Why are we still taking Donald Trump seriously?
Recently, Trump called for the deportation of all undocumented immigrants again, while at the same time releasing an immigration plan on his campaign website in which he proposes to build a wall along our southern border, end birthright citizenship and cut legal immigration.
These are hardline views. But it’s hard to take anything Trump says seriously when he’s taken so many positions on the issue of immigration.
A month ago he argued for a path to legal status. Three years ago he criticized Mitt Romney’s self-deportation policy as “maniacal,” saying that the 2012 GOP presidential nominee had not been welcoming of immigrants and that he personally supported a comprehensive approach. Now, he’s the candidate who speaks for the anti-immigrant restrictionist movement?
Trump may characterize himself as an anti-politician, but he’s certainly showcasing himself as the ultimate politician who says whatever is most politically expedient in the moment.
The substance of his proposals is as fake as the candidate himself. He insists that all undocumented immigrants have to go, but he gives us no idea how he’d accomplish something most law enforcement experts say is impossible to do.
Moreover, to suggest that we should expel all undocumented immigrants from the country, to which they have made their homes and contributed so much, is cynical, unfair and shows a total lack of human compassion. The immense majority of undocumented immigrants are honest, hard-working people who ended up here illegally only because we have a broken immigration system that impedes the legal flow of the foreign workers that our economy so desperately needs.
The Donald also makes the ridiculous assertion that Mexico will pay for his so-called Big Wall of Trump. But, yet again, he provides no details on how this deal would be made. In addition, he proposes doing away with birthright citizenship, as if the main motivation for the majority of undocumented immigrants coming here is to have children so that they can have access to government handouts, which is simply not true. The vast majority of people come here to improve their livelihood and that of their families.
More surprisingly, considering that just a few weeks ago he was touting his belief in the positive impact of immigration, Trump now proposes curtailing legal immigration, arguing that it suppresses the wages of American workers. He is dead wrong on this point.
Rather than hurting the middle class, immigration actually helps it. In a dynamic economy like ours, immigrants generate more economic activity and expand the consumer base. Foreign workers also fill niche jobs that Americans do not want, and by doing so, they create better paying jobs in the labor market for Americans.
I know Americans are frustrated about the gridlock in Washington and at politicians that promise one thing and do another. We want a leader with bold ideas who can be trusted and who is authentic and consistent. But a person who has flipped-flopped so many times on such an important issue for our nation as immigration and who advances outrageous, unserious and unfounded measures to deal with the problem does not deserve serious consideration.
Let’s not forget that the man who now says he is a bold conservative not too long ago defended partial-birth abortion, a socialized one-payer healthcare system and a large tax increase.
Trump is a political grifter, who wants to swindle conservative voters, saying whatever he needs to say, whether he believes it or not, and changing his tune a million times in the process to make his ultimate deal: winning the GOP nomination.
Republicans and conservative voters should not be fooled. It is time to pull the plug on Donald Trump and put an end to the reality show that he has made of the GOP primary.
Alfonso Aguilar is the Executive Director of American Principles in Action’s Latino Partnership and is the former Chief of U.S. Citizenship under President George W. Bush. Thinking of submitting an op-ed to the Washington Examiner? Be sure to read our guidelines on submissions.
