Donald Trump is doing a disservice to those who criticize the United States’ high immigration thresholds, particularly among illegal immigrants. It accentuates the rot of the debate, not to say its racist drift.
Trump has declared twice in recent days that undocumented immigration is “poisoning the blood of our country.” Trump, who recently called his opponents “vermin,” continues down the same dangerous path.
Because vermin must be eliminated, annihilated, by all possible means. This is the reason why dehumanizing your adversaries and describing them as vermin risks leading to very dangerous excesses. Especially in a country that has more weapons in circulation than its number of inhabitants.
Impure blood
Likewise, arguing that illegal immigrants are poisoning the blood of the country implies that there is pure and impure blood. That we must rid the country of what is impure. Think of the French national anthem speaking of enemy soldiers: “let an impure blood… Water our furrows”.
Trump particularly stigmatized immigration from Africa and Asia.
Trump’s remarks are of extraordinary violence and racism that is no longer hidden.
In his first term, Trump had accustomed the American people to the thousands of lies he could tell on the most varied subjects.
In what could be a second term, Trump is revealing what appears to be his deeply racist, resentful and dictatorial nature.
Ten years ago, Trump’s comments would have disqualified him from becoming president. Even the most radical wing of the Republican Party would not have wanted him. Today, Republicans are asking for more.
Actual problem
The problem of illegal immigration in the United States is very real. Recent statistics indicate that there are nearly 700,000 homeless people in American cities.
These homeless people are largely people who are no longer able to find housing they can afford.
Given the nearly 13 million illegal immigrants living in the United States and the 2 million who have entered in the past year, it is even surprising that the pressure on housing is not greater.
But these immigrants remain human beings who must be treated with more consideration.
Their growing number has impacts on housing, crime, employment, etc. It is possible to discuss it calmly, with supporting figures. It is also possible, if necessary, to take measures to protect the local population against too many illegal immigrants.
However, Trump’s fiery speeches, like the fashionable idealistic speeches of Pope Francis, do nothing to solve the problem.
In Quebec, when discussing immigration, there will unfortunately be people who repeat the pseudo-arguments of both sides.
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