Dear International Community,

About 3.6% of the world’s population resides in a country not of their birth,
making migration an issue that affects up to 281 million people.1 This is emblematic of
our global community - we are all affected by migration. We see this in our own
communities with people migrating in from other countries, on our televisions where
we come face to face with events happening all over the world, and in our political and
economic realms where the need to cooperate with other countries is more vital all the
time. Every day our world becomes smaller. The need to integrate and welcome
people from other countries can no longer be up for debate.
From this perspective is where we bring Our Coastal Famigilia. As four United
States citizens, we see a similar hesitance to addressing the migration crisis on our own
Southern border as is seen in Italy. Despite this hesitance and anti-migrant rhetoric
occurring in both countries, the migration crisis is only expanding. Influenced by the
Warsan Shire poem, Home, we recognize that many migrants leave their home
countries strictly out of necessity.

no one leaves home until home is a sweaty voice in your ear

saying-
leave,
run away from me now
i dont know what i’ve become
but i know that anywhere
is safer than here2

Lampedusa is the major port for migrants entering Europe from Africa. Migrants
landing on the small Italian island surpassed its population by thousands in September
2023. The journey to just this point is dangerous and many deaths occur as a result.
Once in Lampedusa, migrants hope to find a more permanent settlement deeper in
Italy or Europe. Though there are organizations currently providing aid to the migrants
both in Lampedusa and on their journey throughout Europe, their resources cannot
meet the demand. The current political administration within Italy is also spouting
dangerous anti-migrant rhetoric. The prime minister, Georgia Meloni, encourages an
us-versus-them perspective, and instead of addressing the crisis, she chooses to ignore
it on all fronts. This, however, will only put the migrants in further danger.
This right-wing rhetoric is not unfamiliar to us as Americans. Such beliefs have
been on the rise in both the United States and Italy for the last few years. However,
these beliefs do not reflect the greater population. Outside of the current right-wing
structure of the government, Italians are welcoming and understanding of the
migration crisis. The Italian Nonna is the perfect example of their heart-warming nature.
Nonnas care for the migrant children without question or resistance. This is what we
hope to amplify. We are choosing to address this migration crisis in Italy because we

1
OHCHR and Migration, UN OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER,
https://www.ohchr.org/en/migration#:~:text=Issues%20in%20focus,-Migrants%20in%20vulnerable&text=Human%20rights%20viola
tions%20against%20migrants,to%20health%2C%20housing%20or%20education.
2
https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/home-warsan-shire
believe its success will set an example not just for the United States, but for the wider
global community.
Our Coastal Famiglia is not just an organization that will provide further aid to
current NGOs or provide integration resources to migrants within Italy. We are also
pressuring the Italian government to eliminate their vicious rhetoric and to officially
sign on to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant
Workers and Members of Their Families, along with the Global Compact for Safe,
Orderly, and Regular Migration. Like the United States, Italy has refrained from
agreeing to these global conventions. We believe that Italy’s signing on would signal to
the international community that they, as a major entry point for migrants, are finally
willing to make structural and lasting change.
We can no longer view our borders as rigid barriers. This has been proven time
and time again with an increase in travel, social media, education, global warming, and
of course, migration. We all deserve a safe and productive home, living wages
regardless of our nationality, and a welcoming community for our families. Our Coastal
Famiglia asks us all to join the global community and be a resource for others in need.

Sincerely,

Our Coastal Famigilia