Donald Trump tweeted last night that he would be “signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration” — his latest obvious ploy to distract Americans form his failure of a response to Covid-19 in the United States. Some 25% of doctors and 70% of farmworkers are immigrants, and we clearly need more, not fewer, of these and other essential workers during this crisis. As our Executive Director Frank Sharry said in a statement, “this is a sad and predictable political move designed to protect the President, not the people.” Below, check out some of our favorite tweets and social media responses to Trump’s latest distraction:
At a time when we need to work together no matter our background, Trump intentionally divides us on the basis of background.
At a time when we need smart solutions, Trump pulls silly stunts.
At a time when we need to focus on saving lives, Trump focusses on winning reelection.
— Frank Sharry (@FrankSharry) April 21, 2020
Trump's immigration gambit is, well, embarrassing.
He's like a mean old man who stands on the front stoop yelling about his property line and screaming at the neighborhood kids to stay off his lawn.
Meanwhile, his house is on fire.
— Frank Sharry (@FrankSharry) April 21, 2020
Exactly. Don’t fall for it. Don’t play his game. Yes, it’s what Trump/Miller always do, blame immigrants. But this is what Trump wants, a discussion about border & immigrants to distract from his failure to address this pandemic & protect American ppl. Dems shouldn’t fall for it. https://t.co/6lTQvefhil
— Pili Tobar (@pilitobar87) April 21, 2020
They’re clearly desperate to distract from #COVID19 fuckup. Don’t get distracted. Immigration/immigrants aren’t the problem, it’s the lack of tests/masks/resources bc they didn’t act when they should’ve & they’re not interested in governing, just politics. #WhereAreTheTests pic.twitter.com/pOEOgsKIWU
— Pili Tobar (@pilitobar87) April 21, 2020
AIDE: Sir, our numbers are tanking. More than 40K dead, old folks pissed that we care more about the stock market than their lives, by 2-1 ppl think we've failed and we lie, and everyone is screaming at us about the lack of tests and PPE. What do we do?
POTUS: end immigration.
— Frank Sharry (@FrankSharry) April 21, 2020
Why he’s trying to change the subject and rally racist base. His poll numbers suck so divide and distract —> “Trump’s aides and advisers inside and outside his administration now view disapproval of his preparedness for the coronavirus pandemic as his biggest political liability” https://t.co/McImHo8XOT
— Joe Sudbay (@JoeSudbay) April 21, 2020
Every time Trump feels backed in the corner and out of control, he attacks immigrants. It’s a weird pattern. https://t.co/rS4DdLOPTk
— Adriano Espaillat (@RepEspaillat) April 21, 2020
Mister President, do you know how many immigrants are risking their lives right now in hospitals across the country in order to save American citizens from coronavirus? @realDonaldTrump this is wrong and it has nothing to do with the pandemic. https://t.co/HD0LfbftDs
— JORGE RAMOS (@jorgeramosnews) April 21, 2020
It seems that @realDonaldTrump doesn’t know that immigrants pay taxes, create jobs, contribute more to the economy than take away in benefits, they do the jobs nobody else wants and are helping enormously during this pandemic. Immigrants always help in times of crisis. https://t.co/HD0LfbftDs
— JORGE RAMOS (@jorgeramosnews) April 21, 2020
Rather than answer relentless questions about why there are no tests or PPE for Americans, he wants to change the subject to his favorite topic: demonizing immigrants. Where are the tests we need?
— Luis V. Gutierrez (@RepGutierrez) April 21, 2020
Is Trump excluding the Trump Organization’s undocumented workers from whatever the hell he’s talking about? 💁🏽♂️
— Gabe Ortíz (@TUSK81) April 21, 2020
Don't get distracted. The #coronavirus is NOT an immigration issue pic.twitter.com/Gm4ioQRcUl
— America's Voice (@AmericasVoice) April 21, 2020
I hear Trump plans an audacious move on immigration for the umpteenth time. Here's my considered response, given the circumstances:
WHERE ARE THE FUCKING TESTS?
— Frank Sharry (@FrankSharry) April 21, 2020
.@ThePlumLinegs nails it: "The new ban is a propagandistic device designed to create the impression of action. It may succeed as chum for his base, but in a sense, that’s actually an admission of weakness" https://t.co/cssBCDcSPi
— Frank Sharry (@FrankSharry) April 21, 2020
Trump's new immigration ban is a monumental scam. It won't address the ongoing spread of coronavirus, which *he* allowed to rage of control. The suggestion that US workers will benefit is a complete misdiagnosis of our current economic calamity. New piece:https://t.co/ixjLYKZcAF
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) April 21, 2020
Where have we seen this "us v. them" argument before, folks? Pitting groups against each other, and scapegoating immigrants for what ails the country, is not a new strategy in American politics. @AlexNowrasteh @DavidLeopold @David_J_Bier @anoorani @FrankSharry @LIRSorg
— María Peña (@mariauxpen) April 21, 2020
Trump is trying to divide and distract Americans from his administration’s failed response to COVID. Tens of thousands have died, millions are out of jobs. We need less racism and scapegoating, more tests, worker protections, and economic relief. https://t.co/nfisiG6A10
— Stephanie Teatro (@StephanieTeatro) April 21, 2020
The "look at all the protests" thing didn't work so attack immigrants.
— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) April 21, 2020
There is no country in the world that has more #Covid19 than the United States, which is why Trump needs to change the subject by threatening to keep out of the United States by ending #immigration.
— Douglas Rivlin 🇺🇲 (@douglasrivlin) April 21, 2020
The ravings of a madman in the dead of night who is incensed that the American people want masks and tests. That is the way to view Trump's #immigration tweet. It is to distract us from the real enemy, the genuine threat: the virus combined with the President's incompetence.
— Douglas Rivlin 🇺🇲 (@douglasrivlin) April 21, 2020
The President pushed to end more than half of US immigration in 2017 when the economy was white-hot.
Now, in a crisis of his own making, his solution is—who could’ve guessed—ending immigration.
Nothing but snake oil, while Americans continue dying daily by thousands.
— Michael Clemens (@m_clem) April 21, 2020
This is from about six weeks ago. https://t.co/C4kT7TRkcz
— Frank Sharry (@FrankSharry) April 21, 2020
The fact is immigrants are standing shoulder to shoulder with US citizens in the response and recovery to Covid 19. 1/ https://t.co/nthxuYQusA
— Ali Noorani (@anoorani) April 21, 2020
In the middle of the #COVID19 pandemic, Trump continues to find ways to attack us to rile up his base and distract from his failures in his position. Immigrants are at the frontlines of the response making sure there’s food on the table, working, and putting their lives at risk.
— United We Dream (@UNITEDWEDREAM) April 21, 2020
[ July 2019 ]
Overall, do you believe that immigration is good for the country or bad for the country?
ALL
Good 70%
Bad 17%
Rep.
Good 49%
Bad 32%
Dem.
Good 87%
Bad 7%
Ind.
Good 75%
Bad 13%
(Quinnipiac U. Poll, RV, 7/25-28/19)
more: https://t.co/gsOndvx6Bf— PollingReport.com (@pollreport) April 21, 2020
In light of the attack from the invisible enemy, I’ll be scapegoating immigrants … https://t.co/vy4HDIkdVg
— Marshall Fitz (@marshallfitz) April 21, 2020
Xenophobia in service of provoking a political reaction that he thinks will stop his falling approval ratings. Surprised it took him this long. https://t.co/uXL9Pk65Rt
— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) April 21, 2020
We need to come together to beat this disease, not attack each other and divide the country. This is a disgrace — demonizing so many of those who are serving on the front lines against COVID while the President shows himself as small and ineffective.
— (((Rep. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) April 21, 2020
'Let's pretend we don't need immigrants, except in the situations where we clearly need immigrants' https://t.co/LTr9E8Nt7G
— America's Voice (@AmericasVoice) April 21, 2020
That's all this is. Anger people. Blame others for his incompetence. It's sad. Truly sad that out country is being led by someone so small. https://t.co/PekawtZbJP
— Mario A. Carrillo (@_mariocarrillo_) April 21, 2020
Stephen Miller accomplished his goal, and Trump is reusing his old trick – blame immigrants to cover up for his complete mismanagement and ramp up of this crisis. Congratulations- you are a failure. https://t.co/Xx57zbeBBV
— Beatriz Lopez (@Beatrizluthor) April 21, 2020
Trump has never met a problem for which he cannot blame immigrants. He’s a pathetic little man.
— Nick Gourevitch (@nickgourevitch) April 21, 2020
Shuttering legal immigration would only serve to further damage our economy & harm immigrants who help put food on our tables, staff our hospitals, and contribute to our communities and our nation.
— Sen. Patrick Leahy (@SenatorLeahy) April 21, 2020
Trump will ban immigration but allow some Southern states to loosen restrictions.
This has nothing to do with our safety and everything to do with his blatant xenophobia.
Pathetic.
— Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) April 21, 2020
This is beyond belief.
Immigrants have always made America great. Suspending immigration & giving into racism & xenophobia won’t solve our problems.
Instead it will have a catastrophic impact on our health care, food supply & the systems we are relying upon during this crisis. https://t.co/lM427P0h2S
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) April 21, 2020
Trump EO reax from @RepEliotEngel (D – NY – Chair, Hse Foreign Affairs Cmte.): “There are more coronavirus infections and more coronavirus deaths here in the United States than anywhere else on the planet. What exactly is ceasing immigration supposed to protect us from?” @NY1
— Jeevan Vittal (@JvittalTV) April 21, 2020
Pathetic attempt to shift blame from his Visible Incompetence to an Invisible Enemy. The President needs to reread the Declaration of Independence, criticizing King George for restricting immigration to America. https://t.co/LO0OndE88A
— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) April 21, 2020
From the beginning Trump has flailed about seeking someone to blame for his own failure.
