A Liberal Enters a Trump Immigration Rally…
It’s not just a bad joke — but his immigration plan might be.
RealPolitics contributor and editor Jake Dean attended the Donald Trump campaign event in Phoenix, AZ on Wednesday, immediately after his trip to Mexico. Jake Dean is the Chairman of the High School Democrats of Arizona, as well as the director of Arizona’s branch of the Unified Democracy PAC. He also works as Field Organizer for the Alexandra4AZ campaign. (In essence, a pretty active Democrat.) During the speech, Trump rolled out his policy plan to fight illegal immigration. Here are Jake’s notes and impressions.
Allow me to give a fair preface to this article. I am a raging liberal. I am biased. But let’s make something else very clear: Donald Trump’s immigration “plan” made zero sense. It won’t work. It won’t help America. It is founded upon lies. It disregards the Constitution, the concept of money, and basic logic. Trump has repeatedly contradicted himself on immigration issues during this election season, and Wednesday, the day he came to Phoenix after his meetings in Mexico City, was no exception.
Even funnier? His remarks are costing him his remaining Latino support — possibly along with any chance of winning the election.
Donald Trump’s plan is a lot like himself: a ridiculous caricature masquerading as an effective policy, hoping xenophobia and fear-mongering can give it a path to power. However, Trump is the Republican nominee, so I headed to the Phoenix Convention Center to learn what the hype was all about.
The Plan
1. Border Wall (Mexico will pay for it)
This was nothing new in Phoenix, but he did add some important details. Donald Trump discussed sensors for tunnels as well as, yet again, the fact that Mexico is going to pay for the project. He plans to combine this with aerial surveillance to keep cartels (and rapists, and murders, and some nice people, too) out.
The issue: We have no surefire technology to detect tunnels. So, the wall only forces immigrants with benign motives to seek out criminals to cross the border. As expensive as the wall would be, it won’t accomplish any great migration prevention. However, it will continue to hurt the environment of border states like Arizona, as well as increase the black market for people smuggling. Plus, Mexico will not pay for it.
2. End Catch-and-Release
Basically, ending catch-and-release would force the government to detain all individuals until deported.
The issue: I don’t trust the government to hold people indefinitely — a constitutional violation in its own right — and I definitely don’t trust the government to do this in a cost-effective manner. Prison costs are already high with our astronomical incarceration rate — this just adds cost to the existing price tag.
3. Zero Tolerance for Undocumented Immigrants
Trump wants to establish what he calls a “Deportation Task Force,” increasing the number of ICE and Border patrol agents. Trump wants to target the most dangerous, criminal immigrants with these personnel.
The issue: How? With what funds? Donald Trump hates specifics. If finding the most dangerous criminals in society were a breeze, we wouldn’t need much of a police force at all. Criminals don’t just wave their hands at cops and ask to be arrested. So, unless Donald Trump has some new crime-fighting strategy… this is empty rhetoric.
4. Block Funding for Sanctuary Cities
Sanctuary cities block federal requests to detain immigrants. There have been previous efforts to block funding, but Trump ensures he will crack down on these jurisdictions.
The issue: This has not worked in the past. This is almost certainly an overreach of federal power into local law enforcement. Plus, I don’t see how this will have a sizable impact on undocumented immigrants.
5. Cancel Obama “Amnesty” Executive Orders
Trump is trying to overturn the use of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The other program was already stopped by federal courts, making Trump’s point moot.
The issue: If DACA was unconstitutional as Trump says, then it would have been overturned in court. Providing amnesty decreases deportation costs and has held wide support. Plus, the program provides documentation and maintains minimum requirements which actually benefit everyone involved.
6. Suspend Visas for Places Without Adequate Screening
Here, the Trump campaign has continued to express their love for “extreme vetting.” This program would include ideological tests to determine one’s attitude towards homosexuals, women, and radical Islam. Citizens of countries identified by Trump, like Syria and Libya, would not be allowed to apply for visas.
