For the second year in a row, there was a significant difference between the English and Spanish versions of the Republican State of the Union rebuttal. For the second year in a row, that difference was immigration.
The English version, delivered by South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and the Spanish version, delivered by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, shared basically the same language to open their immigration passages: “No one who is willing to work hard, abide by our laws, and love our traditions should ever feel unwelcome in this country.” But that’s where they bid each other farewell. Haley, in English:
At the same time, that does not mean we just flat out open our borders. We can’t do that. We cannot continue to allow immigrants to come here illegally. And in this age of terrorism, we must not let in refugees whose intentions cannot be determined.
Diaz-Balart, in Spanish:
It’s essential that we find a legislative solution to protect our nation, defend our borders, offer a permanent and humane solution to those who live in the shadows, respect the rule of law, modernize the visa system and push the economy forward.
Haley’s language is all about who to keep out. Diaz-Balart’s language has the obligatory “defend our borders” but then there’s that “permanent and humane solution to those who live in the shadows.” Kinda different tone, there. And not just tone—it’s an entirely different policy focus. Does the Republican Party think Latinos aren’t going to notice that they’re getting different promises than the white people who Republicans currently rely on for votes?