Thread by @TomJawetz

#Immigration is not a debate topic.

But immigrants are central to any conversation about Fighting COVID-19, American Families, Race in America, Climate Change, National Security, or Leadership.

@kwelkernbc may not ask, but no answer‘s complete without raising it. #Debates2020

On #COVID19, millions of immigrants are working alongside Americans as essential workers to fight the pandemic.

3-in-4 undocumented workers are in jobs defined as essential by DHS itself. #ImmigrantsAreEssential

But despite the great personal sacrifices they have made, undocumented immigrants and their families--including US citizens--have been largely left out of the relief that Congress has passed to date.

This is what we have long needed. americanprogress.org/issues/economy…

In 2021--with @JoeBiden as president & Dems in charge of Congress--a national recovery package will have to be enacted into law.

For that recovery to be dynamic and durable, equitable and inclusive, it must include a broad path to citizenship. americanprogress.org/issues/immigra…

Any discussion about national security should begin with DHS's own October 2020 Homeland Threat Assessment, which found that "white supremacist extremists" pose "the most persistent and lethal threat" to the country. dhs.gov/sites/default/…

Those white supremacist extremists have gained strength because hate has been normalized and mainstreamed by the president of the United States. americanprogress.org/issues/securit…

How do we know that?

We read the words of white supremacists and domestic terrorists themselves.

The El Paso terrorist targeted people he believed to be Mexican because he feared an INVASION--exactly what Trump falsely warned him about.
nytimes.com/2019/08/04/us/…

The terrorist who massacred worshippers at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue wanted to punish HIAS because he was afraid of... an INVASION... and was specifically fixated on Trump's caravan hysteria. theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…

So DHS admits white supremacist extremists are the most persistent and lethal threat to the country, but they do NOTHING.

Instead, they kidnap children, terrorize immigrant communities, and storm American cities beating up American protestors. americanprogress.org/issues/immigra…

The #HeroesAct that @HouseDemocrats passed 5 months ago would have save lives and saved jobs. The bill also would have closed a hole in the CARES Act that provides no stimulus relief checks to anyone--including US citizens--in mixed status households. 10% support that.

.@kwelkernbc asks once, twice, three times. How will Trump reunite the 545 children taken from their parents 3 years ago whose parents cannot now be found.

No answer. #FamiliesBelongTogether

.@JoeBiden showing the anger that hundreds of millions of us feel. "This is criminal." bostonglobe.com/2020/10/22/opi…

Strong condemnation by @JoeBiden of the network of policies by Trump that have destroyed the US asylum system, from the #RemainInMexico program to the ACAs.

Both candidates had a chance to talk about how they would reunite the families torn apart by the Trump administration, including the 545 kids separated 3+ years ago whose parents haven't yet been found.

Neither gave a forward-looking plan, but Trump lied and Biden felt the fire.

Instead of shirking its responsibility, the USG must play a constructive role in reuniting every one of these families, offer them permanent protection here in the US, and provide restitution to help these children heal from the trauma that we caused them.

On Trump's dog whistle the size of a foghorn, see the tweets earlier in this thread.

I'm trying to keep this #immigration focused, but while Biden has had a TON of sharp moments in this debate, "Because we had a Republican Congress" was a true mic drop moment.

#LFG #BlueWave

Usually the last question is a throwaway, but creating the contrast between a sober but hopeful vision by @JoeBiden and a chaotic, incoherent ramble by @realDonaldTrump was pretty good.