Washington, D.C. – Trump tried to divert our attention from the violence he sowed through inciting an insurrection by visiting his racist border wall in Alamo, Texas today. His visit cemented his legacy of anti-immigrant rhetoric, policy and action that has fomented further violence and trauma against Black and brown immigrants.
Juan Manuel Guzman, State and Local Advocacy Strategist of United We Dream, said:
“There is a direct link between Trump’s inflammatory anti-immigrant statements and the violence that overtook the Capitol last week. Beyond just words, Trump turned his racism and anti-immigrant vitriol into policy, with his Muslim Ban, proposed public charge rule, putting human beings in cages and ending programs like DACA and TPS, and more.
The dark legacy Trump leaves behind is one that has especially harmed communities along the border, where over 5,400 children have been cruelly separated from their parents, asylum seekers have been forced to stay in Mexico awaiting their court hearings in the U.S., and millions of dollars have been funneled to fuel even more violence at the hands of ICE and CBP. Despite this, United We Dream has organized with local partners in Texas to secure wins for our communities, including immigrant legal services, pushing for policies to restrict ICE and CBP enforcement and securing in-state tuition for undocumented students.
With the inauguration of President-elect Biden a week away, the Biden administration must prioritize the safety and healing of immigrant communities who have been at the forefront of Trump’s attacks. There is no time for excuses. Biden must take immediate action to protect all undocumented immigrants from deportation, while pushing Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer on passing COVID-19 relief and permanent protections for all immigrants.”
