Article Reflection No. 12 (6/4/2022)

Article: How Refugees Transformed a Dying Rust Belt Town

Photo Credit: The New York Times

Reflection:

Should refugees and immigrants be given admission to the U.S.? Written by Susan Hartman, the article “How Refugees Transformed a Dying Rust Belt Town” points towards “yes”.

Thousands of refugees have settled in Utica, New York since the late 20th century, escaping from a life filled with violence and starvation. Bosnians from the Balkan conflict and those fleeing from the Myanmar conflict were the majority of this demographic. In fact, according to the executive director of The Center, an organization helping refugees settle in this area, the refugees make up approximately 15,000 of the 60,000 Utica population.

In Utica, many immigrants have been hired by Turning Stone Resort Casino as cooks and custodians. Being the largest employer in the vicinity, the casino is currently building a 50-apartment units building near the workplace, given the booming house inflation and costly 25-minute commute for many. Today’s big, powerful companies are shrouded in stigmas of profit-based, unuseful systems. However, this action of kindness is a crack on the stigma, allowing the tiniest sliver of bright light.

Learning about the families whose lives have changed brings great hope. According to Hartman, Lul Mohamed “never thought she would have a home like the one she has now. ‘I never had two shoes at the same time. I appreciate everything’ ” (Hartman 1). This is a reminder of how it is better to grow up in a poorer environment than a lavish one. Having experiences of hardship are all part of learning curves in one’s historical life, and are ultimately necessary to live life to its fullest extent.

Despite this story of beneficial change, there was one part that struck my heart like a stone. “The relative affordability [of Utica homes]”, the journalist writes, “comes with an invisible risk lurking in the apartments where many refugees live: Most of Utica’s housing stock — as in other Rust Belt towns — was built before 1978, when the federal government banned consumer use of lead-based paint” (Hartman 1). This example shows societal injustice. Not only does this community have a lack of awareness of this material danger they are exposed to, it also has this result because of finances and, possibly, discrimination.