Democrats Must Win on Immigration

Avoiding the topic is both ineffective and inhumane

Last week, I was walking out of the Governor’s Mansion with some Republicans and their staff after the Governor signed a series of bills. Security sent us out a side gate because activists were at the main gate with a bullhorn -- encouraging Governor Stein to veto two anti-immigrant bills (which he did, more on that below).

“Immigrants in your own community are scared!” shouted one of the activists.

A Republican said, “Only illegal immigrants.” 

“No.” I said. “A lot of immigrants are scared right now.” 

Trump’s authoritarian rule is piercing communities with indiscriminate immigration enforcement, a lack of due process, threats of unprecedented expulsion of legal residents, and even the attempt to undo birthright citizenship. All of these actions come wrapped up in rhetoric to dehumanize and obscure the impacts on real people. 

I thought of that exchange at the Mansion when I overheard another conversation later in the week. Two black women with Caribbean accents were talking on a street corner. Each of them had two white children in a stroller.

The older woman was chastising. “You HAVE to have your papers with you all the time! You don’t know when they’re going to try to pick us up. You have to have a plan!!” She went on about who to call and what to say. 

Even my own wife – a naturalized citizen, a white woman, the wife of a Senator – has had her fears about what could happen. Kym and I know that we have many protections from Trump’s immigration whip but the weaponization of the power to deport has left so many feeling uneasy. 

For those most at risk, the United States has ceased any semblance of being a place of welcome and compassionate refuge and turned into a country grounded in hate. I’ve heard it from friends living here without papers, and I can only imagine what it feels like to be a day laborer, housecleaner, or farmworker right now. As farmworker organizer Melissa Castillo recently wrote, “If we can’t protect the people who feed us, then we need to ask ourselves what kind of country we are. Because now that we are actively breaking all these promises, we’re not just failing farmworkers. We’re failing as a country.”

“We’re failing as a country” is exactly what I think every time a new video comes on my social media with ICE agents in masks. Who are these thugs who hide in shame? What are their morals? Why are they brutally detaining workers but letting employers go without any accountability at all? Do they think, for a second, about the lives of the people they are threatening? 

We can all take some of the blame for where we are today. Our collective failure to forge any serious policy on immigration set the table for Trump’s authoritarian era. Had any combination of Democrats and Republicans done the responsible thing and built systems to reform and improve our immigration system over the last few decades, today’s racism-fueled anti-immigrant backlash wouldn’t be the same - and that might prove the difference between the survival of our democracy and its fall.

With our backs against the wall, some Democrats are finally standing up for immigrants. Heck, some are even getting arrested! Yet, I still hear the fear among some Democrats that suggest we should “avoid” this issue. That’s not only impossible, it is inhumane.

It is true that immigration policy has consistently been a place where Republicans have earned more votes than we have. But cowering in the corner just means they’ll keep doing the same. We have to win the issue. We have to dive into the complexity, shine a light on the true facts, and above all remind people over and over and over, that “immigrants” and to use their awful phrase, “illegals”, are real people. Humanbeings deserving of dignity and respect. Individuals who have the same hopes and dreams and love for their families as we do. 

 Our job is not to say what’s already possible, it’s to make popular what needs to be said.

There is a real need for a thoughtful honest debate about immigration in this country. The issue is tremendously complex. Just as detaining and expelling all immigrants is not the answer, nor is open borders. I don’t want to pretend that the answers are all easy. But I do know the current approach is wrong. I hope that we can get to a time where reasonable minds on all sides can come together and chart a thoughtful, humane path forward.

And where we do drive a narrative about what is humane, fair, and complies with the rule of law, we can also impact public opinion. New data this week from Pew shows that Americans’ feelings about immigration enforcement are much more opposed to Trump’s authoritarianism than I would have predicted. The areas of strongest disapproval are clearly the ones where a narrative has built in opposition to Trump actions. 

Until we have a better policy approach, we just have to protect our communities. We start by fighting Trump’s demonization tactics with dignity and community. Foremost is the dignity of the rule of law, and the absolute refusal to condone government detention based on political speech or racially discriminatory targeting. Second is the dignity and community of standing up for those who are justifiably scared into living in the shadows. 

That’s what’s happening in LA right now. After the first few days of protest in the streets and some unfortunate chaos, locals are moving to more sustainable and strategic forms of resistance. Volunteer teams are videotaping ICE actions and advising targets of their legal rights. Local elected officials are exercising their powers and duties to protect their communities. And civic leaders like the Dodgers are standing up to ICE’s public aggression and providing help to impacted families.

Trump’s authoritarian ICE march has not fully descended on North Carolina yet, and I hope it never does. Our efforts to build mass popular resistance must be prepared for it. All nonviolent resistance requires careful strategy and coordination. And it takes brave leaders who will stand up to Trump’s abuses and violence.

And so, I’m very happy to see Governor Josh Stein veto two anti-immigrant bills that the General Assembly passed over Democratic legislator’s objections. My GOP colleagues are eager to grease the skids of Trump’s gestapo ICE force. They couldn’t be more gleeful about the idea of Trump’s henchman descending on North Carolina. And Governor Stein refused to condone their attempts to skirt the constitution and rule of law. 

I hope with all my heart we will get to a moment when we can all come together, as a state, as a nation, and as a world and talk honestly and compassionately about how we create conditions for all to flourish. I hope we reach a time where people don’t have to flee to the United States out of desperation or fear. I hope here at home we can return to a time where we cherish the diversity and true wealth that immigrants of all stripes bring to our communities. For the time being though, we just need to survive. Let’s stand together. 

What you can do this week

• Call Sens. Tillis and Budd: Tell them that you oppose ICE violence in communities and expect the President to follow the rule of law. 

• Thank Governor Stein for vetoing HB318 and SB153, the anti immigrant bills mentioned above. And while you’re at it, thank him for vetoing SB50 that would eliminate pistol permits. 

• Support local organizations that are working with immigrants and refugees. Groups like El Centro Hispano, El Vinculo Hispano, Refugee Community Partnership, and more are taking many actions to provide immigrants with dignity that Trump is trying to strip away. All of them are deserving of any time, money, or love you can share. 

• Find Joy: Since we’re on the topic of immigrants today, put the soundtrack or movie of Hamilton back in your rotation. “Immigrants! We get the job done!”

• Find more joy: Y’all like our garden recipes and the squash just came in… cut the squash into half inch slices. Fry them in oil until blistered. Toss with red wine vinegar and crushed garlic. Toss again with torn basil and good salt. Enjoy on their own, on good bread, or over pasta.