Liam's Capstone Blog

Immigrants have played a major role in shaping the United States into a diverse and dynamic country. Throughout American history, immigrants have contributed to nearly every aspect of society, including the economy, culture, science, and education. Many immigrants start businesses, create jobs, and bring new skills that strengthen local and national economies. Culturally, immigration enriches the country by introducing new languages, traditions, foods, music, and perspectives, which helps build a more diverse and interconnected society. In fields like medicine, technology, and engineering, immigrants have also made major contributions through innovation and research that benefit everyone. Beyond economic and cultural impacts, immigration often reflects values of resilience and determination, as many people come seeking better opportunities and work hard to build new lives. This mix of experiences and backgrounds helps make the United States more adaptable, creative, and globally connec...

ICE has become too enforcement-heavy and punishment-focused , prioritizing detention and deportation and is un-american. Immigrants need legal support, or pathways to residency. The agency has too much discretionary power in how it carries out raids, detentions, and removals, and that this can lead to inconsistent practices or harm to both immigrants and U.S. citizens and families. Dismantling ICE would allow for a system designed more fair and equitable practices that welcome the immigrant.

Most versions of the American ideal come from documents like the Constitution and phrases like “liberty and justice for all.” From that starting point, critics argue the U.S. falls short in several major areas--not as a single unified failure, but as ongoing tensions between ideals and lived reality. One common critique is inequality in rights and outcomes . While the U.S. promises equal protection under the law, access to housing, healthcare, education, and legal protection can vary drastically based on income, race, and geography. This gap between legal equality and lived inequality is often presented as a core contradiction in the American system. Another area is immigration and belonging . Agencies like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are often used as a focal point for this critique, with arguments that enforcement practices can prioritize exclusion and punishment over integration, family unity, or humanitarian protection. This raises questions about who is fully inclu...

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has had wide-ranging negative impacts on undocumented immigrants and U.S.-born citizens and communities more broadly, particularly in how immigration enforcement is carried out and experienced in everyday life. For immigrants, the most direct harm comes through detention practices and deportations that separate families . Even when individuals have long-standing ties to the United States—jobs, children, or legal proceedings pending—they can be detained or removed, sometimes with limited notice. This creates instability for families, especially children who may be U.S. citizens and suddenly lose a parent or caregiver. Conditions in detention facilities is horrible. and the confinement itself—regardless of legal status—is be traumatic and destabilizing. ICE enforcement has also been linked to racial profiling concerns , where immigration enforcement is perceived to disproportionately affect Latino, Black, and other minority communities. This can...

 Documentaries have a wide range of impacts because they sit between journalism, storytelling, and art. Their influence depends on what they cover and how they’re made, but there are a few major areas where they tend to matter: 1. Shaping public awareness Documentaries often introduce audiences to issues they might not otherwise encounter—like immigration systems, climate change, or labor conditions. They can take something abstract or distant and make it feel real and immediate through personal stories and visuals. 2. Influencing opinion and politics Because they often present arguments or perspectives, documentaries can shift how people think about social or political issues. Some have even sparked policy debates or public pressure for change, especially when they go viral or gain wide distribution. 3. Giving voice to underrepresented groups Many documentaries focus on communities or individuals who are rarely represented in mainstream media. This can help challenge stereot...