Sloane Davidson: Using immigrants for political points hurts us all

At the apex of an election year, some politicians would have you believe our country is deeply polarized on the issue of immigration, using refugees and immigrants as pawns for political gain. Haitian asylum seekers and the Haitian diaspora have been especially thrust into the spotlight, becoming the focus of heated debates on border security and migration policy — not to mention the now debunked news story that they are eating domestic pets like cats and dogs.

What gets lost in this divisive rhetoric is the harm it does to everyone involved — immigrants, citizens and communities. No one wins when we pit ourselves against each other.

In cities such as Pittsburgh and surrounding communities such as Charerloi in Washington County, where population decline long has been a challenge, immigrants have the potential to reinvigorate our neighborhoods, boost our economy and create a more vibrant community. Yet, instead of welcoming them, we often get caught in a cycle of fear-mongering and polarization. With the city’s population continuing to decline due to outmigration and an aging demographic, retaining newcomers, including immigrants and refugees, is critical for long-term sustainability.

Pittsburgh, like many other cities across the U.S., has seen the negative consequences of a shrinking population — loss of federal funding, a shrinking tax base and increased strain on public services. Welcoming immigrants and refugees could be one of the most effective ways to reverse this trend.

However, the current political climate has made it increasingly difficult to see these benefits. Take the Haitian refugee crisis: thousands of Haitians, fleeing a country crippled by political instability and natural disasters, have sought refuge in the United States seeking an opportunity to rebuild their lives from scratch and create a safe home for their families. Rather than addressing their needs with compassion, they often are portrayed as threats or burdens. This kind of political scapegoating only deepens divisions, alienates new arrivals and fractures communities that should be working together for the common good.

Immigrants contribute to local economies in significant ways. They open businesses, fill labor shortages and pay taxes that support vital public services like education, health care and infrastructure. Haitian immigrants, like many others, bring with them resilience, skills and an entrepreneurial spirit that can invigorate cities such as Pittsburgh, which has struggled to retain young talent and innovate in key industries. In fact, foreign-born individuals are three times more likely to start businesses than those born in the U.S. These businesses, in turn, help create jobs, fuel local economies, and revitalize commercial corridors.

When we allow immigrants to be used as political talking points, we undermine this potential and hurt our cities in the process. By framing newcomers as part of the solution rather than the problem, we can create a win-win scenario that benefits everyone.

Refugee resettlement programs like Hello Neighbor, which I founded in 2017, have shown how integrating refugees can strengthen communities, not just in terms of population numbers, but in building social and economic resilience.

But these gains are fragile. Continued polarization around immigration could lead to policies that make it harder for immigrants to enter, settle and thrive in cities like Pittsburgh. Moreover, the constant portrayal of immigrants as “others” fuels xenophobia and racial tension, further isolating new neighbors from the communities they are trying to join.

It’s time to stop letting immigrants — whether from Haiti, Afghanistan, Ukraine or elsewhere — become pawns in a political game. The polarizing rhetoric doesn’t just harm immigrants — it hurts all of us. It pits neighbor against neighbor, stokes fear and distracts us from addressing the real challenges facing our communities, like economic inequality, affordable housing and job creation.

As Pittsburgh grapples with these issues, the last thing we need is to alienate a population that can help us build a brighter future.

Pittsburgh’s future depends on its ability to adapt, grow and welcome new ideas and people. Let’s not allow political point-scoring to undermine that future.

Sloane Davidson is the founder and CEO of Hello Neighbor, which works to improve the lives of refugees and immigrants through mentorship, resettlement and community-based programming.