This essay critically examines the material conditions faced by immigrants in the United States, emphasizing how poverty, isolation, and systemic neglect shape their survival strategies. Immigrant populations, often forced into abject living conditions with limited resources, adopt dietary practices that reflect both their marginalized status and their resilience. Two central issues frame this analysis: First, the ethical responsibility of the host nation to provide adequate support to immigrants, thus preventing survival strategies reminiscent of historical crises. Second, the political manipulation of immigrant survival practices, with both the political left and right instrumentalizing these conditions—either portraying them as symbols of degradation and victimization, or as existential threats to national identity and cultural norms.

This debate exposes deep hypocrisies within American cultural discourse, particularly among the descendants of earlier immigrant groups. Many who express moral outrage at the idea of consuming pets in times of desperation are themselves descendants of individuals who, in similarly harsh circumstances, engaged in taboo survival practices. These historical parallels offer a critical lens through which to interrogate the contradictions embedded in American cultural identity—a society that outwardly celebrates inclusion and progress, yet continues to reinforce racialized and class-based hierarchies by manipulating survival imagery and stories for political gain.

The essay calls for a fundamental reorientation of the discourse surrounding immigration, food, and cultural identity, urging a shift beyond sensationalist narratives that exploit immigrant suffering for ideological purposes. Instead, it advocates for a rigorous engagement with the material realities faced by both immigrant communities and the local populations morally, though not always voluntarily, tasked with receiving them. Recognizing that such “welcoming” is often forced upon local populations, the analysis underscores the urgency of humane and equitable policies that respect the dignity and survival of all individuals, regardless of their cultural or dietary practices. In doing so, the essay challenges reductive and xenophobic political and media rhetoric, advocating for an ethical recalibration that acknowledges the shared vulnerabilities and resilience of both immigrants and local communities in the face of inadequate systemic support.

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Image Cover: Lanfranco Aceti, Hunger, Love,… and a Cat in the Middle, 2024. Fine art prints. Triptych. Dimensions: variable.