about are our neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family.

So we put together a guide to help you navigate conversations about immigration with compassion.

Fear is rising for many immigrant families

Nobody, regardless of who they are or where they came from, should have to live in fear. That’s basic humanity. And:

4 in 10 immigrants now worry that they or a family member could be detained or deported.
More than half are not confident they or a family member would receive fair legal treatment if detained.
More than 1 in 5 immigrants say they personally know someone who has been arrested, detained, or deported this year.
Many immigrants report avoiding everyday activities from traveling to going to work or taking their children to school.

Nebraska’s immigrant communities are still essential

180,000 immigrants call Nebraska home, that’s about about 9% of the state.
Together they contribute $1.6 billion in taxes and have $4.6 billion in spending power.
They make up 10% of Nebraska’s workforce, including:
- 16% of construction
- 29% of manufacturing
- 10% of hospitality
29,000 Nebraska children are U.S. citizens living with an undocumented parent.

These are real people, with real and important roles in our communities.

If someone says … you can say …

They should come legally.
Many families are following the legal process. But the system is so backlogged and broken that cases can take years. They’re doing everything right, and still waiting.

Immigrants drain resources.
In Nebraska, immigrants strengthen our workforce and contribute well over a billion dollars in taxes each year, while many are unable to access the same services those taxes support.

We’re being overwhelmed by immigrants and refugees.
Nebraska has always had the capacity to welcome newcomers and our communities have done it successfully for generations. We’re not seeing anything close to what national headlines suggest.

Immigrants bring crime.
72% of people currently in ICE detention have no criminal conviction. Immigrants don’t increase crime and welcoming them can actually strengthen safety. Data consistently shows immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, are less likely to commit crimes than U.S.-born people.

Sources

To empower immigrants and refugees to live confidently through high-quality legal representation, resettlement, and social work and to create welcoming communities through education and advocacy.

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