Trump continues to cause cruel chaos - immigration reality
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| An El Paso Times echo opinion |
The alleged “humanitarian and national security crisis” created by the irresponsible actions of the current inhabitant of the White House has contributed to more insecurity in the lives of federal employees, border dwellers, immigrants and refugees, and the people who serve them.
Donald Trump continues to use the governance of this nation as his personal reality television show. From the constant diarrhea of his thumbs issuing from his Twitter-feed to the bombastic, hateful rhetoric he spouts every time he is in the presence of the press, this president has created more chaos and distress in the nation than, I hazard to guess, any president in the history of this nation.
Trump's useless propaganda Oval Office address was no different than the other lies, misstatements of fact, and divisive commentary to which we have become immune. It is clear that this administration intends to continue to lie about border conditions, immigrants and refugees, and immigrant crime statistics.
The protestations issued by Trump were not based in fact or reality, as fact-checking resources revealed in real time during the brief disruption of prime-time television.
Trump's useless propaganda Oval Office address was no different than the other lies, misstatements of fact, and divisive commentary to which we have become immune. It is clear that this administration intends to continue to lie about border conditions, immigrants and refugees, and immigrant crime statistics.
The protestations issued by Trump were not based in fact or reality, as fact-checking resources revealed in real time during the brief disruption of prime-time television.
On Wednesday, this same “leader of the free world” stormed out of a meeting with congressional leaders because he did not get the exorbitant amounts of money that he insists are necessary to build the “Wall” described in his campaign promises to crowds hungry for the red meat of xenophobia, and a time-worn target to project imaginary resentment and anger — the immigrant community.
This created crisis is un-American and unhelpful to meaningful debate on immigration reform.
A physical and technological boundary already exits and is in place on the U.S-Mexico border. Moreover, where a physical boundary is not possible, the rugged terrain prohibits foot traffic across the geographic border.
Asylum seekers and potential immigrants surrendering to U.S. border enforcement officials and then processed for evaluation are legally in the U.S., contrary to Trump’s assertions. Of course, he has no appreciation for or desire to learn about immigration law, so he would not know this.
This created crisis is un-American and unhelpful to meaningful debate on immigration reform.
A physical and technological boundary already exits and is in place on the U.S-Mexico border. Moreover, where a physical boundary is not possible, the rugged terrain prohibits foot traffic across the geographic border.
Asylum seekers and potential immigrants surrendering to U.S. border enforcement officials and then processed for evaluation are legally in the U.S., contrary to Trump’s assertions. Of course, he has no appreciation for or desire to learn about immigration law, so he would not know this.
Declaring a “humanitarian” emergency, Trump continues to wreak chaos in our society. This time the welfare of thousands of hard-working federal employees, including immigration and border enforcement officers, face financial hardship because he insisted upon a government shutdown and withholds their paychecks during their furlough. His shutdown is increasing the already overwhelmed immigration courts, causing more backlogs on the docket. Transportation Security Administration officials are calling in sick, rather than working for free, placing our airways in danger.
We are not under threat by exhausted men, women, and children seeking entry into our country, fleeing persecution in their home countries. We are not under any threat of harm from these hardworking men and women who take the jobs Americans don’t want, at wages at which Americans sneer. There is no “rushing” of the border by thousands of people, allegedly overwhelming border security officials. There are not “thousands” of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants; in fact, the statistics show that immigrants (in any status) commit fewer crimes than U.S.-born citizens. This is an imaginary crisis, used to gain political advantage.
This is not good government. This is not the appropriate climate for thoughtful immigration reform and border security development. This is a temper tantrum that, for any other official would result in a resounding defeat at the polls. And the economy will quickly reflect the impact of this explosive behavior.
In the meantime, El Paso is still in one of the safest cities in the nation, peacefully co-existing with our brothers and sisters in our Mexican neighborhood to the south. The president would do well to learn and understand that we are a nation of immigrants and that our nation’s creed welcomes newcomers with open arms.
Ouisa D. Davis is an attorney at law in El Paso. She can be reached at Ouisadavis@yahoo.com.
We are not under threat by exhausted men, women, and children seeking entry into our country, fleeing persecution in their home countries. We are not under any threat of harm from these hardworking men and women who take the jobs Americans don’t want, at wages at which Americans sneer. There is no “rushing” of the border by thousands of people, allegedly overwhelming border security officials. There are not “thousands” of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants; in fact, the statistics show that immigrants (in any status) commit fewer crimes than U.S.-born citizens. This is an imaginary crisis, used to gain political advantage.
This is not good government. This is not the appropriate climate for thoughtful immigration reform and border security development. This is a temper tantrum that, for any other official would result in a resounding defeat at the polls. And the economy will quickly reflect the impact of this explosive behavior.
In the meantime, El Paso is still in one of the safest cities in the nation, peacefully co-existing with our brothers and sisters in our Mexican neighborhood to the south. The president would do well to learn and understand that we are a nation of immigrants and that our nation’s creed welcomes newcomers with open arms.
Ouisa D. Davis is an attorney at law in El Paso. She can be reached at Ouisadavis@yahoo.com.
Labels: El Paso Times, Ouisa D. Davis
posted by Juliana L'Heureux | 5:04 PM
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