Just the other day I was scrolling through my Facebook feed filled with pointless videos and updates on how stressed everyone is. Normally, I roll my eyes and put my phone down, however, I happened upon a lovely meme that I couldn’t ignore:

I have seen this gem several times within the past few weeks, and every time I do it fills me with rage. This message places the unimaginable struggles of human beings on the same level as the consequences for breaking the rules of a relaxing pastime (which with a little research one will discover are so minuscule that they are not worth mentioning) -- that sounds like a mixture of ignorance and dehumanization to me. The fact that people are comparing these two concepts is sickening, and from here on out I would like to address those who believe that spreading images like the one above will solve any issue related to immigration.

To begin, this is not a political discussion. I do not care who you are voting for in the election. I will not argue my point through a Democratic or Republican lens. It doesn’t matter. This is a discussion on what it means to treat another person with a sense of humanity.

When someone enters this country illegally, they do not do so for a “quick taste of American life." They may be trying to connect with their family, to escape from a dangerous situation, or to support themselves in a country that gives them the opportunity to, but because the process to become a legal resident is ridiculously convoluted, they chose the more efficient way. I don’t know about you, but if I was separated from my children, I would not wait two years for the possibility of seeing them again. Alas, I am not a mother, so what do I know?

It is easy to separate yourself from the struggles of immigration, for unless you meet someone who has experience with the issue or you have an idea of what the process consists of, the phrase “send them all home” becomes much simpler to spout off. I am by no means an expert on immigration, but I do not need to be in order to treat other people with a sense of dignity. All I need to do is pay attention to the news to develop a shallow understanding of how unfairly we treat immigrants. From there, I can think for myself and conclude that it's immoral. (I said this wasn’t political, so I will refrain from mentioning certain individuals).

Here is an example you may be familiar with. When citizens of Flint, Michigan suffered from lead-polluted water, there were Hispanic families (yes, children as well) who feared to reach out for help because they were not legal residents. Children bathed in that water—drank that water. I do not care who you are, where you came from, why you are here, or if you are a legal resident or not. You are a human being. If that isn’t enough reason to treat someone with kindness, then our way of life needs to change.

At our core, we are all the same. We all feel love, experience fear, desire happiness, and strive to achieve a fulfilling life. As I sit here in a warm house, a full refrigerator, a supportive family, and a sense of excitement for my future, who am I to say that the quality of my life has depreciated because of illegal immigrants? And I ask the same of you. We are all human, and rather than treating immigrants as a life-threatening problem, maybe we should reflect on why we harbor that level of hatred in the first place.