It should be obvious that people who have moved to Ireland from other countries play a vital role in many different sectors of our society, and the health service in particular simply could not function without their contribution.
However, as witnessed in west Belfast in recent days, they are hugely vulnerable to threats and intimidation from a small minority of twisted individuals who are motivated by an entirely irrational hatred of outsiders.
The attack on a family home in Beechmount Street in the early hours of Monday was not as vicious as the sustained targeting of migrants which took place elsewhere in the city and beyond last year, but it still needed to receive a firm response from the community in the area.
Widespread revulsion was caused by an appalling series of incidents last summer which reached a climax, in early August, through assaults on entirely innocent victims and the prolonged destruction of property, largely but not exclusively concentrated on loyalist districts.
Although complex issues can sometimes be involved in the wider debate on immigration, the behaviour of the racist mobs in different parts of the city, wrecking homes, ruining businesses and forcing ordinary men, women and children to flee for their lives, was entirely unacceptable.
It was fortunate that fatalities did not take place over several days as the most serious outrages intensified, some under the cover of darkness but others involving roaming thugs in broad daylight.
Police figures indicated that race hate crimes rose by a disturbing one third in the 12-month period up to September, with senior officers openly discussing the full extent of the trauma inflicted on ethnic groups.
It was clear that the PSNI took some time to get to grips with the scale of the crisis, but it should be acknowledged that a comprehensive series of arrests followed over subsequent weeks.
Suspects have since been regularly appearing before the courts, and, while the legal process must run its course, there will be an expectation that deterrent sentences will be imposed on all those duly convicted of involvement in the worst offences.
What was arguably more important was that ordinary people were prepared to turn out in large numbers to support public rallies rejecting all forms of racism, wherever it occurs.
The tide eventually turned, and the episode when paint was thrown over a wall and the word “local” daubed on the Beechmount Street house was not part of a recent pattern.
It was still essential that it was roundly condemned, and all those who participated in the well-attended subsequent gathering of concerned residents deserve to be strongly praised for standing shoulder to shoulder with their beleaguered friends and neighbours.
