NOT to diminish the horrors you have & are living through in ANY way but ... welcome to our world, that is the lives & deaths of the sons & daughters of Africa in America.
1
As I presented to AOC without a reply,
please juxtapose the number of US citizens violently attacked or worse by illegal aliens to the number of persons injured by a mentally ill mass attacker. Supporters of illegal immigration won't dare.
I will gladly support your organization and look forward to your Latino leadership if you are advocating for the deportation of illegal immigrants and against future illegal immigration.
41
I see the mass shooting in El Paso as Trump's Kristallnacht. Get rid of him, Americans.
53
@Chinaski
What about the mass shooting in Dayton?
8
@ Aristotle Gluteus Maximus
Shhh. The mass shooting in Dayton doesn’t fit the narrative. We don’t speak of it.
8
@ER
The shooter did not leave a manifesto. He shot black men, but I don't know whether he was a Trump supporter. Sounds like a typical far right shooter, but I read he was a leftist of some weird sort.
He was a gun nut, like all of them, and deeply disturbed. And free to buy and use weapons of war. There are tens of thousands (at least) of those people in the US, I'm sure.
2
I'm an old white Anglo who stands with my Latinx brothers and sisters. We are all part of the USA and along with Native Americans, Asian Americans and African Americans celebrate our differences, each of us contributing to the fabric of this country that Trump is attempting to tear apart. In the words of Okie Woody Guthrie: "All these fascists bound to lose."
3
This El Paso shooting was perpetrated by one man. We must not magnify this tragic occurrence out of proportion.
2
This is cold comfort, but if anyone shoots at Latinos, they will hit lots of us Anglos, too. I live in a majority minority county (where minorities outnumber plain-vanilla whites). As far as we’re concerned, our Latino fellow residents are just fine as neighbors, and our police have a good record of working with Latinos. They don’t ask about your immigration status, and they don’t call ICE.
If that sounds defensive, that’s too bad. But please don’t get the impression that all white people don’t like Latinos but do like Trump. Trump doesn’t dare come here to do one of his far-right anti-immigrant pep rallies; he’d get booed off the stage.
2
Thank you for sharing this, it is heartbreaking.
Few things Trump has said and done have been as dangerous as his vilification of Latinos. My family arrived in America as poor immigrants and refugees. I quickly learned that the people I had the most in common with were Latinos. I grew up in an area with a large Latino community and so naturally understood how diverse the community is. Within a short walk from my home there were Hispanic Americans originally from a half-dozen different countries, all with distinct cultures.
What they all had in common were values I was raised with. They were patriotic, almost all were religious yet not dogmatic, they typically had large multi-generational families with very strong social bonds, they had beautiful cultures, (and amazing food), and they were the hardest workers I had ever seen, and have ever seen, in my life.
Having no money meant I worked any menial job I could get from a very young age. Like Latinos, I took jobs from no one, because the light skinned people in my area, who could be quite bigoted, would last all of a day doing the backbreaking work we did before quitting.
Yet Trump, a person with everything given to him, and who looks a lot like the people who were very bigoted to anyone who was different, my family included, dehumanized Latinos constantly as animals and vermin.
It is because of Trump’s toxic rhetoric, not anything Latinos are or have done, that Latinos were murdered by a white supremacist in El Paso.
2
When Trump was inaugurated as President, he swore a solemn oath to the "best of [his] Ability, preserve and defend the Constitution of the United States." And that includes, as is or should be be plain to see, the Constitution's citizenship, due process and equal protection clauses.
It's long past time for "we, the people," be they citizens, lawful permanent residents, asylum seekers and so forth, to hold Trump's feet to the fire, and make him uphold, hew to and abide by that oath.
"But if not," as the citizens of Aragon once warned their monarch if he didn't protect and uphold their liberties, privileges and laws "not." That final negative means "you're fired." Which, apropos of the Trump problem appears to be the simplest solution, is nonetheless the hardest to implement.
1
Ms. Murguia, please know that Trump's racist, dehumanizing rhetoric is abhorrent to so many of us out here who are not Latino. I just feel it necessary to stress that!
Trump is tossing seeds of hatred to the wind and he and his Republican enablers seem not to care that they are taking root and bearing ugly fruit.
People of peace and goodwill toward men, take note, and please vote accordingly in 2020. Do not vote for a sower of hatred and discord, even if he's a Republican. Is this what you want your party to be?
4
This article represents a view point that is hypocritical and manipulative. Hispanics in the United States claim to be white people when asked and when it is convenient for them. Otherwise they claim to be “people of color” when they see there is some advantage to being a persecuted minority like African Americans (implying everybody who isn’t them are persecuting them).
There is no right to immigrate to the United States unless this right is granted by the citizens of the United States.
If you are not a citizen you cannot vote. There is no effort to suppress your legal right to vote. You don’t have such a right.
Medicaid and housing subsidies are paid for by taxing US citizens. US citizens consent to this because it helps other US citizens. They do not consent to payments to non-citizens without a legal status. Any money given non-citizens who have no legal status is money that is taken away from poor US citizens. That is a crime.
7
@sguknw Do you really not understand that "Hispanic" and "Latino" are terms that describe language, not race? Some people from Spanish or Portuguese speaking countries in the Americas are descended from the European settlers with very little intermarriage, some belong to the indigenous peoples, some are descended from African slaves, and the great majority are of mixed race. People of the first group would identify themselves as white. But in the United States as it is right now, they will get abused if they speak their native language with their friends, whether their skin is light, dark or any shade in between. So yes, it makes sense to identify more with their fellow Spanish and Portuguese speakers who are on the receiving end of the same abuse than with people like Ann Coulter.
3
@sguknw I believe the US government started to classify people of a certain ethnicity as Hispanic for the US Census. Ethnicity (country of origin) and race (Black, Asian, White, etc) are two different things. And you can't claim benefits unless you are a legal resident. You can't vote, either. In fact in most "immigrant communities" crime is low compared to native born communities.
1
@Susan Wood
You hit on some hot button issues for me,even if they are kind of trivial.
"Latino" is an absurd term. The modern language most like Latin today is Romanian followed by Romansh (the Swiss language based on vulgar Latin). Both Italian and Spanish are about the same distance from Latin. However only Hispanics claim the title of Latino.
Calling anyone who isn't Latino an Anglo is also absurd and a fake distinction. My Irish potato famine ancestors would have been deeply offended by being referred to as Englishmen of any type.
"But in the United States as it is right now, they will get abused if they speak their native language with their friends, whether their skin is light, dark or any shade in between. " Oh please. There are plenty of obnoxious people in the USA but there are no laws preventing anyone from speaking Spanish. It is not a legal matter. Our countrymen are legally abusive to everyone.
Why does Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez claim to be a "person of color" when she is whiter than some Italians I have known? Because she can then claim persecution given African Americans and claim compensation for this status. Doesn't make sense to me.
2
White nationalism is vile, but nationalism supporting core principles of the rule of American law is wonderful. I want the government to infiltrate every white nationalist group and website, and bust them for long prison sentences when they break the law. I also want the government to remove illegal immigrants from all nations, so that we can admit just as many legal immigrants from all nations. I also believe that lumping white conservatives and white nationalists together is disingenuous. Every white conservative I know would rather their child marry a Mexican-American, Chinese-American, or African-American conservative than marry a white leftist.
7
@O'Brien
Re
>>>> "admit just as many legal immigrants from all nations.
I don't think Mr. Trump agrees with that. He would be happy with no legal immigration.
>>> "I also believe that lumping white conservatives and white nationalists together is disingenuous.
The former are complicit with the latter when they remain silent. So not so disingenuous, just cowardly if they in fact don't agree or share similar values.
>>>> " would rather their child marry a Mexican-American, Chinese-American, or African-American conservative than marry a white leftist.
wow, sad, why can't they just marry someone they love?
Please make sure that not ONE Hispanic vote goes to Trump next year. Or, for that matter, not one Muslim, not one black, not one Asian, not one other person of good will.
2
I hope plenty of protesters will show up today to meet the bigot in chief. After repeatedly making hateful and untrue statements about Mexicans and people escaping Honduras,Guatemala,etc.,he wants to show up and offer platitudes to the victims families and communities. Trump personally needs to be held responsible for inciting hate crimes! Impeach him now!
1
We (especially candidates) need to debunk the right wing talking point that having immigrants allows employers to pay lower wages. I'm sure there are some large corporations who have big profit margins play the game this way. But to a huge degree, prices determine wages. if you can't raise the price, you can't raise the wage.
I am a small business owner, and I operate on a really small margin of profit--enough to keep a roof over my head basically. The pressure to charge less has been relentless--I have not raised my prices in decades.
All small business owners I know have the same problem. There is no separate wage for foreign workers--there is the wage they can afford to pay and still stay in business.
And this is, to a great degree, a result of our clients being less wealthy too. People who are not in the .01% are all dealing with rising costs and stagnant income across the board. I've lost clients because they just can't afford me anymore (and I know this), but my options are charge the same or just close up shop.
My strategy has been not to cut wages, but to limit hours, and increase the number of hours I work. I don't like doing this. And I know people who work for me have second jobs and I'm sorry; but my alternative is to close up altogether.
There is a low wage/low price spiral that nobody talks about but they should. Immigrants are being blamed, but they're not really the problem.
4
The us has been always obsessed with race, from top to bottom. Is the State color blind? I do not think so. We humans are all sensitive to racial differences, but it is better to pretend color blindness in the public sphere for the sake of everybody, starting with the president himself. Let us not trust our lower instincts. Please get rid of D. Trump!
2
I hope the Latino community is making certain right now to get everyone possible registered to vote, and careful to avoid any errors in the registrations.
