Opinion: The Devil Came Up To Boston

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Opinion for The Latino Newsletter

With news of Trump’s border czar vowing to bring “hell” to Boston over immigration, I couldn’t help but think of Adam Ezra’s 2013 song “The Devil Came Up to Boston,” a parody of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” In the viral track, the devil arrives in Boston, only to be met with the city's unshakable resilience. 

We often celebrate Boston’s toughness, but rarely discuss who is carrying that fighting spirit in the city right now.

The answer: immigrants.

Even if you’re not an immigrant yourself, it’s important to recognize that 1.26 million immigrants call Massachusetts home.

They are our friends, neighbors, and family members. They teach in our schools, take care of our loved ones in hospitals, and run the businesses we frequent. They cheer beside us at the Garden, high-fiving after a deep Jason Tatum three. You may even see them braving the cold with an iced Dunks in hand, because, let’s face it, whether they’ve been here for generations or just arrived, they are, or will soon become, true Massholes.

Renowned author and journalist Ray Suarez explores this idea in We Are Home. In his book, the award-winning chronicler of Latino communities argues that while immigrants certainly change America, there is also another truth. America also changes them. Immigrants bring their traditions, values, and perspectives, enriching communities while adapting to and strengthening the nation’s identity.

The America we know today exists because of these contributions. So when immigrants are under attack, it’s not just they who suffer, it’s all of us.

Threats to the immigrant community don’t happen in a vacuum. They destabilize the entire ecosystem we all rely on, from food service and healthcare to manufacturing and innovation. Fear-mongering and direct attacks don’t just harm individuals and their families—they influence consumer behavior, weaken local economies, and put businesses at risk. Whether it’s harassment at work, at the local grocery store, or at a favorite neighborhood restaurant,  fear and misinformation are taking hold right now. So ask yourself, what good is having the most innovative square mile on the planet if the communities that sustain and enrich it are being driven away? 

While I hesitate to reduce human lives to mere dollars and cents, the reality is that some won’t listen until they see the numbers. Massachusetts prides itself on being the most educated state in the country, yet we consistently fail to acknowledge that immigrants are one of the biggest economic forces sustaining us.

According to a recent study, immigrants —both documented and undocumented— generate over $103 billion annually for Massachusetts. In addition, Massachusetts gained nearly $650 million in state and local tax revenue from immigrants without status. Ignoring this reality threatens the economic prosperity of the entire state.

Massachusetts has long been a leader in education, healthcare, technology, sports and innovation. From pioneering startups to world-renowned hospitals and universities, our state thrives on a relentless commitment to progress. But progress isn’t just fueled by ideas. It's driven by people. And many of those people, past and present —whether it’s Rose Kennedy, Joseph Murray, Big Papi, or Pedro Martínez— are first- or second-generation immigrants who have helped shape the very fabric of our Commonwealth.

There’s been some debate about what’s happening in our city and who is or isn’t at risk under the current administration’s immigration crackdown. But let’s be clear: this affects all of us. Now is the time to step up, protect our city, and send the devil packing. Boston wasn’t built in a day, and as we approach the nation’s 250th anniversary, we must remember that our city has faced challenges before. We’ve been through hell and come out stronger, not because we gave in to fear, but because we chose resilience. Not by turning people away, but by standing together.

This is who we are. This is Boston. And we’re not backing down.

Cue the Duck Boats.

About the Author

Javier is a DACAmented individual who works in the philanthropic sector supporting community development efforts throughout the Commonwealth. Javier is a first-generation immigrant from Peru who calls Massachusetts home.

About the Illustrator

Dave Ortega is a cartoonist who lives and works in Somerville.

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What We’re Reading

Trump and English Only: First reported Friday morning in The Wall Street Journal, President Trump is expected to issue an executive order to make English the official language of the United States. CBS News says that “The English language executive order will rescind a federal mandate that requires agencies and other recipients of federal funding to provide language assistance to non-English speakers, a mandate issued by former President Bill Clinton.”

New Immigration Guide: Enlace Latino NC, a fellow member of The Latino Media Consortium, launched a new Immigration Guide this week.

“Developed by Nicolás Baintrub and Claudia Rivera Cotto —Enlace’s reporters— this free Spanish-language tool delivers precise, timely, and reliable information, serving as a practical resource for individuals to prepare in advance and act knowledgeably before and during critical situations,” a Thursday press release about the guide notes.

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The Latino Newsletter welcomes opinion pieces in English and/or Spanish from community voices. You can email our publisher, Julio Ricardo Varela. The views expressed by outside opinion contributors do not necessarily reflect the editorial views of this outlet.