Recently, my cousin Michael brought to my attention a posting on the wall of a Republican/Tea Partier Facebook “friend” showing a photo of the 9/11 terror attack purporting that it was “illegal aliens” who brought terror to America on that horrific day.
The false claim was already “liked” by several until my cousin, of course, went to great lengths to insist that the poster get the facts straight. Upon hearing of this, I visited this person’s wall and, like my cousin, warned that such ignorant and mischievous information was wrong and only continued to lead to an alienation of the Republican Party from immigrant voters.
The next day, both my cousin and I were “unfriended” by this right-winger, who then proceeded to verbally abuse us on his Facebook wall, insisting he was happy to “take out the liberal trash.”
The move from this individual was surprising and somewhat disturbing, but it definitely represents a trend that has eerily been a part of the right’s campaign to scapegoat immigrants, both legal and illegal.
The 9/11 claim has been one bandied around for a while now by the right. In fact, current GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich, in an 2008 bid for the White House against then hopeful Sen. John McCain, released an ad mistakenly suggesting 9/11 hijacker Mohamed Atta did not have legal status in the United States. Photos of Atta and other 9/11 hijackers appeared in the ad and the word “Illegally,” in bold, red letters, flashed over the screen.
Citizens United, a conservative group lobbying against the immigration bill, paid for the ad at the time and purchased a six-figure media buy for the ad to appear on cable television.
The truth is that all of the 19 men who hijacked planes on Sept. 11, including Atta, entered the United States on a tourist or student visa issued by the former U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Now with another election up for grabs, the false claim has resurfaced and is making its Internet rounds as the scapegoating of immigrants resumes.
When is this going to stop? Would it be the same if more of the so-called “illegal aliens” were not Brown or Black?
The lies continue to be perpetrated by an organization with the ironic name of FAIR (Federation for American Immigration Reform)! There’s nothing fair about the deceitful claims put out by FAIR and promoted by right-wingers. For instance, after President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech last month, the group put out a press release that screamed, “President Asks Congress for Amnesty Plan but Fails to Mention He’s Already Launched it Without Their Approval.” Which speech, exactly, did these folks watch?
And this past week on CNN, FAIR ran an ad attacking not just illegal but now legal immigrants, claiming they are taking away jobs from Americans who can’t get jobs.
The reality is that each “legal” immigrant coming to America on an employment visa has to prove they are not taking away a job from an American. The work being done by many “illegals” across this country-picking fruit and vegetables for $3 per box, washing dishes in restaurants or cleaning homes, lawns, supermarkets and fish-is work even unemployed Americans will refuse.
But let’s give it a test, FAIR! Let’s get the unemployed to apply for the jobs on the American farms desperate for labor and see how that turns out.
The reality is that border crossings are down; more “illegals” have been deported under the Obama administration than any other president, Republican or Democrat; many U.S. businesses are hurting as they urgently need skilled and unskilled migrant labor; many immigrants are heading up major companies or starting businesses; and the undocumented are paying taxes and making significant contributions to this country.
Those are the facts, so let’s not be consumed by lies and ignorance. No one wants an open border policy or general amnesty. Those are lies from the right that offer no real solutions and continue to perpetuate the ignorance. The reality is that we need immigration reform that can benefit our country and economy and that is humane and offers solutions, not a head-in-the-ground, racist pronouncement.
The writer is founder of NewsAmericasNow, CaribPR Wire and Hard Beat Communications.