Let’s Work Together?

It seems that everyone is either saying, “Hey, let’s work together now,” or, “#NotMyPresident.” Trump supporters are criticizing those who are complaining or grieving right now. Some are calling for cooperation, and some are saying we won now we get to do whatever we want. Those against Trump are either saying, “Sure, let’s come together,” or they’re still decrying Trump’s rhetoric during the campaign.

I have to admit, the calls to work together seem a little shallow. 

Trump frequently used hateful speech on the campaign trail. He advocates a ban on Muslim immigration. Even if only for a time this is extremely troubling. He’s constantly scapegoated immigrants. And, while he may have never said, “Hey I’m a white supremacist,” he was endorsed by the KKK. Sure, you can’t control who endorses you, but often times they do endorse you for a reason.

So sure, maybe he won’t be so bad. Maybe he was just saying those things to get elected. Rile up the base to get their votes then moderate when you actually lead. There are two problems with that: First is that many people have taken the rhetoric seriously. Hijabs have been ripped off heads, Latinos, even those born here, have been told to “go back to where they came from,” and African Americans have had to endure racist graffiti and actions against them. Swastikas have been graffitied on walls, and the “N” word has been written on school bathroom stalls. All next to phrases such as, “Welcome to Trump’s America.” He may not have been serious…but they are.

The second problem is when you look at his first 100 day plan.

For instance he writes that he will “cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama.” First of all what does that mean? If he’s referring to the immigration orders is he referring only to the latest one that the courts struck down? Or is he talking about Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)? If it’s DACA then what’s his plan? At least 600,000 have received DACA, they’ve come out the shadows, have work authorization, and are building lives for themselves. So is he going to destroy that with a stroke of a pen. Send hundreds of thousands of people back into poverty? Worse, is he going to deport them to a country they’ve never known (Most DACA recipients came as very young children), to a country that is most likely unsafe for them? Is he really going to destroy hundreds of thousands of lives simply because they were born in another country? That seems pretty hateful, even if his “tone” has changed.

Secondly he writes that he’ll, “begin removing the more than 2 million criminal illegal immigrants from the country and cancel visas to foreign countries that won’t take them back.” Obama already has a “criminals not families” deportation policy, but it’s really hard to differentiate. How do you define criminal? Do you deport someone who has a DUI from 15 years ago but now is just trying to provide for his family? What if it’s a single mom with an old crime on her record. Her children are US Citizens. Do you deport her and orphan her kids? That seems pretty heartless, doesn’t it?

He also claims he’ll have congress pass the “End Illegal Immigration Act” that will build a wall that Mexico will pay for and that will give mandatory prison sentences to those reentering. Does that mean he’s making not having proper documents a criminal offense and not a civil one? Does that mean that immigrants in deportation hearings will now receive their constitutional right to an attorney (something they don’t get now)? How will he pay for that? Also, ever notice that all he wants to do is keep people out? The fact is we need immigrants. And currently there is no way for them to get here. The oft repeated phrase, “They should just go home and get in line,” over looks one very important fact: There is no line to get in. Any immigration reform MUST include reform of how we get people here in the first place. As it stands, this is simply a vague, nativistic proposal.

These are just three of his proposals and they are vague, very troubling, and will destroy the lives of immigrants in our country. What he’s saying through these proposals is, “If we just get those people out of our country we’ll be ok.” He may not be claiming that Mexico sends rapists anymore, but he’s still trying to enact policies against them. And in many circles these proposals further entrench his previous rhetoric that makes brown skin a crime.

I saw a video today that broke my heart. It’s an old one from a few years ago, but the reality still stands. Immigrants, including those without documents, don’t come here because they are bad people. They come here because they have no other option. You don’t risk your life in the Sonoran desert lightly. Watch the video below, and then let’s talk about legitimate policies. And Mr. Trump, apologize for your rhetoric, and then prove your repentance in your actions.