Many immigrants are lured into moving to Western countries with promises of a better life—safety, prosperity, and even the allure of things as trivial as Coca-Cola or a suburban home. The promise of no longer living under the threat of being shelled with U.S.-made weapons is understandably compelling.

But once they arrive in the very countries that invited them to "save the economy" and fill labor shortages, they’re suddenly labeled a national security threat. They’re painted as part of criminal gangs or conspiracies, blamed for societal issues, and treated as if their presence is an affront. In reality, their migration often isn’t about seeking a better life at all—it’s about enriching local businessmen who refuse to pay livable wages, instead trapping vulnerable people with exploitative worker visas.