Wield the Lash - Great Depression Deportation
Fake Immigration Numbers
The Border Wall Lies and Grifts
Migrant Crime
Birthright Citizenship
I really don't care, do u?
Japanese Internment Camp Laws
Colony Ridge
They're Eating the Pets
Aliens Enemy Act of 1798
It's the Immigrants' Fault!
"They're Poisoning the Blood of our Country"
One of Donald Trump's main policy talking points is illegal immigration, a concern for many Americans. However, he often makes misleading claims about border security, such as suggesting that Kamala Harris and Joe Biden are allowing millions of illegal immigrants to enter the country daily. He frequently conflates asylum seekers with other groups, telling rally crowds that "they're letting in immigrants from insane asylums." Trump has also claimed that immigrants are "poisoning the blood of our country" and struggles to differentiate between a work visa and a credit card. Many of these "America First" sentiments are rooted in racism and evoke troubling historical parallels, such as the Japanese internment camps and Nazi Germany.
Blaming Immigration in History - Wield the Lash!
In the Great Depression, We Tried to Deport Immigrants too.
In the 1930s, the Los Angeles Welfare Department began deporting hospital patients of Mexican descent as part of a broader campaign during the Great Depression. This initiative included vulnerable individuals suffering from conditions such as leprosy, tuberculosis, paralysis, mental illness, and age-related issues. Patients were forcibly removed from medical institutions and transported just over the border to Mexicali, Mexico, reflecting a troubling approach to public health and immigration.
A magazine from 1932 shows a man whipping immigrants with a lash called “deportation”
Repatriation Drives
These deportations were part of informal "repatriation drives" that took place throughout the United States, resulting in the expulsion of up to 1.8 million people to Mexico. Local governments and officials executed these actions without formal processes, often targeting individuals based solely on their ethnic background. This systemic removal of Mexican Americans and other individuals marked a significant and dark chapter in U.S. history.
WE DEPORTED US CITIZENS.
Research conducted by former California State Senator Joseph Dunn uncovered that approximately 60 percent of those deported were likely U.S. citizens, many born in the country to first-generation immigrants. This finding highlights the injustice and racial discrimination inherent in these deportation policies, underscoring a painful legacy of exclusion and marginalization faced by Mexican Americans during this period.
The Alt-Right's Fake Immigration Numbers
Trump claims that his administration maintained the strongest and safest border in US history. During an interview with Time Magazine at this year's RNC, he suggested using the National Guard and possibly the military to target between 15 million and 20 million people. This is notable given that the government estimated there were about 11 million migrants living in the US without permanent legal status in 2022.
Data collected from the Pew Research Center
* Fiscal year (FY) 2024 data are through February.
Notes: For FY 1993 through FY 2008, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data did not distinguish between enforcement returns, which apply to irregularly arriving migrants, and administrative returns, which apply to migrants who withdraw their applications for admission and foreign crewmembers without visas ordered to stay aboard their ships, among others; for FY 2009 onward, enforcement returns and administrative returns are categorized separately. It is possible that administrative returns comprised only a small share of overall returns in the FY 1993-2007 period.
Sources: U.S. Border Patrol, “Southwest Border Sectors: Total Encounters by Fiscal Year,” accessed June 24, 2024, available online; DHS, Office of Homeland Security Statistics (OHSS), “Immigration Enforcement and Legal Processes Monthly Tables — February 2024,” updated June 7, 2024, available online; DHS, OHSS, “Yearbook of Immigration Statistics,” updated May 3, 2024, available online.
Andrew Torba, CEO of the alt-right social media site GAB, posts these numbers as fact (crediting datahazard.substack.com)
Trump Exaggerated the amount of Border Wall he Built. "We Build the Wall" campaign linked to Steve Bannon misused donated funds for the project and was convicted. TRUMP PARDONED HIM.
During a rally in Green Bay, Trump exaggerated the number of miles of the Mexican border wall he built, according to a Customs and Border Protection status report. The report indicated that 373 miles of the wall consisted of replacements for existing, outdated, or dilapidated fencing rather than new construction.
In August 2020, Steve Bannon, the CEO of Trump’s campaign, and three others were arrested on federal charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and money laundering in connection with the We Build the Wall fundraising campaign. According to the grand jury indictment, Bannon and the defendants promised that all contributions would go to building a U.S.–Mexico border wall, but instead enriched themselves. Bannon pleaded not guilty. On January 20, 2021, on his last day in office, Trump pardoned Bannon, sparing him from a federal trial. Federal pardons do not cover state offenses, and in September 2022, Bannon was charged in New York state court on counts of fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy in connection with the campaign.
Trump and Migrant Crime
“They’re sending prisoners, murderers, drug dealers, mental patients, terrorists, the worst of every country… they’re coming from The Congo, Yemen, Somalia, Syria - all over the world… They’re destroying our country…We are going to end up with the largest deportation in American history, we have no choice”
According to the US Customs and Border Protection's website, arrests of noncitizen criminals by the US Border Patrol are relatively low compared to the total number of migrants. A study co-led by Northwestern University economist Elisa Jacome over a 150-year period indicates that immigrants are significantly less likely to commit crimes than those born in the US.
In the above video (Watch on Youtube), notice how his supporters are chanting "Build that Wall" - if you noted in the above section, the Trump Campaign (Steve Bannon) stole their money during the We Build the Wall fundraising campaign, and then Trump pardoned him.
Trump wants to End Birthright Citizenship (and that amendment is NOT in his Trump Bible!)
