The Left loves to say, “This country was built on the backs of immigrants,” in response to ICE initiatives and deportation measures. However, a colonial-era immigrant — or even a 20th-century immigrant — is not remotely similar to the modern immigrant because of the rise of social media.

Before the internet and services such as WhatsApp, the choice to move to America was a massive life decision. It often meant saying goodbye permanently. It forced people to leave behind everything they knew: family, politics, heritage, food, and culture. Immigrants came to America knowing that it was unlikely they would ever see their homeland again. Even if an immigrant hated America, those severed ties forced him to confront the reality that there was no going back.