Superman and the Refugee Crisis: What if Clark Kent Arrived Today?

By: Manuela Medeiros

Born in a dying world, raised in Kansas, Clark Kent is the ultimate refugee. Not all heroes need a cape, and not all villains need a gun–President Donald Trump does it all with immigration policies. 

After soaring a whopping $125 million at the box office, Superman is taking a pit stop at the White House to spit on the faces of today's presidency! From Krypton to Washington, villains aren't bound by comics–they are bound by policy. Superman's story stems from a chaotic planet, and a desperate father sends his son away to save him from destruction. A familiar story, don't you think? Well, funny enough, this origin labels Superman not only as a hero, but as a refugee–an outsider seeking not just safety but belonging. Yet, if Clark were to arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border in the present-day America, would he be greeted with hope or fear? In an era defined by strict immigration policies and aggressive enforcement by agencies such as ICE, Superman's survival would easily be at risk. 

Fig 1. Superman in Gunn's “Superman” 2025 film. 

Bearing an identity shaped by commitment, justice, and protection, Clark Kent symbolizes the immigrant experience of loss, adaptation, and the pursuit of a new home. Comics and films have long celebrated this narrative, now, when will we? 

Painted as refugees and asylum seekers rather than humans in need, the U.S. immigration policy, at the hands of Trump's administration, focuses on border security and immigration enforcement. By expanding ICE's search, the U.S. led an overwhelming increase in detentions and family separations (Fig. 1) with cruel policies such as the “Remain in Mexico” and Title 42 expulsions. Despite international laws protecting asylum seekers, nearly 80% of those attempting to enter are expelled under these policies, invoked during the COVID-19 pandemic and still controversially used. ICE manages over 200 detention facilities nationwide, with approximately 20,000 immigrants incarcerated, many without access to any legal representation. These separations, though officially curtailed, continue to disrupt the lives of thousands of families. These figures starkly juxtapose Superman’s narrative as a refugee who finds sanctuary and acceptance, exposing the systemic barriers and ironies faced by real-life scenarios today.

Fig 2. Graph illustrating immigration detention by each arresting agency over time. 

What an ironic situation, no? A man distinguished by his extraordinary abilities, which define him as a hero, is criminalized today. Depicted as a “foreigner”, Superman's status with unknown origins could land him in detention-rather than being celebrated. This underscores how policies often prioritize suspicion over humanity. Not all dangers come with weapons; sometimes, the greatest obstacles lie within the system, rooted in fear, bureaucracy, and MAGA movements. 

Superman’s story summons a broader reflection on America’s self-image and values. A hero that stands for “truth, justice, and the American way”, ideals that should reflect on how the nation treats immigrants and refugees. Yet, the current American political framework reveals a strain between rhetoric and reality. Who qualifies as deserving? Who is seen as a threat? The criminalization of immigrants challenges the idea of America as a land of opportunity and sanctuary—a place where even an alien child could become a hero.

A walking embodiment not of the American dream but of what it once was, Superman's is a narrative of truth, justice, and the “American way", ideals that should extend to how the nation treats immigrants and refugees. Yet, with the current political framework, a tension between rhetoric and reality is revealed. Who qualifies as deserving? Who is seen as a threat? What was known as the land of opportunity and sanctuary, our world's “melting pot” and a place where even an alien child can become a hero, is now a minefield where the existence of Aliens is more plausible than just immigration policies. 

“Being a hero isn’t about where you’re from—it’s about standing up when the world tries to push you down. No matter your origin, justice is universal.” While America's sweetheart claims that justice is for all, this was a different story for the 22-year-old Palestinian detainee Muhanad Alshrouf. Since July 5, 2025, Muhanad has been detained at the George Bush Intercontinental airport regardless of his valid immigrant visa and is undergoing background checks from U.S. and Israeli authorities. Without a single explanation, legal representation, or adequate access to family, Muhanad has been held in a secondary screening room for over a week. The metal detector beeping is no longer a matter of probability; it is a matter of xenophobia. 

“When I turned myself in at the border, I told them I was pregnant. The people at immigration claimed that everything I told them was a lie. I told them about my brother being killed, and I was afraid for my life because I was being threatened. They started laughing at me and said that everyone comes to them with the same story. They put handcuffs on me and a chain around my belly. I thought, I’ve made a big mistake. There are a lot of people in detention who, instead of helping you, they tell you things that make you more scared. They would tell me that I wouldn’t get out until I had my baby in there. I was in detention for one month and one week. I was fortunate, but if I had known how they treated pregnant women in detention, I don’t think I would have come. It was terrible.” 

Two years detained and a million stories; let her voice reverberate through history as an alarm and awaken those who still believe in change. 

“The symbol of the S is hope.” - Superman. 

Works Cited

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