And then I hope the Latino community will organize a good system to volunteers to get people in nursing homes and elsewhere any help they need with transportation on Election Day. Babysitting also must be arranged for free. Perhaps some help with meals on those days.
And may this be the start of a continual messaging that “ every vote counts! Now more than ever!”
2
It's looking more and more as if references comparing the un-united states of America to Nazi Germany are happening. What was once considered taboo in writing about politics and day to day behavior has become commonplace. Why? What has caused so many to decide to make this comparison? What has changed in this country? The Times normally wouldn't allow such a thing in a letter to the editor in the past...I know this from first hand experience...but in the past weeks or months I'm beginning to see the reference cropping up. Something has shifted and changed and it's getting ugly. It's uglier and worse than most care to admit. We need a serious change of course in this country that comes from the top (President) down. Our "Leader" is failing us. Well, failing about two thirds of us.
3
What about the "Latino on Latino" gang violence which plagues East Los Angeles and other cities? When will Latino communities stand up to the self-inflicted social destruction in their communities and schools?
The LA School District has a $24 billion dollar a year operating budget with over 800,000 students- 65% are Latino... Their absenteeism and truancy rate is the highest in the country. The district loses over $10 million dollars a day in federal and state funds because of unexcused absences. Why not fix that?
And to be perfectly clear, I have many Latino friends and attended many "carne asadas"-- Within these families are doctors, lawyers, bankers, law enforcement professionals.. and ALWAYS a "gang member" Latino families tolerate them [or turn a blind eye] and it's almost accepted. This is the reason why gang activity still thrives in Latino communities- Lack of accountability.
I'm afraid going after the President and the existential fear of "White Nationalism" will only distract from the real problems which occupy the Latino communities: Drugs, Gangs, Lack of Education and ZERO Accountability.
This is just my opinion.
8
Everything you say is true. Pero, acuerdense, su voto es su voz. If Latinos vote, everything changes. We have got to get these violence enablers out of office.
2
El Paso, sadly, has made Trump more popular among his base and among republicans (now they know he can produce results from his hate speech). They are privately chortling.
I.e., if anyone thinks that this violence will trigger opposition, or precipitate impeachment, or even an electoral defeat for Trump in 2020, I urge people to think again. I see him winning because of this, not despite it.
Trump's hate rhetoric is not only the cause of violence in El Paso, Trump is the effect of republican white supremacy - even if it is expressed in a large variety of very effective passive aggressive ways. Trump chose the strategy of hate partly because he hates non-whites, but also because he knew very early on that his birther movement gained a lot of traction among republicans, and their hate-propaganda machine lapped it up (Fox, Limbaugh, Jones, Churches). Trump, in a previous avatar, shared that he would run as a republican because they are stupid as an electorate and will respond to hate.
Therein lies the rub. In 2020, I expect 40% of Hispanics and 15% of Blacks to vote for him. There is plenty of evidence in the psych lit that speaks to, and explains, why we act against our best self interest. We don't take pills we need, we take drugs we don't, we don't do what is good for us, run to all things bad. Bad is stronger than the good. Blacks and browns have hate in our hearts too; Trump sticking it to our own people can be gratifying as well.
Welcome to that special place in America; a minority group singled out for attack. Throughout this nation’s history, minority groups have been singled out for attack to the prejudice du jour. If you are Irish, Chinese, Jewish, Gay, Italian, Black, Japanese, Catholic, Muslim, you name it, there has been a time when you were in the crosshairs of majority hate. For many, once a person escapes this attention, the goal is to blend in, assimilate, and not defend those currently being hated. Thoughtful people must stand up for each other because anyone can be the next target.
2
I understand that Nancy Pelosi is trying to play a long game, but how long this damaged country can sustain the wait, how many more mass shooting we will see, how many more funerals of innocent people and children, how many more hatred ridden letters written as we speak, how many more of these killers are hiding in wait for their turn, how many more deadly guns will be sold, how many more blood money will NRA get, how many more days left until the 2020... Can we last that long!
If Pelosi afraid of Civil War we're already in Civil War.
4
Please explain, then, why so many Latinas and Latinos staunchly support trump. Is it really because they immigrated legally, so they embrace trump’s immigration policies? Many, if not most, of these policies are cruel. Therefore, support of their author makes no sense to me.
1
“This attack is a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas.”
But note, the attack wasn't just on Hispanics. The attack was also on the Anglos who were in a place frequented by Hispanics.
If Hispanics are the enemy of whites, then whites who live peacefully with the Hispanics are also enemies, collaborators.
This is also out of the ISIS strategy of "eliminating the gray areas". There are spaces where people of different cultures mix peaceably, and ISIS wants to make everyone choose a side. Its terror is meant to bring fear, and backlash, and backlash to the backlash so that nobody has a chose but to leave the gray areas and choose black or white. They are not so much fighting a war between two mutually exclusive worlds but creating one.
And that's why the shooter traveled ten hours to El Paso rather than shooting up a bar frequented by Mexicans in the Dallas area. It is because El Paso is a peaceable, blended community.
So the next targets aren't just going to be purlely Hispanic but places where Hispanics and Anglos mix.
26
The Mexicans I know here are exactly the same kinds of people that we have always seen in immigrant populations--hard-working, honest, kind, appreciative of an opportunity, friendly, and a welcome addition to our community. (Think of New York's Irish and Italian populations) I wish the Governor of Michigan would take a look at the data showing a general out-migration from Michigan over the last 15 years and invite Mexican immigrants here to live. There is housing galore in Detroit sitting vacant. I suspect the trump voters in the suburbs would have a fit if the Governor did invite immigrants to Michigan--but then let them move south to be with their soul-mates. The trump aficionados fearing they are losing their white advantages are the ones who don't fit--not the immigrants.
5
A few days after Trump announced his candidacy, a couple of young punks in Boston beat a homeless Latino brutally, and after their arrest they told the police that they did it because "Donald Trump is right." A lot of us knew right then that his rhetoric would get people killed, and it has, many times by now. The Tree of Life synagogue shooter was trying to stop the "caravan" of asylum seekers by attacking a congregation that supported aid to refugees. The Christchurch and El Paso killers parroted Trump's rhetoric. I'd use a stronger word than "terrorism" to describe acts like these -- how about civil war? Not the 1860's kind with clear boundaries and political goals, but the kind we see in Syria, with a variety of extremist groups fighting a war of terror against each other as well as against the government.
5
The racism against those of Mexican descent has been there since the end of the War with Mexico, brought about largely because of Mexico’s law forbidding slavery in its territories—most of the Southwest and California. It allowed settlers from outside these territories provided they followed the law. War followed. It was called Manifest Destiny.
After the war, racism replaced aggression. The fact that many were native born was totally ignored. In Arizona, for example, until the outbreak of WW 2, the mines had Mexican wages (lower) and Anglo wages. The latter included Serbo-Croatian immigrants. The schools, wherever possible, were segregated. This was mostly in elementary schools, since duplicating high schools was expensive. In certain towns, like Thatcher, anyone brown was not served in public facilities. Even students from visiting schools participating in sports and music events.
WW 2 brought change, only because the country couldn’t very well deny citizenship to needed draftees and volunteers. So the racism has been undercover for decades, and it’s now been exacerbated by, among other factors, the influx of sun-seekers from all parts of the country, many of them with other racial prejudices of their own. No surprise. Just profound disappointment with “Freedom and Justice for All.”
1
There will be more mass shootings targeting Hispanics. It will get worse without federal, state, and local police working together to stop it. If police prey upon illegal aliens, instead of protecting them -- and everybody else -- it will get much worse.
3
Am I the only human that watched all the 2016 debates and thought.....
If they allow Comey to stand by his report and announce his findings Trump wins!!!
Women I know with college degrees in Nursing and Social Work have told me that health care is a “ privilege “ and “ illegals” are criminals taking our jobs and raping young women.
I have been actively involved in immigration reform groups and been in the holding area of the ICE processing dept. at the Federal Courthouse in Hartford. I started this advocacy under Obama!!!!! These immigrants have wonderful kids and a great work ethic. Shame on my friends for buying into ignorance !!!!
So I am flummoxed still that women continue in ignorance and disinformation and aid and abate misogyny and hate and oppression and incarceration without juris prudence.
These assassinations of innocents by “white supremist group think” is generated by Steve Miller and Bannon. The trigger is pulled by one crazy backed up by political racism in the guise of trump and his goons in congress and now the courts too.
Obviously! Trump should be in prison with McConnell and the entire Freedom Caucus Senate and House.
We need another Constitutional Convention. Or at least a state by state active immediate measure to prevent weapons of war being used by redoubt militia groups and their groomed nut cases , all young and indoctrinated.
5
The hatred has been growing along with the hatred by those convinced they are entitled to special treatment because they are pale-skinned exclusively English-speaking Christians for far too long in this nation.
Go back and look at Trump’s campaign - he started playing on the hatred then.
Look at what he calls the children of Spain’s colonies - without rhyme or reason - even attacking those of the colonies we took from the Spanish as our own.
When hurricanes damaged the US mainland, he sent every possible bit of aid.
To Puerto Rico, he sent a few rolls of paper towels - then attacked those Americans as lazy folks who want everything done for them. No, they’re not real Americans, he said.
6
I am about as mainstream as you get. Catholic Elementary-all white. Catholic HS-white.Second generation on Mother's side, my Dad's mother's family dates back to Revolutionary War. But I am darker, I have lighter siblings. We are mixed descent. I can't count the number of times pulled over. I was asked to speak when crossing the border. I was asked my name walking down the street by Police. And I am a citizen--I can't imagine what it's like for immigrants here today--Just insanely unjust..............
