A new analysis of Elton Gallegly’s (R-CA) tenure as Chair of the House Immigration Subcommittee shows that his hearings rely on one underlying goal: to mass-deport the 11 million undocumented who are curently living in this country. He and the other two amigos (Reps. Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Steve King (R-IA)) have arranged the process so that it seems like they’re holding hearings that include a range of topics relating to immigration, but they each follow the same formula: pit different groups against each other to create tension and anxiety.
The next step: rationalize an agenda that is entirely about a forced mass exodus of undocumented workers in the country.
The Hispanic community has been the main audience for some of these hearings, because Spanish-language outlets are covering Republicans’ constant scapegoating of immigrants. In fact, 62% of the coverage of the first hearing on immigration raids and worksite enforcement was reported by the Spanish-language press.
In an editorial titled “A radical agenda,” La Opinión wrote that the Republican leadership of the subcommittee has used the hearings to scapegoat immigrants for the country’s economic woes, without offering a real solution either to the economic crisis or the broken immigration system.
As chair of the House Immigration Subcommittee, Rep. Gallegly has used our nation’s economic crisis and the plight of the American worker to push for the mass removal of millions. This is incredibly hypocritical given the fact that Gallegly and his fellow mass deportation champions have long track records of voting against pro-worker policies, and oppose comprehensive immigration reform that would create plenty of tax. in fact, if Gallegly had his way with immigration policy, his home state of California would find itself even more broke than it already is.