The issue: First, how many of Trump’s supporters could pass a test aimed at limiting misogyny and hate crimes against gay Americans? Second, this simply won’t work: too many visas and too many variables. Not to mention, I don’t think this is fully his authority.
7. Make Countries Take Their People Back
Certain countries refuse to take certain immigrants back. Trump wants to make them take these immigrants back.
The issue: Well, federal law disagrees with your plan. Again. But, write your strongly-worded e-mails to various world leaders anyways.
“Donald Trump’s plan is a lot like himself: a ridiculous caricature masquerading as effective policy, hoping xenophobia and bullshit can give it a path to power.”
8. Biometric Entry-Exit Visa System
The United States fingerprints foreigners upon arrival. They print visa end dates. However, foreigners are not fingerprinted on their exit. So, technically the government doesn’t know if people overstay their visa. Trump wants to change the exit system to gather this information.
The issue: This might actually help give the government new information. This is definitely one of Donald Trump’s wiser proposals. Just know that the system is not perfect, quick to create, or cheap. This does not have the impact Trump thinks it does.
9. End Jobs and Benefits Magnet
Trump wants to increase employment verification (E-Verify) while also cracking down on food stamp programs.
The issue: E-Verify is not accurate and invades personal privacy. Also —and this may be weird — I am against starving those who are already struggling. In fact, I am against starving anyone.
10. Serve American Workers
Trump wants to punish companies for moving overseas and ensure that the legal pathway for immigration is the only method for entry with specific caps.
The issue: The current legal method is too hard. Making it harder will not discourage illegal immigration. Since the rest of his plan won’t either, this step is also a dud.
The Event
The plan might not be effective, but the event itself was organized properly and run well.
Trump sounded good. In fact, much of his speech was clean in terms of presentation. He got into some speaking trouble during the plan, but he did sound far more professional than he used to. Specific policies — no matter their efficacy — were mentioned, from reinstating the 287(g) program to ending catch-and-release.
The crowd was full of white faces. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN was everywhere. Misogynistic t-shirts insulting Hillary Clinton and Monica Lewinski were everywhere.
Secret Service agents were in full force. Guns and weapons were barred — despite Trump’s apparent love for the 2nd Amendment. Even non-sealed water bottles were contraband items at the Phoenix Convention Center. I was glad to have not only Transportation Security Administration officers working security, but also Secret Service members at the door. A Donald Trump rally is a dangerous place for a small liberal like me.
Rudy Giuliani spoke for awhile, but his “MAKE MEXICO GREAT ALSO” hat stole the show. Then came Senator Jeff Sessions and Vice-Presidential nominee Mike Pence. Both professed their hate for Hillary and worry about America’s future — we don’t win anymore. In quite an ironic contrast, “I’m Proud to Be An American” blasted as Trump took the stage.
Trump praised President Enrique Pena Nieto for his cooperation and leadership — he met Pena Nieto in Mexico City earlier Wednesday.
I commend the civility of the rally itself. Jeers and USSR parodies of the USA chants were met with little more than silence. The Phoenix Police Department handled the entire operation in a professional manner. From someone who does not trust the Phoenix Police Department to handle anything properly, that is high praise.
There was a small table for merchandise; only cards accepted. More interesting was the fact that all his employees were — you guessed it — older white individuals.
Outside, protesters inflated a giant KKK-robed Donald Trump and a prison-clothed Sheriff Joe. Joining them, the White Nationalist group “Sons of Liberty” was there forming a counter-protest. Dueling cars drove by with various favorable and unfavorable signs.
The event was surreal. It was as if the people in that convention hall would have done whatever Trump said — from murder on 5th Avenue to ‘using’ their 2nd Amendment right.
More than anything, the rally truly scared me.
I wanted to be unbiased and cool-headed in this piece, but I couldn’t. Donald Trump is a racist, sexist, xenophobic individual void of morals, empathy, and logical support. He is a pathological liar, hits on his daughter, and displays repeated instances of overwhelming egotism. Many thought Trump would fade through the primaries, but he didn’t.
I am biased. Sorry, not sorry.