7
Diversity is and will continue to be one of many of our nation's strengths. But mass illegal immigration shall not be tolerated or condoned. We have every right to moderate our annual legal immigration numbers. Foreigners who think they are above our laws must be deported.
16
A white supremacist travels to El Paso to rid Texas of Latinos. It reminds me of a comment made by then California senator Hayakawa about the return of the Panama canal to Panama. He said; " We should keep the Panama Canal. After all, we stole it fair and square." Without starting a revolution by Latinos in Texas to return the state to Mexico, they can reclaim Texas by voting Republicans out of all state and national offices , beginning, of course with the racist-in-chief.
3
@moschlaw We built the Panama Canal I think, because Panama could not and the world needed it.
2
Where's the outrage! Where's the demand for an emergency session of Congress to pass the gun control legislation sitting on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's desk? Where's the demand that hate speech is a crime and Donald Trump is guilty of it? Where's the Congressional Democratic Hispanic Caucus demanding Trump be impeached for the El Paso massacre and crimes against Hispanic immigrants? You'd expect silence from Republicans, but this is disturbing, discouraging and disillusioning when the only Democrats speaking are those running for president like Beto O'Rourke, Julian Castro, Cory Booker and Kamala Harris while House Democrats stand mute. With Trump inciting white supremacists to murderous actions, Hispanics are right to feel they are targets with no one to defend them. As the son of immigrants, as a member of a Holocaust family, I say "No! This is not who we are; this is wrong; this must end." I stand with and will march with and will be a human shield for my Hispanic brothers and sisters. Let us act; let us march; let us say, "Never again!"
9
Even here in the suburbs of Portland, OR, at the gym the other day I heard a self-described "proud deplorable" openly rant about "the invasion".
His rant apparently was a regurgitation of Fox News talking points. It's not just Trump and the Republican leaders who are responsible for this uptick in hatred. Fox News and right-wing talk radio also play a very big part.
21
This is simple. I am for legal immigration. Lots of it. Mostly on merit. But also on circumstance and ties. I am fond of Hispanic people and culture. Not fond of leftists playing the race card, or women rights card, or sexual identity card to get what they want ideologically in the political arena and to wield it as a shield so they cannot be attacked the way they attack their political opponents. These types took over the debate representing the left.
Illegal immigration and border crossings and visa overstayers need to be controlled. The very subject itself is ripping the country apart.
If you are not willing to say that there is a difference between legal and illegal immigration or that we are a nation state with an overall identity and with defined borders than the conversation is over before it started. Myself I was a refugee and stateless person in Europe, immigrated to USA and become a citizen. Gladly would accept facts on the ground and path to permanent residency for law abiding illegal aliens not to mention the dreamers who were brought up here. ( illegal
alien is not a slur but a legal term written into our laws) Looks like there is nobody to discuss it with.
28
Except, this is not about that. This is about indiscriminate killing of people based on their appearance. Are you saying you're ok with that, because some of them may have come here illegally?
I'm sure there are lots of people you can discuss your immigration positions with. You might begin by admitting that the issue does not justify keeping children in cages, or the massacre of American citizens because they happen to "look Mexican". Most Americans, including most Democrats, want the things you noted. We just don't believe that behaving inhumanely towards, and demonizing, fellow human beings is the way to accomplish those goals.
5
@Patricia the real criminals are the illegals coming here with children to gain access. I have zero sympathy for their plight
4
Get your people to vote. And have them vote blue. Flip Texas. Republicans will not respect you if you do not show that you have power. Respect does not come from a gun. It comes in the voting booth when you vote Democrat.
14
Many NYT readers may not be aware that when George W Bush ran for governor in Texas, his political machine reached out to moderate Hispanics. The belief was Hispanics had in fact assimilated: They were the product of the upwardly mobile Great Generation that served in World War II. Thus, they had a natural affinity to patriotic values. They had served in the military. They used the GI bill to get an education. When they graduated from college and graduate school, they used their VA benefits to buy homes in affluent school districts. Their children flourished. Many Hispanics had moderate to conservative social values.
Bush did not fear Hispanics. He did not view them as being a monolithic group. He sought to embrace them and sought to have Hispanics run for public office as Republicans.
When the astroturf Tea Party hit Texas, all the old guard Republicans were quickly tossed out of power and the extremist took over.
In the last midterm election, Hispanics defeated Republican incumbents by a margin equal to the margins of the early election tallies. Hispanics by and large have seen the Trump Republicans as hateful to all things Hispanic. Because of the past midterm success, Republicans insanely feel compelled to wage war against Hispanics, instead of attempting to find middle ground and engage in a campaign of ideas and hope.
8
@Ben You're incorrect. In January Trump had 50% approval among Hispanics, and exit polls from 2016 showed a figure of 28%. https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/02/24/2020-hispanic-voters-donald-trump-225192
"Many expected Hispanics to vote overwhelmingly against Trump in 2016. A Latino Decisions poll conducted just before the 2016 presidential election found Trump had the support of just 18 percent of Hispanics. But the actual figure was 28 percent, which—given Trump’s incendiary rhetoric about immigrants—some analysts and pundits refused to believe from exit polls until further studies confirmed it. That was just as good as Mitt Romney, as the 2012 Republican nominee, did with Hispanics—and it was enough to help Trump squeak an Electoral College victory."
4
The precinct by precinct analysis in Bexar County, Travis County, and other Texas counties in the 2018 midterm election belies your suggestion that Trump is popular with Hispanics.
2
I point you to the leaked video of Friday after 2016 election Google meeting featuring all the top brass and the exec bemoaning that their get the Hispanic vote campaign also produced so many Hispanics who voted for Trump.
The idea that common language and some overall group category such as Hispanic produces some overarching loyalty is absurd and form of a bias in itself.
2nd generation Americans of Mexican heritage who want to see their kids to move up in the world are definitely not excited about tattooed young San Salvadoran men showing up in their schools as a part of the current influx. Many will vote for Trump. The left, like the Google execs will be flabbergasted .
6
The author deliberately distorts a Trump quote to make it seem he referred to Latinos as “animals.” Trump was actually responding to a question about M-13 gang members. He said “You wouldn’t believe how bad these people are. These aren’t people. These are animals and we’re taking them out of country at a level and at a rate that’s never happened before.”
That the New York Times would permit its columnists to incite racial animosity by distorting quotes is indicative of it descent from a once respected newspaper to a partisan blog site.
17
Latinos? How about anybody else that ain't white? I'm in a racially mixed family and worry about the kids and other adults in my family that don't look like me because of these whacks jobs walking around - including the POTUS and the rest of his ilk in the White House.
7
I am a subscriber to UnidosUS. I have a small house in a small Mexican town in Michoacan. No hotels, no beaches, no fabulous restaurants--just Mexicans and me and that's the way I like it. I spent 25 years working on learning Spanish in classes and in traveling alone through Mexico and Guatemala in the '90s. Somehow it was tough but worth it. Sixty per cent of Americans have never visited another country. Before my planned trips my co-workers would ask me, "Aren't you afraid to travel there alone?" I replied that what I was afraid of was never doing anything with my life. I am proud that this country is one of many nationalities, races and religions. Ginning up forlorn, angry and isolated individuals to kill masses of people seems to be a must for today's right wing politicians. Now we have "the Squad" and nothing could make me happier.
6
If the Dems ever become results oriented instead of dream oriented, they might be able to figure out why some people vote Republican in general and for Trump in particular. Big mystery.
8
Trump keeps stoking the divisions and fires of hate. He is just playing to his base who unfortunately share his venomous approach to race, immigrants, and even UN allies. Admonitions from the Pope, from any Democrat or independent, from most of the major city dailies and political leaders, and even from his own in-group of advisors. He must be denied a second term.
2
Many in our country, who warmly embrace legal immigrants of all races and circumstances, feel incredibly frustrated when they see the lack of enforcement of our immigration laws. Our southern border appears to be open with a million families per year entering to settle in the US without permission. It is not just Trump’s cruel rhetoric that is the problem. We need immigration reform and border control to calm people on both sides of the immigration issue.
17
@2020Voter,
1. The Spanish speaking, of Mexican or other origin are not all illegal. Many are US citizens. Many have families in the US and in Mexico.
2. El Paso = the passage or the pass. The very name points to people freely crossing the border for work, family.
3. Nobody wants to be called a racist. No body, I think, wants to be called a sexist. But we all harbor such beliefs even we believe we don't. It's something psychologists called implicit bias. It's real. It's measurable. We can, as people and as communities, only move forward if we accept we can be wrong and start questioning our own beliefs as much as the others'.
3
In my "liberal," "tolerant," mostly white Portland neighborhood My brown daughter in law was subjected to a line of discriminatory and derogatory questions about what she was doing from the white male neighbor who lives across the street. My spouse had a little talk with him afterwards and he had nothing to say. This occurred on the Wednesday before the murders in El Paso. Then on Saturday El Paso happened and the neighbor has yet to apologize for his comments. I am out of my mind with anger and heartache. Don't tell me this is not about targeting Latinos and immigrants
12
In my "liberal," "tolerant," mostly white Portland neighborhood My brown daughter in law was subjected to a line of discriminatory and derogatory questions about what she was doing from the white male neighbor who lives across the street. My spouse had a little talk with him afterwards and he had nothing to say. This occurred on the Wednesday before the murders in El Paso. Then on Saturday El Paso happened and the neighbor has yet to apologize for his comments. I am out of my mind with anger and heartache. Don't tell me this is not about racism
1
If you are Latino you are now a target of white supremacists. You are also a target of white supremacists if you are Black, Jewish, Muslim, Asian, or LBGTQ.
