Immigration is a great example of weak wimpy politics on our part. Yes, our part; We have allowed Trump and the Republicans to dominate this issue. We allowed them to define it and shape the policies that come from it. Kamala Harris, in the two weeks of campaigning, has done some amazing things. I am hoping she seizes upon this and gets some similar results . This so called “Border Crisis “
What’s driving it. Why is it happening and what are the real solutions Here’s a summary from the Brooking Institute
It is an outdated notion that people from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras are primarily looking for economic opportunity in the United States and, therefore, should wait in line for a visa. For people fleeing these countries, waiting for a visa can result in death, rape, or forcible recruitment into crime.
A recent report from Doctors Without Borders (MSF) states that these Northern Triangle countries are experiencing “unprecedented levels of violence outside a war zone” and that “citizens are murdered with impunity, kidnappings and extortion are daily occurrences. Non-state actors perpetuate insecurity and forcibly recruit individuals into their ranks, and use sexual violence as a tool of intimidation and control.”
These countries rank in the top 10 in the world for homicide. White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, as leader of U.S. Southern Command in 2014, said that cartels and gangs, fueled by the U.S. demand for drugs, “have left near-broken societies in their wake.”
The U.S. government argues that people fleeing these places do not fit the technical definition of a refugee, so the U.S. is not obligated to offer them asylum. Yet they fit the spirit of agreements on refugees adopted after World War II. The U.N. refugee agency has concluded “that a significant percentage of those fleeing… may be in need of international protection, in line with the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.”
Here’s the link to the full citation www.brookings.edu/…
No Politician should be allowed to talk about Immigration without talking about gang violence in Latin America
Here’s another fact Americans spend nearly 150 Billion on illegal Drugs www.rand.org/…
Mostly going to Latin America , where its used to power the gangs and allowing them to purchase weapons. Weapons they buy from us Yes, we buy their drugs and sell them guns. Theses guns, in the hands of these gangs have destabilized the villages of El Salvador, Mexico etc, that the people are fleeing for their lives . These people are the “very bad people” Donal Trump speaks about (with impunity) No one calls him on it. No journalist, no politician Nobody
Well were my grand parents “bad people” fleeing the chaos and violence of Post Garibaldi Italy? Were my wife’s grand parents “bad people” fleeing the Programs and Antisemitism of Europe? Were your grandparents bad people fleeing their circumstances? No, thats why most of us are here. Yet we have allowed Trump and his cult of personality to define this issue and consequently the “solutions”
I am hoping Kamela Harris finds to courage to take a stand and redefine this issue, I believe Donald Trump gave her (us) and opportunity to re-frame the conversation. If she (us) have to courage to take it
Please take this seriously!
