WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, President Biden used a degrading and dehumanizing term during his State of the Union remarks to refer to immigrants. In response, a coalition of leading immigrant rights organizations are urging the President to issue an immediate and unequivocal apology and reaffirm a commitment to delivering humane, people-centered immigration solutions.
Bruna Sollod, Senior Political Director of United We Dream, said:
“Immigrant youth have mobilized millions of people across the country to build a multiracial, multigenerational movement for a future where all people are treated with dignity and respect, no matter their immigration status. Our movement is powerful, we are growing, and we will not let the President take us backwards.
The deadly white supremacist, anti-immigrant violence we have witnessed in recent years, from El Paso, Texas, to Buffalo, New York, were all perpetrated by people who had internalized the very language President Biden used last night. Members of United We Dream and our partners are demanding Biden issue an immediate and unequivocal apology. The President’s callous words do not reflect nor define the strength, pride, and power of our Black, brown and immigrant communities. We are undocumented, unafraid and here to stay.”
Natalia Aristizabal, Deputy Director of Make the Road New York, said,
“Last night, immigrant communities watched in deep disappointment as President Biden failed to lead and stop spreading the hurtful and hateful anti-immigrant message recklessly used by his predecessor and MAGA extremists. Instead, he fell right into the fearmongering and embraced dehumanizing language as he spoke about our people. Our communities know all too well how hateful speech fuels bigotry and leads to violence. President Biden should know better. Let it be clear: we believe in a world where everyone has the right to live with dignity and respect, regardless of where they are from.”
Kica Matos, President of the National Immigration Law Center, said:
“Language matters, and the language used by President Biden last night to describe immigrants – our neighbors, family members, friends, and loved ones – was deeply offensive and completely unacceptable. We demand that this president do better.”
Vanessa Cárdenas, Executive Director of America’s Voice, said :
“The President made removing the offensive and pejorative noun a part of his administration’s revision of U.S. law texts, which was part of his first-term agenda, yet he used that same word during his State of the Union speech. It was an unscripted moment provoked by the heckling of MAGA Members of Congress, but it is not excusable. The President needs to do better and address this issue with bold policies supported by the majority of the American people.”
