Trump says he wants to end “illegal” immigration. But his approach on immigration will immediately produce more undocumented people, not fewer.
Maybe that’s the point. /1
Maybe that’s the point. /1
Yesterday, Trump said he was preparing an executive order to deny birthright citizenship to the children of the undocumented. If every child of an unauthorized immigrant were denied citizenship, @MigrationPolicy projects 24 million undocumented in the US by 2050. /2
This is not the Trump Administration’s first move to swell the ranks of the undocumented. Consider three events, just this year, that started us on this path. /3
In June, Sessions announced a new definition of asylum seekers. In the past, asylum could be based on credible fears of gang/domestic violence in their home countries, but no longer. This move turns asylum seekers (a legal status) into unauthorized immigrants. /4
In July, ICE launched a new task force to investigate naturalized U.S. citizens suspected of fraud or, more often, omitting information on their citizenship applications. Stripping naturalized citizenship would make more people undocumented. /5
In Sept, DHS started a review of the “public charge” definition. The proposal: deny green cards to legal immigrants using public benefits (SNAP, WIC, children’s health insurance.). This makes immigrants choose between healthcare for their children and becoming undocumented. /6
The targets of all of these policies – asylum seekers, naturalized citizens, low-income immigrants, and the children of unauthorized immigrants – currently have legal status in the US. By threatening to undo this, Trump proposes to make “legal” immigrants into “illegal” ones. /7
Why push policies to increase the number of undocumented people?
It seems even beyond Trumpian fantasies to image that ICE could deport all 11 million undocumented immigrants living in America today, let alone millions more produced by these policies. /8
It seems even beyond Trumpian fantasies to image that ICE could deport all 11 million undocumented immigrants living in America today, let alone millions more produced by these policies. /8
Instead, the point is to stoke nativist fears. By speeding the growth of the undocumented population, Trump can manufacture a growing crisis and justify more drastic measures in response. /9
The point is also to terrorize noncitizens/naturalized citizens/birthright citizens, many of whom are low-income POC. Making people undocumented (or even threatening to) makes it easier to exploit their labor and mute their political participation. /10
These immigration policies/proposals don’t just affect our borders and the people hoping to get in. Exclusion at the border always creates inequality within America. (end)