The haters have always been there. But now they have been encouraged to use their “Second Amendment Rights” to rid the country of the “invasion” that is “infesting” it. And the encouragement comes from the very top.
7
Enough talk. Enough pontificating. Enough whining and crying about the mean old president. Want change?
Get off your butts get out in the street and make the Republicans wish they were never elected. If they get reelected you have no one to blame but yourselves. The outcome is in your hands (and mine).
"All that is required for Evil to flourish is for good people to do NOTHING! "
7
What do you expect from people who fetishize guns, drink tears and like to put little children in cages?
5
Actual citizens of Mexico.. visting legally for the day to do shopping at the Walmart... are among the dead who were gunned down by this maniac.
Mexico is right to be upset about this, as it is no different then US citizens shopping in Mexico being gunned down by violent gangs inside Mexico.
And given Mexico's strict gun laws.. where exactly are these guns the gang members are using in Mexico coming from?...... The US... largely bought in quantity at gun shows and later smuggled over the border and sold at a premium by the original buyers.
The US is gun crazy (with more guns in private hands then there are citizens in the country) ... and it needs to stop. Owning a firearm is a constitutional right, but it is a right that comes with legal restrictions as well.. and clearly said restrictions are full of loopholes and bypasses (by NRA design) .. and all most gun legislation is designed to do is close those loop holes.
As for needing an assault rifle and 30 or 100 round magazines... sorry.... but no sport hunter or home defense scenario justifies this kind of military fire power. These should be illegal in all 50 states... as they once were.. before the law prohibiting them expired (what morons in Congress put an expiration date on a public safety law??????!!!)
7
The Democratic party needs to get this message drilled into its head: "If liberals refuse to guard borders and maintain law and order, fascists will end up doing it for them."
10
Not all his Fans are Racists. But all are at least racist adjacent.
VOTE them ALL out. It’s the only effective treatment.
Every day, he does more damage to my country.
Write your representatives. Vote to impeach, ....NOW.
And next year, VOTE.
3
I have recently reaffirmed to my Latina wife that “El Gringo” will not allow anyone at anytime at anytime to to be disrespectful to her or any member of my extended Latino family. My skin my be blanco, but when the salsa music plays ............. my Gringo hips are on fire!
5
I'm not in favor of guns or gun ownership. But the way things are going, you might want to get some for yourself.
2
Welcome Latinos to the Fear of Violence Support Group. Say hello to the LGBT members, Muslim members, Jewish members and other members of the Group.
3
Your comments are welcomed of course...by anybody who can reason, and wants justice to spread equally among all of us, to increase the richness of our diverse communities. Of course, Trump, along with McConnell, is a bigot and racist white nationalist, and has no business to spread the 'disease' from his bully pulpit. But speaking of action, your main 'job' right now may be contributing to the electorate to deny Trump a second term...by making sure the Latino community goes out 'en masse' and votes him out...by voting for a true patriot to reverse Trump's iniquities.
1
When Republican leaders are silent about—or worse stand up to defend—Trump's blatant racism we ourselves must not be silent. The Republican Party has become a hate group. To the extent it radicalizes young men, incites them to violence, and ensures they have access to the deadly weapons needed to commit mass murder and the slaughter of innocent civilians, they are also a terrorist group. Americans must not be politically correct when faced with such a threat. The Republicans themselves are always exhorting us to call Islamic terrorist what they are. They need to be held to the same standard they demand for others. Let's not mince words: the Republican Party is now a terror organization—and one that is now more dangerous to Americans on American soil than ISIS.
3
You have nothing to be afraid of. You are part of America. Some of your ancestors came before the Pilgrims.
Articles like this one create needless division and hatred.
3
It is getting to the point that, if it were legal in NY, I would buy a small revolver and carry it everywhere. I started to think about it with the wave of Islamist attacks. In a Country where anybody can buy such weapons, the crazy suicidal terrorists of any kind will continue to mass kill. And I am Hispanic...Now I have to worry about that too. Or hey, we can set a machine gun nest in every store, restaurant, club, and wait for them..What the president has been saying about Hispanics, about Mexicans and others, that they are "rapists", and other lunacies, could be considered an incitation to mass murder. You should not speak like that in the USA, this is not Germany 1933, nor Ruanda.
3
@jaco Those Mexicans that the president called "rapists" and "murderers" are the hardest working and most humble and welcoming people in the whole United States of America, and everyone knows it. And I know exactly what he said, and I was appalled. Besides, let me add something else, the first ever "Americans", were Hispanics, and everyone knows it. Hispanics predate Anglos in the USA by more than hundred years. Even the cowboys were Hispanic. Spanish was spoken here long before, way before, English. We "discovered" this piece of land. We colonized it, you all the rest were invited by us. Have some respect, do not talk about my English. But we are not racist, we are great, we have mixed with the world and continue to do.
4
Quite a few Latinos voted for Trump which seem surprising. This violent attempt to hold on to white power that took place in El Paso could backfire if more Latinos vote for the Democratic candidate in 2020. To stop this white nationalist movement that uses violence and legal means to retain white dominance is going to take election victories which means getting people out to vote and fighting attempts to rig elections by those who feel white power is being threatened by immigration. This racist movement will be severely crippled if Trump and the Republican Party receive a drubbing at the polls. Latinos and other nonwhites should understand that and act accordingly.
The majority of the people killed in El Paso, Texas, were Europeans who spoke Spanish. Recall, Hispanics are a language group. Thus, people, European-Americans, African-Americans, and Multiracial-Americans, should stop conflating race with the color of one’s skin if they wish to have a serious conversation.
Nonetheless, the discussion should be about illegal immigration: how we will confront it as a nation, and why politicians refuse to address it. What happened in Texas was horrible. However, this should not hamper our resolve regarding illegal immigration since as an African American man, my race is negatively affected by illegal immigration. To be clear, our country is splitting apart because people see our laws are being selectively enforced.
As for gun violence - Chicago’s African American communities is dealing with horrific gun violence because of the destruction of the family, 7 deaths this past weekend. The breakdown of the family was also the reason we saw the individual in Dayton, Ohio, seek to kill and I suspect the same is true of the individual who murdered people in El Paso, Texas. We must have a culture based on families and laws. It’s that simple. We have too many people focusing on abstractions and nuances.
Also, this is not Trump’s fault. Stop using him as a Boogey man because you hate the white patriarch. Demonizing white males will only isolate more of them.
9
Economic prosperity for black and brown people... seriously?!? You speak of what you do NOT know!
2
Its sad to see posters bring up undocumented immigrants in reference to the shooting. The indescriminent murder of Hispanics doing back to school shopping should have nothing to do with immigration policy positions.
People get away with speeding and distracted driving also, yet most roadtrips are uneventful. I suppose if someone put out a manifesto and started shooting young drivers in sports cars, some of us would find it highly relevant that people are getting away with driving over the speed limit. The roads are full of them.
How pathetic it is to see so many people buying the misinformed anti immigrant populism. How fragile we are to be so frightened and outraged that we live in a successful country that people want to move to instead leave.
Yes some people sneak in and most just want to work and support their families. Somehow that is more scary than people who believe hateful misinformed rhetoric and kill as a result.
Our president and his enablers have dehumanized and demonized immigrants in order to create insecurity and fear as a political strategy. The result is that hispanics and others have a real reason to fear. Because I am in a family with hispanics and have immigrant friends, I feel the shadow of fear as well. What I am not afraid of is anyone, regardless of circumstances, who comes here to work and start a new life.
6
From NPR: "Maybe the big lesson from 2016 is that a solid number of Latinos are conservative, and they will consistently vote for Republicans. Roughly 30 percent of Hispanics chose a Republican candidate in each of the last three election cycles." Latinos chose to elect Trump despite the fact that he called immigrants rapists etc. It is not just white racists who elected Trump and continue to support him. I agree that Trump normalizes hate, I have problem with it and didn't vote for him. Part of why I have to have him as my President is because of the Latino vote.
53
@HeatherD
I absolutely agree with you. Many Latinos or Hispanics voted for Trump. And that is incredible but true. I can't still figure that out myself.
21
@HeatherD
I think yours and maybe NPR's generalizations are too broad. El Paso County voted overwhelmingly for Hillary in 2016; she had approximately 3 times as many votes as Trump. El Paso is over 80% Hispanic. New Mexico, a majority Hispanic state, voted blue in 2016 and 2018.
15
@HeatherD What is a Latino? Latinos are not a race. The word defines a language group who derive from former Spanish colonies. White people can be Latino. Maybe this may answer you question why so many voted Republican and why many more will in the next election.
8
Trump did not cause the slaughter in Texas. He also did not say anything inflammatory or anything that wasn’t true.
We are not getting the best of the Mexican refugees. The best are staying home and thriving in democratic Mexico. Since they are the same race and religion, they are not true refugees fleeing racial or religious discrimination. They are here because they can’t make it in their own country. Some are also fleeing the law so they are criminals.
Trump called it an invasion. It is. Even the Congress voted extra funds to deal with it
Trump has every right to stop illegals from voting. Only people who passed the requirements for citizenship deserve to vote.
Trump has every right to stop illegals from being part of the census. The census helps allocating funds. Funds that the tax paying citizens provide
The writer accused Trump of hate mongering. Trump was not doing that. He was just stating facts, and looking out the for the majority
9
@Marika
Your ignorance is stunning. Trump didn't say anything inflammatory? Saying immigrants are invading our country and they bring disease and crime?
His goal has been to dehumanize immigrants and make people like you fearful of them, so you vote for him, because he has the solution. Consider yourself conned.
And it is well documented that many if not most immigrants are fleeing crime and violence in their home countries.
