Washington, DC — As we ready for Election Day, below are closing thoughts from America’s Voice and a collection of key resources and commentary about the role of immigration in the 2024 election cycle.
According to Vanessa Cárdenas, Executive Director of America’s Voice:
“As we get ready to count ballots, and as Donald Trump and allies prepare to deny the results, the contrasts between the Harris and Trump visions of America – and the role and contributions of immigrants to the American story – could not be sharper and more consequential. VP Harris is closing her campaign by highlighting the broader stakes for democracy in this election, while recognizing the essential role of immigration to America’s past, present and future. She has been clear that her vision includes channels for legal immigration and permanent legal status for long-residing immigrants like Dreamers along with an orderly and secure border.
Donald Trump and MAGA’s America, by contrast, is dark and dystopian, seeking retribution against political enemies and promising as their signature second-term agenda to make as many people as possible deportable, including deeply rooted immigrants, those with current legal status, and even American citizens. Trump started his 2016 campaign spewing hate against Mexicans and is closing out his 2024 campaign with offensive and dehumanizing rhetoric against Puerto Ricans and all Latinos. During this time, Trump’s low bar continues going lower and lower. There is no telling what he will say next, but one thing is for sure, his rhetoric against immigrants has become more rancid, more violent, and more dehumanizing. The broader GOP, for its part, has spent more than a billion dollars trying to sell the lie that our immigrant neighbors represent our most pressing threat and they have boosted the racist, conspiratorial lie that immigrants as pawns is a plot to steal the election – a coordinated lie they have been telling for months because they don’t respect the choices of the American people.
No matter the results of the election, we know that the truth is stubborn: immigrants and immigration are essential to the present and future vitality, competitiveness, and potential of America. We are clear-eyed about the stakes and implications of the outcome.”
Key Resources About Immigration and the 2024 Elections
- Read the America’s Voice Election Preview series on Substack:
- Election Preview Part 1: “The GOP Doubled Down Hard on Nativism” – Ad Spending, the Battle for Congress, and Ballot Measures
- Election Preview Part 2: “The Billionaire and the Hate Monger” – Elon Musk, Stephen Miller, Anti-Trans Ads, and Public Polling
- Be on the lookout later today for Election Preview Part 3 – the final installment of the series
- Read America’s Voice, “10 Things We Know With Confidence About Immigration & 2024 Elections” (and see longer-form Substack version with more detailed explanations here)
- Read from America’s Voice, “5 Things to Remember About Donald Trump and Immigration”
