Vanessa Cárdenas reacts to DNC, and America’s Voice offers key questions and resources ahead of Trump and Vance immigration speeches
Washington, DC — Last night’s DNC featured a hopeful and optimistic view of what America can be, on immigration and beyond, that stands in stark contrast to the “send them back now” chants and “mass deportation now” signs at the RNC. The proceedings underscored takeaways from the new AV memo on Democrats’ immigration positioning and implications.
Today, an alternative, dark vision of America and immigration will be on display, as Donald Trump will deliver a speech at the border in Arizona, and J.D. Vance delivers an immigration speech in Georgia. Both are likely to deploy the same mix of disinformation about immigrants and their relationship to crime, the economy, and voter fraud, while espousing their deadly conspiracy theories about countering an immigrant “invasion” aimed at “replacing” Americans, which has already been shown to have connections to political violence.
The following is a statement from America’s Voice Executive Director Vanessa Cárdenas, followed by several points of emphasis ahead of the Republicans’ dual appearances focused on immigration:
“This is an election that offers a stark choice between two visions of America. The Democratic Party has put forward a positive, can-do vision where our best days lie ahead. In contrast, Donald Trump and JD Vance paint a picture of America that is in retreat and wants to go back to a different time and place that is dark, dystopian, and filled with fear.
On immigration specifically, while we encourage Democrats to continue going beyond the border to also emphasize their support for the legal immigration and citizenship components of their multifaceted immigration message, we are clear that we have a better chance at the broader reforms America needs under a Harris/Walz administration. Last night at the DNC, speakers shared how immigrants and immigration strengthen America, and drew sharp contrasts with Republicans’ preference for immigration politics over solutions.
Today, Trump and Vance will portray a different vision, filled with darkness and disinformation, demagoguing immigrants in a way that courts political violence and embracing white nationalism in a way that threatens American democracy. This view relies on dangerous conspiracies about immigrants as ‘invaders’ and ‘replacers’ who threaten ‘real Americans’ in their minds. All to justify a plan for the largest mass deportations in American history, despite the cost in lives, in separated families, and damage to our economy and communities across the nation. The stakes are clear.”
Ahead of the Trump and Vance events today, below are key questions and background resources:
Question: What are the specific details of Trump’s plan for the mass deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants who have lived and worked here for decades?
- Donald Trump’s pledged mass deportations – involving mass roundups, mass detention, and a mass purge of both long-settled immigrants and recent arrivals – is the single most consequential immigration and economic issue of the 2024 campaign. As America’s Voice has been highlighting, Trump and key allies have been making clear that his proposed “largest deportation operation in the history of our country” would be unsparing and indiscriminate in targeting immigrants – noting, “no one is off the table” and that those targeted would include, “a woman with two children, three children.“
- At the first presidential debate, CNN moderator Jake Tapper asked Trump to specify his mass deportation vision and plans, yet Trump refused to answer and pivoted to tell lies about immigrants. Trump needs to answer the question and the American people deserve to hear specifics about his destabilizing, radical plan.
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- For example, what are Trump’s plans for replacing the millions of workers in agriculture, construction, food services, childcare, and other key sectors of the economy should his mass deportation vision be enacted?
Question: Will Trump and Vance continue to mainstream dangerous immigration conspiracies and lies designed to undermine trust in the election and court political violence?
- The unrelenting right wing fearmongering about immigrants relies on dangerous conspiracies like “invasion” and “replacement” linked to violence in Charlottesville, El Paso, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and beyond. See more stats and details in this recent America’s Voice Substack analysis by Zachary Mueller, “The GOP has Spent $350 Million + on Nativist TV Ads, Will it Deliver at the Ballot Box?”
- At his rally yesterday, J.D. Vance echoed the deadly domestic terrorist manifesto of the El Paso mass murderer, falsely claiming there is a “literal invasion” occurring at the southern border. And making a reference to Walmart, where the shooter carried out the attack five years ago this month.
- Of note, these conspiracies and the related non-citizen voting lie, not only are dangerous but also are central to the right wing effort to undermine trust in the electoral process and, potentially, challenge the 2024 results and sow more political violence. Read more in this recent op-ed from Vanessa Cárdenas, “How Trump’s relentless anti-immigrant focus is tied to his threats to democracy.”
