You’re Mispronouncing Immigrant

Immigrant (n): a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.

Expatriate (n): a person who lives outside their native country.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, the definition between the word immigrant and expatriate boils down to essentially the same action of individuals living outside of their native country.

So, when is immigrant used verses expatriate?

It’s societally orchestrated to have two different labels just for the sake of glamourizing it when privileged people do it. U.S. citizens created a new term to be disassociated with the tarnished word of immigrant. White people get to be expatriate, and people of color are immigrants.

With the dynamic changes in cities such as México City due to the influx of financially stable Americans making these areas their home or long-term stays, the term expatriate and digital nomad (a new younger generation version of expat but has the same harming effects) have become buzzwords. Obviously, migration is a natural act of humans which is why I advocate for immigrant rights. However, that depends on your birth soil. For example, U.S. citizens are granted more international rights than Latin American born citizens. I myself reap the benefits of being a United States American. My parents, Mexican immigrants, do not. I have more liberty to be in and leave their home country than they do. And in great part, I get to because of their sacrifices.

Circling back to the example of foreign residents in México, the act of moving isn’t necessarily evil. The reasons, exploitation, and attitude I’ve seen, heard, and witness on top of the hurtful long-term effects that’ll impact the local economic is heartbreaking to say the least. And this is what it is, gentrification, but in larger part colonization. Gentrification, like expatriate, once again is a term used to make the act of displacing people more digestible.

The reason why many Americans have been moving to cities such as México City over cities like Montreal? México is cheaper. Exploiting your American salary to move into a country that’s in a sensitive poverty state, while chanting on social media that México is the Shit and why did Mexicans leave this great country for the U.S.? oozes privilege. Privilege of not knowing the struggles of truly living as a Mexican with a Mexican wage and dealing with real non-tourist Mexican issues.

Do know of the privilege weight when commenting that’s half my rent than in the U.S. Locals have been advocating for foreigners to stop coming to México as they are sadly being run out of their homes from landlords and businesses that are maximizing on the opportunity of dollar bills outweighing pesos. Imagine for a second. Your rent doubles/triples, and yes these are realistic increases since the pandemic, due to Germans coming in to take over Chicago’s prime real estate. And on top of that, the foreigners are ignoring your mask safety regulations, demanding all menus are written in German, and influence closing down local businesses for [insert what Germans like to do in a business storefront name].

I’ve spoken on some of the effects on a macro level. Speaking from my standpoint, I’ve mentioned I’m an American born citizen. With that comes a level of privilege I benefit from my immigrant, not expatriate, parents making the tough decision to leave limiting opportunities for their dreams to be achieved in the United States. Migrants such as my parents have accomplished the opposite with negative disruption in their new home. Migrants continuously take the unwanted jobs at extremely low wages, allowing the U.S. economy to grow and give corporations larger profit margins. And because of undocumented status for many, they carry model citizen status without being a citizen. A simple speeding ticket could lead to deportation. On top of everything, experience discrimination, hate crimes, and little protection from the law. Does that happen to these expatriates? Do they bring benefit to the long-term economic state of their new country? Yet this term expatriate is seen in a positive light by society while the term immigrant doesn’t. Funny.

As a child I was not allowed to go visit my grandmas as the violent activity was too much for my mom to allow us to go. Narcos are present in the areas of my family line. But who do those drugs get purchased from? To the point of avocado farmers being exploited and now are heavily ran by the cartels because guess who discovered avocado toast. Crime rises in economic disparities. Coming to México because you genuinely want to be cultured and living a life of freedom comes at a cost. And the payer is not you. It’s the locals now dealing with raised living expenses and higher crime rates. Congratulations expats.

Now what? I don’t have the answers to fully combat this continuously rising issue. I have suggestions for individuals that refer to themselves as expatriates/digital nomads. Do note that gentrification/expatriate has a thin line between morals and optimizing on opportunities. It’s tricky. And like I’ve said, migration is a human right I believe all should have.

1.     My biggest suggestion is to be a supporter for immigrant rights. The same energy you use to have your followers click on your bio for 10% off TripAdvisor can be used for human rights. Once we societally treat migrants as hearts, brains, and a soul, then maybe we’ll stop putting them cages and end separating them from their families like mine. It’s crazy to know that the support I got for my cousin’s ICE detention came extremely little from the people I know that make digital nomad/travel their social media lifestyle.

2.     Use your platform for education. Share the acknowledgement of your privilege on your socials and maybe what this read has you self-reflecting on.

3.     Start using the terms immigrant/migrant when you refer to individuals living in another country. Using the word doesn’t give you less rights but the inclusion of your voice can give more rights to all.

4.     I’d encourage for long term stays in hotels, hostels, dedicated Airbnbs over management/landlord operated residential apartments. The housing market is based on supply and demand. With individuals willing to pay over the asking price based on the local wage median, that gets locals pushed out of their homes and into more violent neighborhoods.

5.     Stop overtaking your visa. I’ve heard of multiple cases of white people breaking the law which creates tougher regulation with future visitors. I have never been asked to show prove of my return flight to the U.S. when visiting México until the rise of exploiting the visa process.

6.     Respect safety regulations. Always be aware of local health courtesy. Mexican accessibility for the vaccines and medical equipment is at a disadvantage in comparison to the U.S.

7.     Learn the language. If you can afford over-paying for an apartment, you can afford giving some time to Duolingo (pretty sure this is free) or a tutor.

8.     Advocate for what you have. The same faces on Youtube with travel blogs aren’t the same faces for immigrant right rallies. Sure allyship, but I want to see accomplice energy. Use your privilege for good. Cops like you.

English Meaning: The people united will never be defeated

The next time I see expatriate being used, I’m going to ask: Just curious, why don’t you refer to yourself as an immigrant?

And if I see expatriate, digital nomad, etc. on your bio and you lack advocation for immigration rights, you give me the ick. I want to see sharing immigrant right posts, highlighting your travel AND your privilege, educating your circle, etc. Because our current immigration rights are inhumane.

And if you think this is harsh, it’s kind of meant to be. This is a PSA. When you know better, you do better. I’m tired of seeing my mom cry.