Obama. Governors. China. Speaker Pelosi. People of Asian descent.
Immigration has nearly stopped and the US has far more cases than any other country.
This is just xenophobic scapegoating. https://t.co/hurkmuvlvg
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) April 21, 2020
This is all going to get much worse before November, because Trump is entirely indifferent to how his decisions affect the country, except in as much as he can take advantage. It does not matter who suffers; not even if it’s his own base. They’re there to help him win, that’s it.
— Adam Serwer🍝 (@AdamSerwer) April 21, 2020
Somewhere in here there's probably an exception for workers for Trump's golf courses. https://t.co/8Hbtn5ut9B
— emptywheel (@emptywheel) April 21, 2020
Instead of bringing the country together and using the power of his office to help the nation through this pandemic, the president doubles down on what he does best: dividing Americans against each other. https://t.co/LYOTnlrPAW
— UnidosUS (@WeAreUnidosUS) April 21, 2020
THREAD: As Trump issues a new threat to suspend immigration, let's remember that immigrants are on the front lines of treating #COVID19 patients
Immigrants make up 28% of doctors, 24% of nurses and home health aides, and 50% of geriatric specialists. 1/6 https://t.co/ufkLCrg78p pic.twitter.com/DBH6vQMpyD
— Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) April 21, 2020
can't wait for the Supreme Court to hold that COVID-19 is such an emergency that Trump can halt all immigration but not enough of an emergency to extend absentee voting in Wisconsin by 6 days
— Law Boy, Esq. (@The_Law_Boy) April 21, 2020
Trump says he'll temporarily suspend immigration to the US. Once again he is using this pandemic to launch a cowardly attack against our immigrant communities.
This has NOTHING to do with protecting the health of the country. This is just another racist attack to rally his base.
— Voto Latino (@votolatino) April 21, 2020
"This is a public health emergency. This is not immigration emergency. So I hope we can stay focused on what this really is." – LA Mayor Eric Garcetti on President Trump saying he will temporarily suspend immigration into the US due to Covid-19 fears https://t.co/771waWEoEO pic.twitter.com/VXQZaNpVEu
— CNN (@CNN) April 21, 2020
More of the same from President Trump – trying to divide Americans and incite fear to distract from the fact that he failed to prepare for this crisis.
We can't lock out a virus, especially when the President's inaction already allowed it to spread. https://t.co/3Z3QXXVlkA
— Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown) April 21, 2020
Trump declaring he will block immigration in order to fight the "invisible enemy" is yet another attempt to deflect attention from the total chaos created by his administration. Immigrants are not responsible for the federal government's failure to produce tests and PPE.
— Anne Applebaum (@anneapplebaum) April 21, 2020
*Excellent* thread about the truth behind Trump's would-be immigration ban.
The POTUS who separated and traumatized 5,000+ kids for no other reason than to terrorize families so they wouldn't declare asylum in the US says it's about the virus.
The evidence suggests otherwise. https://t.co/VzdTOw7N0B
— Jacob Soboroff (@jacobsoboroff) April 21, 2020
As Trump may or may not sign executive order today that may or may not suspend what little immigration is left amid pandemic in which US has confirmed most cases in world: US is exporting coronavirus through deportations, so far to: Guatemala Mexico Haiti https://t.co/Gza8qzggcB
— Molly O'Toole (@mollymotoole) April 21, 2020
Trump suspending immigration – but if you're a New Yorker it makes more sense to suspend immigration from Georgia (USA that is) – where tattoo parlours and barbershops are reopening while "keeping social distancing" – LONG scissors and needles I guess !
— Simon Schama (@simon_schama) April 21, 2020
Trump would love if the discussion was about immigration instead of his botched coronavirus response that led to the US having the most confirmed cases in the world. https://t.co/WIspELXcMW
— DNC War Room (@DNCWarRoom) April 21, 2020
We all know the playbook by now. Whenever Trump wants to change the subject, he says something racist/draconian about immigration. He has failed the response to coronavirus & has no plan for testing/tracing. Americans know it, his poll numbers are falling—so voila, same old song. https://t.co/epPCAmuFJp
— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) April 21, 2020
You have nobody to blame but yourself for this completely bungled response to a deadly crisis, Mr. President. Not immigrants. Not governors or mayors. Just you. Stop scapegoating immigrants with more racism and xenophobia and do your job. https://t.co/tr5CnG2RYg
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) April 21, 2020