Trump has vowed to end birthright citizenship, a right that has been in place for 125 years in the US. His advisers have outlined a comprehensive policy vision through the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, aiming to restrict various forms of legal migration. This view is echoed by attorney John Eastman, who previously urged former Vice President Mike Pence to challenge Biden's Electoral College victory.
I really don't care, do u?
The "I Really Don’t Care, Do U?" jacket was worn by Melania Trump during a visit to a detention center for migrant children in 2018. The jacket, which featured a message written on the back in large letters, sparked significant controversy and backlash. Critics interpreted it as a dismissive statement about the plight of immigrant families separated at the border during the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy. Melania Trump's spokesperson later stated that the jacket was just a fashion choice and did not carry any hidden message. The incident highlighted the ongoing debate over immigration policy and the treatment of migrant families.
How Japanese Internment Camp Laws could influence Trump's Deportation of Immigrants
Korematsu v. United States
Korematsu v. United States (1944) was a landmark Supreme Court case that addressed the constitutionality of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the U.S. government, driven by wartime fears and racial prejudice, ordered the forced relocation and internment of around 120,000 Japanese Americans, most of whom were U.S. citizens.
Fred Korematsu, a Japanese American man, defied the internment order and was subsequently arrested. He challenged the constitutionality of the internment, arguing that it violated his rights under the Fifth Amendment. The Supreme Court, in a controversial 6-3 decision, upheld the government's decision, citing national security concerns as justification for the internment.
The ruling has since been widely criticized for its endorsement of racial discrimination and the government's wartime powers. In later years, the decision has been acknowledged as a grave injustice, and in 1988, the U.S. government formally apologized and provided reparations to surviving internment victims. Korematsu v. United States remains a pivotal case in discussions about civil liberties, racial discrimination, and the balance between security and individual rights.
Trump's Muslim Ban (first term) and Japanese Internment Camps
Pod Save America: Trump's Plan for Immigrants
Colony Ridge
Profiting off Illegal Migration
Communities like Colony Ridge, located near Houston, TX, are being developed specifically for migrants, but they've sparked resentment from both sides of the immigration debate. Colony Ridge, a residential area in Liberty County, has drawn attention for its swift growth, particularly among immigrant populations. This community has become a focal point in local and national discussions, often addressing immigration issues, community resources, and infrastructure challenges. Its rapid expansion has raised concerns, including the strain on public services and questions about law enforcement's ability to manage the increased population.
They're Eating the Pets
During the 2024 Debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, Donald Trump claimed that Haitian Immigrants were Eating the Pets of the people that lived there.
Communities like Colony Ridge, located near Houston, TX, are being developed specifically for migrants, but they've sparked resentment from both sides of the immigration debate. Colony Ridge, a residential area in Liberty County, has drawn attention for its swift growth, particularly among immigrant populations. This community has become a focal point in local and national discussions, often addressing immigration issues, community resources, and infrastructure challenges. Its rapid expansion has raised concerns, including the strain on public services and questions about law enforcement's ability to manage the increased population.
The Effect of Lies
Senator JD Vance has continued to assert his unfounded claim that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, have been eating pets, a narrative that former President Donald Trump has also promoted. In a recent CNN interview, Vance defended his statement by citing "first-hand accounts of my constituents" and suggested that he would create stories to attract media attention to the struggles of American citizens. He criticized the media for ignoring immigration issues affecting smaller cities like Springfield, which has welcomed approximately 15,000 to 20,000 migrants in the past four years.
The claims made by Vance and Trump have led to increased tensions in Springfield, including a series of bomb threats directed at the city. Trump, during a press conference, vowed to initiate the largest deportation effort in U.S. history, starting with migrants in Springfield and Aurora, Colorado, despite local law enforcement dismissing these statements as exaggerations.
Blood Tribe
A neo-Nazi group called Blood Tribe, led by two ex-Marines, claimed responsibility for amplifying false claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, allegedly eating pets. This followed former President Donald Trump’s remarks during a recent presidential debate, where he suggested residents were "eating the dogs." Christopher Pohlhaus, a member of the group, stated on social media that they helped bring Springfield into the public eye by sharing clips of Trump’s comments.
And now they’re stealing the geese. Right from the lake in the damn park. 😤 https://t.co/zCk2eGFyc8
— Jane Lynch (@janemarielynch) September 13, 2024
"If I have to CREATE STORIES so that the American media pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that's what I'm going to do."
The Aliens Enemy Act of 1798
The prospect of Donald Trump winning another term in office raises significant concerns, particularly regarding his commitment to execute the "largest domestic deportation operation in American history." Trump plans to utilize the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, an 18th-century law that allows for the detention and removal of immigrants during wartime or in response to threats against the U.S. This act has historically been invoked only during major conflicts, such as the War of 1812 and both World Wars.
During a recent campaign event in Aurora, Colorado, Trump reiterated his intention to apply this law against "every illegal migrant criminal network" in the country. Although the law cannot be used against American citizens directly, it could potentially impact U.S.-born children of immigrants, raising concerns about constitutional rights violations. Katherine Yon Ebright from the Brennan Center described the Alien Enemies Act as an outdated law that could infringe on civil liberties, suggesting that its appeal to Trump may stem from its broad application.
The Trump campaign confirmed the former president's plans for mass deportations in a second term, highlighting his intent to use mechanisms like the Alien Enemies Act as a basis for these actions. This potential approach has alarmed many who fear its implications for immigration policy and civil rights in the United States.