Reddit Co-founder Discovers Immigration Matters—When It Benefits Him
Ohanian declared, “Reddit wouldn’t exist if ICE had come for her,” framing his mother's journey as a testament to immigrant potential. (Indeed, many immigrant stories are). Yet, this narrative conveniently sidesteps the systemic reality: for every 'successful' undocumented story, there are countless others where ICE did come for them, irrespective of their potential contributions. His mother was
not 'came for' by ICE; many families are deported daily, their potential founders, doctors, and innovators sent away. The media celebrates these select narratives of 'good' immigrants, while ignoring the millions deemed 'bad' by a system that profits from their cheap labor or their absence. One might wonder if Ohanian would be so vocal if his mother had been snatched at a work site or separated
from her children, rather than navigating the path to eventual citizenship that allowed him to found a billion-dollar company. The focus on individual exceptionalism whitewashes a brutal immigration system that persists regardless of who you are, or who you might become. Some get to be founders; others just get deported.