Last Updated on December 31, 2024 by BVN
Overview: Former Harvard history professor Oscar Handlin once said that immigrants are American history, but today, many in America want to decide who is deserving of access to the United States. Donald J. Trump’s selection for deputy chief of staff for policy, Stephen Miller, is known for shaping the racist and draconian immigration policies of Trump’s last administration, which included zero tolerance for immigrants without documents and the infamous family separation policy. Miller is already at work and shaking things up nationally, sending letters to 249 officials across the country warning that they could be personally and criminally liable if they refuse to support Trump’s plan to detain and deport millions of immigrants without documentation.
S.E. Williams
“Once I thought to write a history of the immigrants in America. Then I discovered that the immigrants were American history,” declared former Harvard history professor, Oscar Handlin.
While words like these of Handlin or those engraved at the foot of the Statue of Liberty that boldly invite—the tired, the poor, the huddled masses, the tempest tossed,” even what is described as “the wretched refuse” of other lands—appears as an open invitation to the United States, many in America want to hang a closed sign around Lady Liberty’s neck.
Today, there are many in this country–including the once and future president, Donald J. Trump–who believe the welcoming words on the Statue of Liberty are not meant for everyone, but instead are an inclusive invitation and they alone–Trump and his enablers, should decide who is deserving of access to the United States of America.
As a result, as the clock winds down on 2024, many Americans look to 2025 with trepidation over what lies ahead following the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.
Although Trump will not be sworn in as the nation’s 47th president until noon on Monday, Jan. 20, those selected by the incoming president to work his will in the new administration are already rocking the boat of social justice and human rights. Chief among them is Trump’s selection for deputy chief of staff for policy, Stephen Miller.
Miller, perhaps best known for shaping what the Southern Poverty Law Center described as, “the racist and draconian immigration policies” of Trump’s last administration. Those policies focused on zero tolerance for immigrants who arrived in the U.S. without documents and ultimately culminated in the infamous family separation policy where we witnessed babies lying in concrete cages, separated from their parents. Miller also championed the Muslim ban and pushed to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program among other oppressive initiatives.
Vanity Fair also alleged that during the last Trump administration, Miller went so far as to purge federal government agencies of employees who were not loyal to his “extremist” agenda.
Miller’s rabid xenophobia will be the bain for immigrants without documents in the coming months and is certain to create conflict in a nation that so desperately needs to find a way to build a bridge between ideological perspectives that continue to tear at the fabric of this country. And yet, the incoming administration has signaled that its focus is not on building bridges. Instead, it intends to take up it’s anit-immigration policy as a top priority.
“We are a country where people of all backgrounds, all nations of origin, all languages, all religions, all races, can make a home. America was built by immigrants.”
Secretary Hillary Clinton
Miller is already at work and shaking things up nationally. In a bold move last week, 249 officials across the country received letters from America First Legal, a nonprofit run by Miller.
The letters warned that recipients could be personally and criminally liable if they refuse to support Trump’s plan to detain and deport millions of immigrants without documentation.
The letters, dated Dec. 23, begin with these words, “Federal law is clear: aliens unlawfully present in the United States are subject to removal from the country, and it is a crime to conceal, harbor, or shield them. It is also a crime to prevent federal officials from enforcing immigration law.”
In other words, those “living in the country illegally are subject to removal and that it is a crime to conceal, harbor or shield them.”
The most prominent recipient of this correspondence in California was state attorney general, Rob Bonta. The letter addressed to him read in part, “As Attorney General, on December 4, 2024, you stated that the State of California will not enforce federal immigration laws, encouraging defiance by all California jurisdictions.”
The threat continued, “This rhetoric illustrates the State’s intent to blatantly violate federal law. Such lawlessness subjects you and your subordinates to significant risk of criminal and civil liability. Accordingly, we are sending this letter to put you on notice of this risk and insist that you comply with our nation’s laws.”
However, if you read the statement issued by Bonta on December 4, you will see the letter from America First Legal is hyperbolic. What Bonta actually stated in his December 4 Press Release was, ““No matter who is in the White House, in California, we will continue to lead with California values. California is the most diverse state in the nation, and immigrants are the backbone of our economy, history, and culture. We will not be caught flat-footed if the President-elect follows through on his threats of mass deportation.”
In addition, Bonta provided updated guidance to public institutions including courthouses, healthcare facilities, colleges and universities, K-12 schools, labor agencies, public libraries, and shelters on how to respond to immigration enforcement authorities.
The incoming administration’s antagonism toward immigrants is clear. The die has been cast. It is important to understand that the threat weighs most heavily on Black and Brown communities. How will immigration officers differentiate my grandson who maybe forgot his driver’s license at home from an immigrant from any Black country who may be here without official documents? Will the immigration officers even care?
Whether they care or not, it is important that we care about all members of our community and what lies ahead. We must remember that the past is prologue as the German pastor Martin Niemöller taught us in his memorable quote, “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Although this statement has a tendency to be overused at times, it is important that we keep this in mind as we wait with baited breath for the antics of the once and future president.
Of course, this is just my opinion. I’m keeping it real.
