As Political tension between both parties intensifies as we near the upcoming elections, numerous recent speeches and media appearances have continued to emphasize concerns over immigration, particularly regarding individuals arriving at the nation’s southern border.
Former President Donald Trump’s framing of these issues has continued to validate public concerns over border security at the expense of positioning migrants, especially those of which who are coming from central and south American countries, in a category of otherness.
Inflaming Americans’ anxieties over immigration and border security has been a defining feature of Trump’s presidency and past campaigns. His speeches have been linked to outbreaks of violence, including the horrific mass shooting in El Paso, Texas in 2019, which killed 23 people, the majority of which were Hispanic.
As Trump’s repeated promise to deport millions of undocumented immigrants continues to draw roars of approval at his rallies, the use of this kind of language continues to work in the party’s favor.
Below is a look at the type of language Trump has used:
“Eating the Pets”
Earlier this month, during the presidential debate against democratic opponent Kamala Harris, Trump mentioned that Haitian immigrants were allegedly “stealing and eating pets” in Springfield, Ohio.
While the claims were baseless and later proven false, the sentiment generated significant public reaction.
Quickly, the community of Springfield was met with bomb threats and other forms of disruption. In response, dozens of Ohio State Highway Patrol officers were deployed to safeguard the 18 schools within the Springfield City School District. Many parents chose to keep their children at home, and at one elementary school, nearly half of the student population of 500 were absent on Tuesday.
“These [Migrants] are stone cold killers. They’ll walk into your kitchen, they’ll cut your throat.”
More recently, during a rally in Michigan, Trump criticized Harris’ handling of border security. “She let our American sons and daughters be raped and murdered at the hands of vicious monsters,” said Trump.
Characterizing migrants as dangerous individuals, Trump continued to utilize this strong language to express his concerns about public safety.
“These migrants,” Trump said the following day in Wisconsin, “they make our criminals look like babies. These are stone-cold killers. They’ll walk into your kitchen, they’ll cut your throat.”
Maria Cristina Morales, an associate professor of Sociology at the University of Texas at El Paso, explained that “the more that the population grows- the population growth of Latinos for instance- the more fear there’s going to be of a loss of power.”
These ever-changing demographics like Morales mentioned, repeatedly leave communities of color the most targeted.
“425,431 people convicted of the worst crimes.”
During a separate address, Trump made claims that Harris had “let in 425,431 people convicted of the worst crimes.” Similarly, during the vice-presidential debate, running-mate JD Vance stated that “About a million of those people have had some form of crime in addition to crossing the border illegally.”
While these accusations may stem from some verifiable incidents, the data presented by both men appears to be exaggerated. Although illegal crossings are a legitimate concern, the exaggeration of the numbers and the characterization of those crossing can be misleading.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, some of the data in question predates the Biden administration, extending back as far as four decades. Regarding migrants who arrived during the Biden administration, approximately 10 million encounters have been recorded at U.S. ports of entry. Of these, about 115,000 noncitizens have been flagged for having criminal backgrounds.
As immigration remains a key issue for voters, it’s crucial to acknowledge how language and framing influence public discourse.
Research indicates that immigrants tend to commit crimes at lower rates than native-born Americans, according to various studies. The nation has also seen a decline in violent crime in recent years, based on FBI data, and migrant encounters at the border have reached their lowest level in four years.
As immigration remains a complex issue, it is necessary that politicians address the topic with care and nuance. We see that a recurring discourse built upon fear brings about a certain kind of rhetoric, persuading people to do particular and sometimes violent acts. A balanced and informed discussion is essential for addressing the real challenges the nation faces while fostering unity and understanding across diverse communities.
Rumi Sevilla is a staff reporter for The Prospector and may be reached at [email protected]