You bought the trope about illegal voting. It almost never happens. Look it up.
You are wrong about the census. It is established law that all persons in the US, undocumented, green card holders, citizens, are supposed to be counted. Again, look it up.
8
“it’s just a fact that black people are inferior! That’s not a racist statement at all!” /s
Yeah, right.
2
I have recently heard a lot about the despairing El Paso shooting and wanted to read about how the author perceives it. She directs the readers attention to how President Trump's actions have affected such behavior in our country, and is in belief that he "normalizes hate." President Trump has painted a foul portrait of the Hispanic and Latino culture using verbal discrimination, and is appearing to strengthen the morals of white supremacists. The author supports her argument by quoting a variety of Trump's words that target the Hispanic and Latino communities, as well as applying emotion, indicating that she has an emotional tie to this culture. I personally agree with the authors argument and also found her writing to be very emotive and passionate. I believe that President Trump excludes different cultures and communities and verbally slashes them for being who they are. Having a president with such behavior promotes others to act in a similar manor, which is not acceptable. All cultures and communities should be allowed to come together and be free of discrimination. However, having someone who runs a country and is oblivious to the help of others, causes their citizens to live in an environment of fear and hatred.
8
The El Paso shooter is 21 years old & claims to have these 'views' before Trump.
Say we believe him. Well, when Trump came down that escalator and called Mexicans rapists and murderers, the shooter was 17. He listened to a presidential candidate/pseudo celebrity talk like him, win the election, & then continue to ratchet up the hate, racism, & xenophobia since being in the Oval Office. That's the inconvenient truth. And yes, too much of his manifesto echoed exactly what Trump has tweeted & said at rallies (more than just the word 'invasion').
Sadly, people will continue to be violent and kill because they were bullied or for no real reason at all (like the Dayton shooter). But for 2 1/2 years, Trump's been stoking hate and racism as the leader of the free world. There is no bigger platform/bully pulpit and he is speaking directly to the White Supremacists, conspiracy theorists, etc; the fringe hanging out in 8Chan/4Chan.
Trump didn't care when Cesar Sayoc attempted the worst assassination in our history and he doesn't care now. Instead of taking any responsibility for the clear role he plays, he blames video games, the internet, and social media where he himself spews and spreads his own hate, where his campaign shared 2000 FB ads demeaning brown immigrants, and he has said he'd prefers immigrants from Norway.
& RE GOP - they care more about NRA+ money than life.
VOTE TRUMP & GOP OUT!
If we don't, things will get worse.
(Look up Kavanaugh's views on assault weapons)
10
@AdoptaPet
I see some complaining the Dayton shooter's liberal views aren't mentioned and some are even blaming Democrats for shooting.
They're missing some key info and facts:
1) The police said they currently don't know the Dayton shooter's motive, especially after killing his own sister.
The police said his former classmates said he had a 'hit list' to rape or kill, found writings at home expressing interest in killing people, and was in a pornogrind band. So it doesn't seem his political affiliation has anything to do with it.
2) He did not write a manifesto beforehand targeting a specific group of people; a specific nationality.
Kind of big difference. Further, a U.S. President's words carry more weight than any politician.
This is simply more whataboutism and deflection from the right and it's sad.
6
To a large extent, this Mexican-American group’s passivity betrays its fiduciary and is reaping what it’s planted. If there was a time for proactivity, it is now.
The first thing the “UnidoUS” organization can do is integrate by changing its name to an English language name that everyone can relate to. 2) it should have a strong reach out program to register people to vote 3) develop a program to transport seniors and others who can’t otherwise get to polling places. 4) it should encourage long-term legal residents and green card holders to become US citizens since these people are going nowhere anytime. The Spanish language media network is strong and wide in the US, use it for a constructive purpose for a change.
Voting is the best way to deal with Trump and his ilk. This lament is otherwise futile no matter how many candles to the saints and virgin they light.
3
Nearly 15,000 people were killed by other people using guns last year.
Less than 400 of those killings were due mass shootings.
El Paso and Dayton, tragic as they are, equate to probably less than the equivalent of all the gun deaths in urban areas in less than one one week. And probably the same number of gun deaths in suburban and rural areas in the course of two to four weeks. Were is the proportionality? Where is the outrage? Crickets.
Yet, this absolute hysteria fixating of 'white nationalism' from the left and abetted by the MSM - at least six piece in the Opinion section directly or indirectly blaming Trump - is the basest of form of shameful opportunism. It's as low as what Trump has been spewing forth for three years now. And it is what middle Americans, not just white Americans, but ALL middle Americans, are disgusted by in their 'elite' leaders and opinion setters.
I did NOT and will NOT vote for Trump. But, just like in 2016, if this is the tack the Democrats will be taking, I'll be voting for any viable 3rd party candidate. Many others, I hate to say, will likely be driven in to Trump's camp. And Democrats will only have themselves to blame.
19
@Common Sense
Opportunism? Did you miss Christopher Wray's testimony explaining the rise of White Supremacist domestic terrorism and how it's now on the level of international terrorism but worse? Do you think that's a coincidence?
Further, they don't have the resources needed to tackle the threat. In 2017, DHS had $21M total budget, 16 full-time employees, 36 contractors. Now, 0 contractors, only 8 FT employees, and only $2.6M budget.
While homicide by firearm is just as horrific, it is very different than a mass shooting which is like 9/11 plus instills fear of living everyday life such as going shopping, to the movies, to a concert, a festival, to school, etc. In addition, look up the difference between using assault weapons vs firearm(s); the number killed, wounded, and permanent damage. to the body.
There is a big difference between the two. But the GOP refuse to do a thing about either. You'd think 20 6/7 years old being gunned down at school would've caused them to do something, but nope and that was 7 years ago.
4
Yeah, well, that's all well and good. Nice column.
Now, if you can pull another one out of the hat and explain why, in the State of New Mexico, most of the Republican legislators are Hispanic, then I'll be all ears. I have no idea what the numbers are in Texas, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's lots.
14
Well, there’s Beto, the self-professed Hispanic candidate... Or is it apologist-for-being-white candidate? Hard to keep track. So many TV appearances, so much on-camera earnestness...
4
I grew up in Texas in the 80s and 90s, at a time when the state's elected officials actually celebrated Latinos, immigrants, and the state's ties to Mexico. This isn't to say that there wasn't racism toward Latinos (name a country where ethnic minorities have a 100% racism-free experience), but on the whole my experience was that of a welcoming place that valued its Latino population, its immigrants, and the multiculturalism that comes from sharing so much history and culture with Mexico.
Which is why it's so dismaying to see the hard-right turn into brazen racism and nationalism that Texas has taken.
Just last month, Sen. John Cornyn tweeted about how "for every new white Texas resident, there are nine Hispanic ones." That's the exact same sentiments written in the El Paso terrorist's manifesto. State officials are perfectly ok with the deplorable human rights violations taking place in the immigrant detention camps on Texas soil. And if I had a dollar for every story I hear from friends or families still in Texas about racism and intimidation directed at them these days, I'd have a pretty good chunk of cash.
Which is why it is shocking, but not surprising, to see the massacre in El Paso last weekend - the killer was explicitly out to kill Latinos.
It pains me to see the hatred that has taken root in this country. It pains me to see the indifference of much of white America as we turn into Nazi Germany 2.0. It pains me that there is seemingly no end in sight.
116
@Vin
Hatred took root 400 years ago.
4
@Vin
You’re talking about the Texas of Bill Hobby, Ann Richards, and George W. Bush.
The Democrats should contest Texas. The Texas of the 80s and 90s wasn’t mysteriously overwhelmed one day by a conservative horde.
Here’s the story in brief as I remember it. The trial lawyers wouldn’t budge on workers comp and tort reform and they had enough votes to block it for years under the old “2/3 rule” in the state senate. Gradually the other commercial, industrial, and professional interests aligned themselves against the trial lawyers and worked to elect Rs. There were also trial lawyer related scandals on the state Supreme Court highlighted in a famous 60 Minutes segment.
The first R Chief Justice elected after that did a magnificent job. George W. Bush did a good job as governor and was popular, center right, and bipartisan. The business alliance formed to elect Rs stayed together.
And the Ds basically gave up. The logic of one party politics took over.
The national Ds should see what happens if the trial lawyers aren’t the only people who fund D campaigns and if they don’t depend solely on what remains of the old crowd that helped run things back then to tell them what’s what in Texas.
@Jack, The Democrats have a huge opportunity to register and get the Latino vote and flip Texas completely, but the Democrats are busy herding other cats like finding new pronouns, paying reparations, and defending the right to camp on sidewalks.
5
Many people want to come up with bipartisan solutions. Obama did ... and it ended up poorly. The Republican leadership, McConnell especially, has contributed to the gridlock in DC. Although they did not succeed in making Obama a one term President, they succeeded in minimizing his legacy - in the courts especially - and now the disassembling of much of what he constructed.
You can't look ahead to bipartisanship. It has to be Democrats. Time for Hispanics to flex their voting strength.
22
Ms. Murguia is giving voice to the fears in every minority community in this country. We all share her pain. We all fear what she fears.
But we must come to grips with the fact that Trump didn't create the tens of millions of racists who voted for him. He normalizes their views and their behavior, of course. But that genie is out of the bottle, and it isn't going to return any time soon.
Trump supporters are still in lockstep with him some three years after the worst presidency in my lifetime - and I'm in my 60's. They felt "left behind"? They wanted their jobs back? We know now that all these statements were lies - just polite cover for their bigotry. And this explains why - when he didn't get their jobs back, or give them their "beautiful" health care plan - they still support him. Anyone who still believes their lies is a fool.
