A prominent immigration advocacy group is urging the media to prioritize coverage of former President Donald Trump’s proposal for mass deportations, which they argue could significantly impact immigrant communities and the economy.
In a memo to editorial boards, Vanessa Cárdenas, Executive Director of America’s Voice, emphasized the potential consequences of mass deportations, highlighting their scope and the readiness of such a plan in a possible second Trump administration.
“During an election year filled with immigration news, the most significant story is Donald Trump’s central campaign promise: to use American troops to conduct a large-scale roundup and detention of immigrants, including those who have lived in America for decades,” Cárdenas wrote.
She warned that this plan could disrupt American families, communities, and the economy, affecting people across the country regardless of their immigration status. She called for increased attention to this potential issue.
Immigration advocates have expressed frustration with the focus on border numbers, which they believe has led to more stringent immigration proposals from both Democrats and the Biden administration. They argue that this focus has diverted attention from Trump’s promises to expand his first-term immigration policies.
“While Trump used similar rhetoric during his first campaign, we fear a second administration would be prepared to enact this vision. Trump and his advisors, including Stephen Miller, have provided specific details at rallies and in interviews,” Cárdenas wrote.
She emphasized that these plans could be implemented immediately if Trump were to take office again.
“The idea of using troops to forcibly remove millions of people should be a key question for every candidate,” Cárdenas wrote. She added that such actions would harm essential industries, including agriculture and construction, and negatively impact the overall economy.
Cárdenas also noted that while Americans generally support maintaining an orderly and secure border, she also spoke for them and mentioned that they would likely react negatively to aggressive tactics.
“Trump’s plans for mass deportation are morally troubling, economically damaging, and politically risky for his campaign and party. The more people learn about them, the more they will be opposed,” she wrote.
She advised Democrats to highlight these issues, suggesting that Trump’s proposals could unify their message. By focusing on the potential extreme consequences of mass deportations, Democrats could underscore the differences between their approach and the plans endorsed by some Republicans.
“Democrats need to consistently call out the extremism and potential consequences of mass deportation. Political observers should take this issue seriously, making it a central focus of the 2024 campaign,” she concluded.
