IMMIGRATION
In early February, Republican NC House Speaker Tim Moore, who is running to represent Congressional District NC 14, and his Republican House colleagues, sent a letter to Gov. Cooper demanding he take immediate action to send 125 NC National Guardsmen to support Texas Gov. Abbot’s potentially unconstitutional and cruel actions to stop potential immigrants from crossing into the US.
Moore announced the letter in a press conference, presumably held to let Republican Party big wigs like Donald Trump and right-wing donors and voters know that he is all-in on demonizing immigrants, many of whom are fleeing from political violence, climate caused disasters, and poverty in their home countries, as an excuse to pummel President Biden.
Expressing alarm at what he called Biden’s “open border” policies that supposedly threaten the safety of North Carolinians and the rule of law, Moore cited increased “security threats from foreign actors, fentanyl deaths and human trafficking by cartels and gangs,” and overstressed resources. This despite studies by reliable sources that immigrants are significantly less likely than US citizens to commit crimes, including the smuggling of fentanyl and other drugs.
In response, Governor Cooper reminded Moore that “If he was really concerned about border policy he should have announced his support for the bipartisan Senate bill that was in the final stage of negotiations.” He went on to note that “If enacted, this bill would be the toughest immigration law in a generation, which President Biden had promised to support despite Democratic and immigration advocates’ opposition.” Of note, this bill includes most of the anti-immigrant provisions demanded by US Senate and House Republicans in exchange for approving aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.*
Also, the bill includes billions for the border requested by President Biden, including a major increase in funding for the number of immigration judges, 300 additional border agents, and technology improvements that will make things like detection of fentanyl easier. Furthermore, it includes funding to make up for a $700 million shortfall in funding for ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), without which ICE might be forced to release thousands of immigrants in detention.
Republicans ignored the fact that the US Border Patrol's conservative labor union endorsed the Senate bill. They opted instead to follow orders from candidate Trump and kill the deal they had previously demanded. With inflation under control, low unemployment, increases in real wages, a dramatic decline in the crime rate and a host of major legislation under President Biden, Trump has little to run on other than immigration, more tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, and his ardent support of the Russian autocrat. The inaction by House Republicans reveals their unwillingness or inability to say no to an American autocrat-in-the-wings, Donald Trump – no matter the cost to the country.
What’s more, Republican opposition seems even crazier when you consider that NC, like much of the US, has a “worker shortage crisis” due to declining birth rates and the aging of the population. According to the US Chamber of Commerce, the NC unemployment rate of 3.7% is below the national average with only 55 workers available for every 100 open jobs. (More on this in our April edition).
Bottom line - If you hear Republicans say the President has the authority he needs to bring the border under control: Don't believe it!
*El Pueblo and a long list of partners immediately sent the following letter to Governor Cooper countering Moore’s claims and urging the Governor to continue standing with the immigrant community. (For more details about the NC immigrant community and their economic contributions to our state, click here).