The majority of white voters in 2016 voted for Trump. Get your head around this one fact for just a second. The fact is, white America as a group is much more racist than any of us thought in 2016.
Since one of the most horrific hate crimes in this country (El Paso), no national Republican has challenged Trump about the obvious role he has played in inciting violence. Why? Because they need his base's votes.
Trump voters don't want affordable health care or job retraining. Trump voters are racists and this is what drives their votes. They got a president who was a racist as they are - and this is all they've ever wanted.
107
@Henry Hurt
Indeed White voters supported Trump, but if you break down the numbers is was White men much more so than White women.
10
@Carol MIller Last I checked, the majority of white women voted for Trump too.
8
@Henry Hurt, i half agree. i think that these white folks wanted their jobs back, wanted healthcare that leaves them feeling like less than an animal, etc. BUT - bigotry is a tool of evolution. these white folks turn on the bigotry MORE when they feel they are 'getting less.' and so by trump NOT giving them what he promised them, they still feel down in the dumps, and trump provides non-white targets (and liberal targets) toward which these down-trodden white folks can direct their ire. trump is a master manipulator. everything he does is meant only to feed his ego and NPD. he promotes the situation that keeps these folks down-trodden (severe wealth inequality), while giving them a scapegoat (people of any color or non-christian ethnicity). trump voters DO want affordable health care and decent jobs. but with trump dangling the scapegoat in front of them, they take the easy road and don't listen to their better angels, they simply accept the scapegoat as the actual problem.
3
The author has edited Trump infamous remark about Mexicans to distort it meaning.
What Trump actually said was: “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”
Trump was referring to illegal immigrants who, unlike legal legal immigrants, are not screened to eliminate those with criminal records. The only fair was to interpret the remark was some Mexicans who cross the border illegally are criminals and some are good people. This is indisputably true.
More than 26,000 illegal aliens who were convicted of murder are incarcerated in federal and state prison. Most are Mexicans.
15
@William Case
No, Trump never specified which immigrants, legal or illegal. He does not LEGAL Mexican immigrants in our country either.
4
@MarcosH
The discussion was about illegal immigrants. He was not referring to Mexicans in general. However some Mexican are criminals and some are good people. Some Americans are criminal and some of good people. But criminals make up a larger percent of illegal immigrants than legal immigrants because legal immigrants are screen to eliminate those with criminal records.
5
@William Case Great. Thanks for clearing that up, but guess what? His supporters still apply this to all Latinos. The "I assume, are good people" was flippant and dismissive. This stinks of something I've heard all of my life in this country, which I have lived in since birth, and that is "you're one of the good ones" or "you're different". Too many people are saying that what Trump is saying is out of context. When it's every time he opens his mouth or tweets, he is making it the context. When words like "infested" are used every time a tweet refers to a place with people of color, you start to wonder, maybe this guy isn't "the least racist person ever".
9
Every Latino, like me, who is a U.S. citizen that I have asked has had one of the following things happen to them in the U.S.:
- Assaulted (I was hospitalized after being beat up by six people).
- Harassed and jailed by police (I have bailed friends out of jail who have been picked up because they were brown).
- Yelled at in public spaces.
- Job discrimination.
- Told to go back to your home, which is the U.S.
- Etc.
USA, we fight for you, we care for you, you are our home, and now you need to treat us fairly as you treat all others in our country.
79
I am so sorry for the bigotry and violence you have suffered. You have as much to claim the label "American" as anyone. Don't let the haters get you down!
6
@ Gabriel
I hate to yell you this, but my Latino spouse and 4 Latino in-laws (all here legally, btw, all with residency/citizenship status granted on merit, not chain family migration), have not reported any of what you cite. I understand racism exists. I also understand that limiting my sample to just my family/friends and saying “they all this” and “they all that” would be based on n=1 and therefore not something from which I’d extrapolate the views of all of my fellow Americans.
4
Patrick Crusius did not drive 650 miles from his hometown of Allen, Texas, to El Paso to target Hispanics. Dallas—which is only 26 miles from Allen-is more than 40 percent Hispanic.
Crusius drove to El Paso because one day in May the Border Patrol arrested a group of 1,034 illegal immigrants as they cross the Rio Grande into El Paso. It was by far the largest group ever apprehend at the border. Most were sent to Clint Station, a CBP processing station on the outskirts of El Paso.
Democratic presidential candidates rushed to Clint Station to be photographed as they deplored “inhumane” detention conditions. At the Democratic multi-candidate debate, some leading candidates advocated for the decriminalization of illegal immigration. Their speeches no doubt infuriated Crusius, who is a white separatist who patterns himself after the Christchurch mass murderer.
Crusius targeted El Paso because the Clint Station furor turned the illegal immigration debate spotlight on El Paso.
According to the Census Bureau, El Paso is 82.0 white, but also 80.8 percent Hispanic. (El Paso suburbs are more Hispanic than the city itself.) Non-Hispanic whites make up 13.4 percent of the the El Paso population. Nineteen of those killed were Hispanic whites and two were non-Hispanic whites. So the race and ethnicity of the those who died closely mirrored El Paso demographics.
8
@William Case
Patrick Crusius didn't go to the border to kill people, and make them fear coming here - he went to Walmart which was filled with citizens and legal day trippers. I don't understand your point
7
@Deirdre
El Paso was predominately Anglo until the 1950s. (Since most Hispanic Texas are white, Texas refer to Anglos and Hispanic, not white and Hispanic). But legal and illegal immigration has transformed El Paso into a city that that is more than 80 percent Hispanic. He. probably views it as a symbol of racial, ethnic and cultural "replacement."
6
@William Case
You are very well informed. actually, more so that the law enforcement personnel investigating these mass murders. I suppose you know instinctively who is a white Hispanic and who is a white non-Hispanic. So well informed according to you.
1
A terrible event beyond thought. Hispanics and Blacks, though, actually kill more of their individual groups. I read that whites killed 360 Blacks in 2018 while Blacks killed 3600 (close approximations). Hispanics are murdered at twice the rate as whites. That slow burn of deaths is not as dramatic news for the media vultures, but deserves answers at least as much.
9
@Chris Foy
Straw man argument.
3
Given that “Trump’s rhetoric appears to be emboldening white supremacists … [that] he has refined his attacks on Latinos and immigrants and wielded his executive power to fulfill his deeply bigoted views … [and that] Republican leaders in Washington, … [who in their] silence in the face of increased hate and violence amounts to complicity”
ALL Republicans have lost EVERY Latino vote in 2020.
6
Vote for the Democrat candidate. Every election, every race. Save yourself.
Get active in politics. Run for office. Save your country and your family and the promise of America to every citizen and immigrant.
13
“Every hateful word he utters about us, every time he laughs when his supporters joke about physically harming us dehumanizes Latinos and reveals his true nature.”
The truly horrible thing, though, is that they’re not joking. Nor is the leader.
13
I certainly hope there are enough voters left (and willing and able) to vote for pragmatic, solution-based candidates. I share that optimism, but I'm also realistic.
Although I live in the Northeast, the targeting of Latinos in a place as ubiquitous as Walmart hit home. I am white, but my young children are of Mexican descent. I never contemplated that ever would my children be a potential target for killing because of where their genes come from.
I don't believe I'm being melodramatic when I envision explaining the inevitable answer to being asked why does our President hate us. My kids may be young, but they are not stupid. They don't yet know about the massacre, but eventually they will. And eventually we will have some challenging discussions.
86
@historyRepeated It's terribly sad and horrific but black people have been targets of violence for centuries and we're from HERE
3
@historyRepeated
We have a former friend who is married to a Mexican woman he met via the internet. Her family was very well educated: her father was a doctor, her sisters are doctors, her mother was an official high up in government, she was a dentist in Mexico.
He rants against Mexicans and others and spends his every non-working moment immersed in hate radio. They have a 12 year old daughter. What must be going through her mind when she hears this reprehensible language regarding her own mother, her relatives/ How does her father answer the question of why she is so hated and more so why HE hates the country of her mother's birth.
Sadly we are no longer friends with him. We never knew of the hatred he kept hidden that was let lose with the election of Obama and has only escalated since. I feel badly for his wife and their daughter. I wonder how safe she feels when she leaves her home knowing she could be the target of someone's unbridled hate and the fear she must feel for, not just herself, but her beautiful little girl. He's not one of trump's "forgotten men". He has a good job, owns his own home and is financially comfortable but his well hidden hatred forced him over the edge. We have other former friends who share similar hatreds. People say we shouldn't end friendships over partisan politics. But it's no longer a question of politics, it's a question of moralities. There are certain things that can never be compromised. Morality and integrity are two.
24
Some of these comments sadden me almost as much as the killings. Some of the comments about Latinos seem right in line with the presidents....bigoted, stereotypical and just plain wrong.
Perhaps, as Joe in NC says, there are some of you that would like to build a wall around your state, ostensibly to keep them out of
"your" neighborhood. How terribly sad that you can't look past the hateful rhetoric and understand that people are fleeing their homeland where conditions are desperate and they just want to save their lives. I'm very glad my ancestors fled like conditions and came to this country.
The shooter in El Paso went there to kill Hispanics. Period.
I don't believe he did it out of "uncontrolled emotions." He said he was doing it to 'protect' our country from a "Hispanic invasion." Do you wonder where he heard that? Time and time again?
My years here in Arizona have introduced me to incredible Latino people, a fascinating culture and great food. The Latinos I know are kind, loving, hard working and some of them are even without papers. But they still work, pay their taxes and they will never see a dime from the social security contributions they have made. They are like all of us. People looking to make a better world and a better life for their families.
Janet Murguía hit every nail on the head. How I hope people reading her words will take a minute to let them sink in.
