Project Description

Oil on canvas

48″ x 60″

America Cages Children is part of a three-part series that focuses on the humanitarian crises millions of refugees have faced for decades, and continue to face today. America Cages Children depicts an American Dreamer — who wishes to remain anonymous — that came to the United States when she was only 2 years old and is protected by DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). The current administration continually claims people like her do not belong and that their presence is of great harm to our country by bringing in crime and disease, when statistics prove otherwise. A 2018 study from the Cato Institute found that immigrants have far lower arrest and criminal conviction rates than native-born Americans. According to the author of this study, Alex Nowrasteh, this pattern is consistent for all crimes.