John F. Kennedy’s Vision vs. Today’s Reality: Is America Still a Nation of Immigrants?

A Nation of Immigrants: JFK’s Message in Today’s America

John F. Kennedy’s A Nation of Immigrants is a powerful reminder that the United States has always been shaped by those who arrived seeking a better life. In the book, Kennedy outlines the contributions immigrants have made to the country and argues that America’s strength comes from its diversity and openness. He makes a case for humane immigration policies that honor the nation’s founding principles.

Today, however, we find ourselves in a very different climate. With the current administration’s intensified focus on deportations, the vision Kennedy championed feels more distant than ever. Instead of celebrating the immigrant story, we are witnessing policies designed to push people out rather than welcome them in. This raises an important question: What would JFK say if he saw the state of immigration today?

The Relevance of JFK’s Message Today

Kennedy’s book is not just a historical reflection—it is a call to recognize the role immigrants continue to play in America’s success. He reminds us that every wave of newcomers—whether Irish, Italian, Polish, or Mexican—has faced resistance, yet each has contributed to the country’s economic and cultural fabric.

His argument is not only about history but also about America’s ongoing responsibility to uphold its ideals of fairness and opportunity. That message is particularly relevant now, as immigration policy has taken a turn toward restriction and exclusion. 

Rather than seeing immigration as a source of national strength, today’s policies often frame it as a threat. Deportations, family separations, and harsh rhetoric send a signal that America is turning its back on the very people who have built it.

My Own Family’s Story—And the Stories Left Untold

Like millions of other Americans, I am a second-generation American. My paternal grandparents immigrated from Poland and Lithuania to Chicago in the early 1900s. My father was a Depression-era child, born in Chicago in 1930, growing up in a time when many immigrant families were struggling to establish themselves in a new country. I have a vague sense that childhood was very, very difficult for my father, but I never heard the details.

Despite knowing these basic facts, I know very little about their actual journey. As a child, we never spoke about it. Whether it was due to assimilation, hardship, or simply a reluctance to revisit painful memories, the details of their immigration story were never passed down. And this, I realize, is not uncommon. Many second- and third-generation Americans have little knowledge of what their ancestors endured to build a life here. The sacrifices, struggles, and dreams that brought them to America are often lost to time.

That silence speaks volumes. It reflects how, for many families, immigration was not just a journey but a process of survival—one where looking forward took precedence over looking back. It also highlights why books like A Nation of Immigrants remain so vital. They remind us that no matter how distant we feel from our immigrant roots, they are embedded in the very foundation of this country.

The Path Forward

If Kennedy’s message was heeded today, we would see a different approach to immigration—one that values people for their contributions rather than demonizes them for their origins. We would remember that America has always been a land of opportunity, not exclusion.

For those of us who have lost touch with the details of our own family’s immigration story, perhaps the best way to honor it is to ensure that future generations do not have to wonder where they belong. By advocating for policies that treat immigrants—and all people—with dignity, we uphold Kennedy’s vision and the unwritten stories of our ancestors.

In an era where deportations and division dominate the immigration conversation, JFK’s words serve as a necessary reminder: America is, and always has been, a nation of immigrants. And it is our duty to ensure it remains so.

ISN’T IT TIME?

Peace!