91
@zizzi
Nobody has "uncontrollable emotions" for a 10 hour drive.
5
I am a 2nd generation Mexican American. My mother picked cotton in her youth in south Texas, the daughter of share croppers. We are active Democrats.
My concern reading this is can you get your organization to mobilize people to register and vote? We have the numbers, but not the results to date. That has to be a number one priority of your group.
8
Don’t forget Trump is standing up for Venezuela, put an embargo yesterday.
@Maria
It's called OIL! If they didn't have a resource he wants he wouldn't care less!
It’s heartbreaking to see people arguing that the El Paso shooter wasn’t targeting Latinos.
He was motivated by racial hatred. Stop erasing that.
Moreover, unless you inhabit brown skin and bear a Hispanic name, don’t ridicule or diminish the fear this is spreading in our communities.
8
Some folks just can't stand it when they see even once, much less repeatedly, large numbers of Latinos jumping our nation's fences or swimming here illegally, then beholding a long news clip of them standing around loitering in groups outside convenience stores in Southwest America looking for work.
It scares them, worries them, and angers them. They feel helpless: "The police can't keep up." They want to see the situation changed; thus, Mr. Trump: "Only I can solve our problems." Right on time, just what they wanted to hear.
Research has shown that frequent viewers of news programs are significantly more paranoid than those that don't. It's right there in front of their eyes; seeing is believing. And in our reclusive tech world of near-incessant screen-watching, we less frequently behold counter views.
Always amazes me how little it takes to create a mindset. FOX News, really, is overkill; many viewers were hooked Day One, but the continuous follow-up does reinforce their first programmed impression.
Education could help, but really these people need to get out more and watch less media, which will gladly form their opinions for them. Is that gonna happen? Not on my watch: one foot in the grave, the other on a banana peel.
6
My Mexican great grandparent and grandparents grew up in rural West Texas. They told many chilling stories of "los rinches," a mangled Spanish language version of rangers, as in Texas Rangers.
My grandfather, Jose Chavira, was born in Shafter, Texas in 1896. He told me that encountering Rangers in the wild often meant a violent death.
Brown University Professor Monica Munoz writes this about the Rangers:
"The 1910 burning-at-the-stake of Antonio Rodriguez in Rocksprings, the double murder of prosperous rancheros Jesus Bazan and Antonio Longoria at Guadalupe Ranch, and the 1918 midnight massacre of 15 unarmed Mexicans by Texas Rangers in Porvenir are the most extensively studied atrocities in the book. But these are just a few of Martinez’s many examples of lynchings, burnings, shootings, proxy killings and other unjustified anti-Mexican violence carried out by Texas Rangers, vigilante mobs, or both."
Despite the cowardly El Paso slaughter, many of us Mexicans long ago lost our fear of European-Americans, even those bearing weapons.
It's significant to note how Mexicans unfailingly warmly welcome American visitors.
Truly, it is hard to imagine a demented Mexican targeting Americans for slaughter.
23
@Ricardo Chavira
Spot on. Racism is simply evil & stupid. Everyone must oppose it--always and everywhere. BTW, for further historical analysis on the racist, exterminationist origins of the Texas Rangers, I recommend reading "The Conquest of Texas: Ethnic Cleansing in the Promised Land," by Gary Clayton Anderson, a historian at the University of Oklahoma. A very disturbing--and thoroughly documented--book.
4
Trump has portrayed Latino immigrants as ultra violent criminals who are invading the USA. He describes them in terms that are dehumanizing and degrading. When in fact, the response by Latino immigrants to being subjected to having their human rights violated, having their children removed from their custody, perhaps never to see them again -- their response to such outrages has been overwhelmingly peaceful and civil. The Latino immigrant's response is one of the greatest displays of non-violence in modern history. Their response is one that places the onus upon the USA to carry out a good faith legal process that recognizes immigrant human rights especially the rights of immigrant families to be reunited and to have their rights as refugees respected.
8
Latinos can lead only if they do not allow themselves to be lead by the church('s) who find perfectly tilled soil in the loving and family strong character of the Latino community. It's past time we let go of this primative belief and begin as a community, as a movement, to embrace logic, history, rhetoric and ethics instead.
We need at the very least, to vote as one voice, in our own self-interest!
I am mystified when I see Latinos at Trump rallies cheer him on. I don’t understand why they don’t feel his rhetoric is a threat to them. As a Jewish person I was raised believing that any injustice done to anyone is one step removed for me- we are probably next. That is what I have always feared. The calm is always temporary.
Right after the 2016 election I made sure all of our papers were in order. We are citizens but who knows where this is all going. I never thought I would feel this way but Charlottesville terrified me.
12
“[Trump] has tried to limit our right to vote, restrict our access to housing and health care, prevent us from being counted in the census.”
How, exactly? If you’re referring to initiatives undertaken to curtail the access by illegal aliens regardless of ethnicity to the rights and services reserved for legal residents and citizens, again regardless of ethnicity, then I say you’re struggling with the entire concept of lawfulness.
A bit hard to take your arguments seriously if you advocate against US laws.
5
If city names like "Los Angeles" (itself an abbreviation of "El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río Porciúncula" and founded by settlers from "San Gabriel"), "San Francisco", "San Jose", "San Diego", "Santa Barbara", "San Bernardino", "San Juan Capistrano", and of course "El Paso" don't clue a person in that Latino/Hispanic history is an integral part of at least the Southwest, then that person is in deep denial.
42
Some of the hardest working persons I ever met are Guatemalan field workers. They were also in emotional pain, from dehumanization and in being apart from their families in order to make money to send home.
7
@William Fang This always puzzles me too. The Southwest was part of Mexico before it was part of the U.S., so Mexicans and Latinos generally have been there longer than "gringos" have. And now they're portrayed as invaders?
11
@William Fang
Is that meant to justify today's invasion?
The province of Canada where I grew up was settled initially by Scots, and most towns, cities, streets, schools there have Scottish names. Does that mean today's Scots have an absolute right to flout immigration rules and invade Manitoba?
12
The only possible silver lining in this carnage is if Latin American voters are motivated to show up in overwhelming numbers in November 2020 to vote against Orange 45 and any of the fellow travelers who support him.
So, all should make sure they are registered, and all should make sure they vote against Trump and his minions.
If they do, it cannot be guaranteed that things will necessarily get better for them, but if they don't, it can be guaranteed things will get even worse.
12
I believe most Americans welcome LEGAL immigrants, but do not want ILLEGAL immigrants. They recognize that the US cannot afford (or choose not) to support our own citizens: the poor, the ill, elderly, disabled, veterans, et al., and that they and other US taxpayers cannot possibly support the hundreds of millions of foreigners who would like to come here.
US laws allow foreigners to seek entry and citizenship. Those who do not follow these laws are in this country illegally and should be detained and deported; this is policy in other countries, too.
The cruelty lies not in limiting legal immigration, or detaining and deporting illegal immigrants, or forcing those who wish to enter the US to wait for processing. What is cruel, unethical and probably illegal is encouraging parents to bring their children on the dangerous trek to US borders and teaching the parents how to game the system to enter the US by falsely claiming asylum, persecution, etc. Indeed, many believe bringing children on such perilous journeys constitutes child abuse.
No other nation has open borders, nor should the US.
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@Mon Ray
I believe our government at all levels should protect all the people here, no matter how they got here.
@Mon Ray
We do not have open borders. We have an immigration frozen in a distant past, understaffed, that is Kafkaesque in its bureaucracy and arbitrariness. Efforts to reform this system have been stalled by Republicans for more than 10 years.
1
We in America need to teach our boys to love, not hate. The divisiveness will destroy us, our country and our democracy. If you want that, vote for Trump.
We need to teach all boys and girls, starting at a very young age, to value the lives of all human beings, and to reinforce that constantly. A course in how to make good decisions as one grows to adulthood, and how to practice non-violence as a way of life, should be a mandatory part of school curriculums starting in first grade or earlier. It may take a generation or two, but we need a revolution in how we raise our children. Is there something that the conservative right, the progressive left and the moderate middle can agree on?
4
This is what happens when a nation with 300+ million guns in circulation has a break down in trust of its governing institutions and legal systems.
Law enforcement is now increasingly predicated on political power and influence to such a degree that an entire class of residents is exempt while others are held accountable especially when it comes to illegal immigration.
That's what political leaders have tried to normalize but lawlessness begets lawlessness. We need to reestablish faith and trust in systems and institutions by holding people to the law regardless political influence.
3
The Dayton shooter was a self professed Liberal but I don't see any mention of that in this editorial. There is no mention of the Dayton shooting in the rabid anti-Trump editorial by Susan Rice either. There is no mention of it in the editorial by Frank Bruni. The NYT has collectively decided that the Dayton shooting didn't happen. It's all reporting about El Paso blaming Trump.
The liberals have, again, conveniently put aside and erased from the public record and their memories any mention of violence perpetrated by a liberal.
33
@Aristotle Gluteus Maximus
not every mass shooting has to do with political instigation.
Some incidents are just random mass shootings, the type we've been seeing in the US for some time... like Las Vegas, Sandy Hook etc. Some are directly related to the hate spewing from Trump - like El Paso.
No one holds Trump's rhetoric responsible for Vegas or Parkland except to the extent that he refuses to consider any restrictions on guns.
14
@Ruchir
The liberals most certainly do blame Trump for these shootings, to the point of becoming irrational. I know there is a random cause and effect to these multitude of shootings but the NYT, and the rest of the liberal world, is especially intent on making the recent events about Trump. The evidence in on the front page and the reporting of the NYT.
9
@Aristotle Gluteus Maximus the fact that this shooter has a "liberal" ideology has been reported all over the news. Did the shooter also leave behind a manifesto that showed his liberalism led him to kill all of these people? I haven't read that in the news but would like to know is so.
11
take the initiative and VOTE! the only real and effective response. everything else is mere commentary..........
17
@Theodore Myers If there isn’t any foreign influence!
3
@beam11 - agree! frighteningly, the mere possibility of foreign influence in our elections seems to have become an accepted norm. very scary.
2
In my opinion it has nothing to do with Latinos or leaders preaching hate. Christchurch terrorist attack shows you it can happen any place, at any time, if some deluded individual has some deluded idea about certain ethnicities or religions taking over the nation when official government statistics on ethnicities ad religions in a nation disprove the delusion.
New Zealand is a secular Democracy and our leaders never use hate speech. The Christchurch terrorist was an Australian who picked NZ because he was a coward who didn't want to die just like the El Paso killer didn't want to die and give himself up voluntarily to the police. Cowards who don't want to die commit their crimes in peaceful communities. It's a new tread in terrorism where communities aren't prepared for this type of crime. It can happen in any community, in any part of the world at any time and has nothing to do with with Trump.
10
@CK
It has nothing to do with leaders preaching hate but everything to do with individuals who have certain (hateful) ideas about ethnicities or religions?
Hmm.
And the NZ shooter could only be influenced by the speech of NZ leaders, but since no NZ used hateful speech, no one could say the shooter was influenced by any leader?
Wait, so, apparently a shooter COULD be influenced by a leader's speech, but only if emanating from the same country?
But not from Trump, who is on the other side of the world.
Are you saying that they don't get news from America down under?
3
Sad that anyone who follows the news like CK cannot see how hateful speech fuels violence. One item: every county in the U.S. where Trump has held his rallies has had a sharp increase in REPORTED hate crimes.
2
@CK
Please, if you don't know what your talking about, stay silent. Trump is a racist, he proved it when he came down that escalator to announce his candidacy for president. Since he has been in office, I cannot count the times that he as vilified, Hispanics with his foul, vitriolic, racist comments too numerous to enumerate here. The El Paso massacre was a hate crime, directed at Hispanic people. That is how it differentiates from other killings. This is the biggest massacre of Hispanic people in modern history, and this president should be held accountable for his racist remarks encouraging it.
3
I hope President Trump doesn't forget to bring MAGA hats along when he visits El Paso.
I want to hear the locals there tell him what to do with them.
22
Racism, hatred and associated violence is not new to America.This cancer is ever present. It would seem that it has risen once again to the highest echelon of the government. Very sad and disappointing in the 21st century.
10
People have a hard time understanding that Latinos are not
'invading the USA'. Most fundamentally, people looking for work -- and clearly finding it -- arrive here & do it: Work. What is clear to anyone who knows anything understands that w/o this asset, the US would be in deep trouble. This is because the US does not have enough people willing to do that work.
Moreover, and I wish everyone could understand this: AZ, NW, and Texas (and CA!) were part of Mexico, until the US invaded and 'took' that territory militarily. And not so long ago. Please deepen the meaning of 'who invaded whom'.
Where do you think the US actually came from?
111
I think you're missing the point. If illegals were not here to take those underpaid jobs, the companies would then be forced to pay a reasonable wage. This is how the free market is supposed to work; but, if illegals are available to take the job, it makes it possible for the companies to continue to cheat workers.
36
@Glenn Thomas . Wrong, they would outsource to another country before paying a reasonable wage here. Case in point: customer service phone reps in India
27
@Feldman
You had me until the whole AZ, NW and TX were stolen from Mexico bit. It's a toothless argument based on the transient nature of borders over time. Entire civilizations have been created and destroyed throughout history in the pursuit of land and food and water. Is modern day Mexico any different? Were there indigenous tribes living there that were displaced, run off or killed? Absolutely. So don't pretend that America is some unique thief in the world.
20
Many times in my life I have thought of the dangerous journey my ancestors took to reach the U.S. while having no shelter on rough seas so that I could be exposed to the many beautiful people of so many different beautiful cultures. The journey was a gift. I keep writing, I keep voting.
10
Thank you, Ms. Murguía. Mine is a mixed race family. Every day I ask myself, can this really be happening? Are my eyes deceiving me? This thing that looks like the worst of what humanity is capable of? Could this man actually be standing in front of the world and feeding his base and his enablers a lie of this monstrousness? "I'm so sick of white people asking me where I'm from," my daughter said the other day. She mimed them: "No really. Where were you born? Where are your parents born?" We were all born here, of course. But why does that even matter? Real patriotic hard-working deserving Americans, each with an inalienable right to life, liberty and happiness, may be born anywhere. A year or two ago we attended an event for admitted students at Purdue. An adult who was accompanying another prospective student loudly mocked our tour guide who was self-evidently gay. I have been around universities my entire life. I still recall thinking that I had never seen such a thing occur at a university before. So much has happened since then. Every day is worse than the one before. Today's lie is more monstrous than yesterday's. Next week's shooter repeats last week's presidential rally, with careful references to white supremacist texts and the actions of other very fine people.
43
we are living through the revival of the confederacy, led by the president of the confederacy
25
Criminal Trump captured 29% of Latinx voters in 2016. Hopefully this will be a wake-up call.
72
@markymark
As a Mexican with family members who voted for this one, sadly, my only explanation is that they think they're special, different from the ones who are coming behind us.
4
@markymark
Latinx is not a very good word to describe Hispanics, its offensive.
2
49 people (mostly Latinos-Hispanics) were killed in the Orlando shooting. 58 killed in Las Vegas shooting. It doesn’t matter what anyone is saying in their manifestos anymore or to find a reason, or to pinpoint this on Trump. Columbine under Clinton, and the worst one, Sandy Hook, 27 first graders was under Obama. It doesn’t matter who is president, they are happening under one guise or another to people of many different identities. If the nation couldn’t change under Sandy Hook, I’m afraid it never will.
29
Latino/as, me being one of them, must take a stand and VOTE. We have the power to transform this election. Too many of my brothers and sisters have sat out in elections past. We cannot afford to sit this one out. If every Latinx voter exercised their franchise in 2020, we will have a different president and a different senate majority leader. It's up to us to stand up against the person who put the target on our backs. No one is coming to save us. We must save ourselves.
154
@Elizabeth C. You say this, and yet, latinos in America vote Republican more often than not.
14
@Andrew Not true. But Latinos are not monolithic. The Cuban community has traditionally voted Republican, but even that is changing. Others, particularly Mexicans and Puerto Ricans, vote Democratic. When they vote.
That's the big problem--they must get to the polls. There have been a lot of impediments to their voting, so we must all work to overcome those impediments. Especially in Texas.
15
@Elizabeth C. "We cannot afford to sit this one out." And why exactly could you afford to sit the last several out?
2
It is a fine thing to say that we need to work together in a bipartisan fashion to safeguard all of our citizens.
However, when you mention how all the trouble is effectively on one side of the fence and tell everybody that you want both sides to get along, you are pushing the partisans who have been trying to defend you into caving to those who have been trying to belittle you.
I expect this was not the intended message you meant to send, but it is what I see. We have had too many years of Republican intransigence and Democratic attempts at bipartisanship in the face of this intransigence, and it has not been working.
33
@Jacob Sommer To underscore your point, Jacob, today I read that Ted Cruz and several other republican representatives are petitioning the FBI to treat the Antifa groups as terrorists. People of goodwill cannot possibly in good faith get along with much less compromise with people who will purposely negotiate in bad faith. Trump is not an anomaly of the Republican party. It has been the mind and body of Trump all along. Joe Biden is a fool to think he ever did or ever will "get things done" with them.
4
No! this is not what happens when, "our nation's leader normalizes hate", it's what happens when the nation is so divided that the political parties can't get together to enact a rational immigration policy.
44
@Ronald B. Duke
Those two are not mutually exclusive.
19
@Ronald B. Duke
The Democratic Party was available all through the Obama presidency and even now is coming up with solutions to our many problems. I am hopeful with the exit of some of these Tea Party Republicans and the conversion of others to the Dems we can again move forward as a country. And I can dream can't I?- Mitch McConnell voted out of office. He has been the real problem with gridlock, not an unwillingness to legislate, as evidenced by many immigration bills that he just lets die
25
@Ronald B. Duke
No it is what happens when both parties are more beholden to big business than people and so they have no interest at all in dealing with immigration.
Our current situation is a feature not a bug.
6
Americans should thank their cozy toes that so many immigrants over the last 50 years have been Latin. By and large they are hard working, religious, family-centered peoples.
But we can’t take another million people a year from anywhere. People take time to get used to each other. Got to keep things at a manageable pace for the long run.
And we need to stop discriminating against would-be immigrants with college and advanced degrees and stop discriminating against the native-born who only have high school degrees.
29
@Frank -- A million people among 330 million is 0.003%.
We can probably handle that, if we try.
We have not really tried. We've avoided this issue for decades. Our politicians have none of them wanted to take action on it.
They talk, then they actually do other things for or about other interests -- mostly for donors.
Worse, there are a good many of those donors who actually like the current situation. It is cheap labor, easily controlled by threats of deportation, underpaid, badly treated, and without recourse.
It is pure exploitation. They want to exploit, not solve.
That's how we got here. It isn't about the 0.003%, it is about the exploitation and political manipulations of the issue.
89
@Mark Thomason Actually, 1 million among 330 million is 0.3%, not 0.003%. Think about it; 1% of that amount would be 3.3 million.
19
@Mark Thomason
It's actually .303% (1/330 x 100%). But yes, we can probably handle that if we tried, and tried honestly and fairly without exploitation.
15