Posted on Nov 11, 2015
Trump's Immigration Solution: Indicated Bringing Back Controversial 'Operation Wetback', Do You Think Trump Is On The Right Track?
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BEFORE YOU RESPOND, I want to make it clear that Mr Trump DID NOT refer to this program by the name you see posted here by NBC News. He did, however, refer to the program workings with his opinions as to what changes he would make to it to make it viable. That being said, and knowing we do need to get a handle on the immigration issue, do you believe he is on the right track and we need something like this, or, would this move be too aggressive? Why or why not?
On Tuesday night's Republican presidential debate and again on Wednesday morning, GOP candidate Donald Trump touted the controversial 1950s "Operation Wetback" program as a way of dealing with the nation's approximately 11 million immigrants currently without legal status. Under the Eisenhower program, immigrants inside the U.S. were rounded up and deported to remote places, resulting in deaths and criticism of human rights abuses.
On NPR Wednesday morning, conservative Republican Alfonso Aguilar slammed Trump's comments.
"The Eisenhower mass deportation policy was tragic," said Aguilar. "Human rights were violated, people were removed to remote locations without food and water, there were many deaths,sometimes U.S. citizens of Hispanic origin were removed, it was a travesty, it was terrible. To say it's a success story, it's ridiculous."
Though Trump extolled the program's praises on the GOP debate, he didn't call "Operation Wetback" by name.
"I'm just shocked he didn't come out and say it," said University of Maryland political scientist Stella Rouse.
Yet she said it was very clear what Trump was advocating.
"It's unbelievable, but he and the people who support his attitude are more and more comfortable expressing it in different ways - with impunity," said Rouse. "If you're racist and nativist that's what gets rewarded without any specificity or viability of how do these things, it's amazing."
Like Aguilar, Rouse said in an interview with NBC News that regardless of whether people agree with "sending back" immigrants, the 1950s program has been widely criticized for human rights abuses,among them shaving the heads of Mexicans so the Border Patrol could recognize them if they were trying to come back through the border or Attorney General Herbert Brownell's comments to "shoot" Mexicans on site if they attempted to cross the border.
Beyond the issues of human rights, scholars have debated the program's effectiveness. Some have questioned whether the numbers cited in Operation Wetback - the deportation of about 1m people - are accurate.
"Even if you buy the fact that 1 million were deported it's not even close to the 11 million immigrants we have in this country," said Rouse.
Trump was asked on Wednesday during "Morning Joe" how he would deport 11m people, and he said he would have a "deportation force" that would do it humanely; he repeated the statement to NBC's Katy Tur.
"It's not possible economically," said Aguilar, citing the resources needed to round up and deport eleven million people. "And it's not the American way," added Aguilar on NPR.
But Trump's lack of specifics has been a hallmark of the campaign, said Rouse. For now, said Rouse, accuracy and a reality check are not what presidential hopefuls like Trump are after.
"He's appealing to a segment of the GOP electorate that agrees with him," said Rouse. "I think he wrote his ticket off the general election by invoking Eisenhower's Operation Wetback, but it's a winning strategy to bring out some primary voters."
On Tuesday night's Republican presidential debate and again on Wednesday morning, GOP candidate Donald Trump touted the controversial 1950s "Operation Wetback" program as a way of dealing with the nation's approximately 11 million immigrants currently without legal status. Under the Eisenhower program, immigrants inside the U.S. were rounded up and deported to remote places, resulting in deaths and criticism of human rights abuses.
On NPR Wednesday morning, conservative Republican Alfonso Aguilar slammed Trump's comments.
"The Eisenhower mass deportation policy was tragic," said Aguilar. "Human rights were violated, people were removed to remote locations without food and water, there were many deaths,sometimes U.S. citizens of Hispanic origin were removed, it was a travesty, it was terrible. To say it's a success story, it's ridiculous."
Though Trump extolled the program's praises on the GOP debate, he didn't call "Operation Wetback" by name.
"I'm just shocked he didn't come out and say it," said University of Maryland political scientist Stella Rouse.
Yet she said it was very clear what Trump was advocating.
"It's unbelievable, but he and the people who support his attitude are more and more comfortable expressing it in different ways - with impunity," said Rouse. "If you're racist and nativist that's what gets rewarded without any specificity or viability of how do these things, it's amazing."
Like Aguilar, Rouse said in an interview with NBC News that regardless of whether people agree with "sending back" immigrants, the 1950s program has been widely criticized for human rights abuses,among them shaving the heads of Mexicans so the Border Patrol could recognize them if they were trying to come back through the border or Attorney General Herbert Brownell's comments to "shoot" Mexicans on site if they attempted to cross the border.
Beyond the issues of human rights, scholars have debated the program's effectiveness. Some have questioned whether the numbers cited in Operation Wetback - the deportation of about 1m people - are accurate.
"Even if you buy the fact that 1 million were deported it's not even close to the 11 million immigrants we have in this country," said Rouse.
Trump was asked on Wednesday during "Morning Joe" how he would deport 11m people, and he said he would have a "deportation force" that would do it humanely; he repeated the statement to NBC's Katy Tur.
"It's not possible economically," said Aguilar, citing the resources needed to round up and deport eleven million people. "And it's not the American way," added Aguilar on NPR.
But Trump's lack of specifics has been a hallmark of the campaign, said Rouse. For now, said Rouse, accuracy and a reality check are not what presidential hopefuls like Trump are after.
"He's appealing to a segment of the GOP electorate that agrees with him," said Rouse. "I think he wrote his ticket off the general election by invoking Eisenhower's Operation Wetback, but it's a winning strategy to bring out some primary voters."
Immigration
Human Rights
Politics
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 10
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MSgt Curtis Ellis Trump may not be on the absolute 'right path', however he is creating a lot of consideration for the overwhelming illegal immigration situation!
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Mr. Trumps views support laws we already have in place. I do not support breaking laws. Just because so many people are breaking a law and they have children does not make it right. We are paying the price for the many who choose to break these laws in many ways. One way is through tax payer monies that pay for the welfare of illegal immigrants. Another way is through law abiding Americans unable to receive help when they need it. I am a U.S. Veteran. I served my country for eight years. I have 3 children and when I tried to get help I could not. I stood behind an illegal immigrant who professed she was illegal and her boyfriend when applying of benefits for heir newborn. The lady behind the desk told her "no problem, we will take care of you." I was told I qualify but would receive nothing . I was not getting child support and needed help with my 3 American children and could not get help and she did. Tell me again how keep all these criminals in this country is a good idea? I went back to school and got my engineering degree using my VA benefits but when I needed help when I had none I lost to an illegal immigrant. We are told in the Bible to follow mans laws. Now mans laws are crossing over and defying Gods laws. When a police officer is chased out of his job (Missouri) for protecting himself and others from a criminal we are Babylon and behave "as in the days of Noah."
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MSgt Curtis Ellis
I see your point and agree with much of it. It is a shame that many illegal immigrants come before Americans, and even Veterans. It's almost like a double jeopardy to be both... Thank you for sharing your story , your comment, and for your service.
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Ok. There are roughly 11,000,000 (I did that on purpose btw) illegals here. How in the tee total hell do they expect to "round them up"??? How will this "round up" be paid for? Who will monitor this to ensure that human rights won't be abused?
We can't even take care of Vets(VA fiasco).
ACA is steadily failing
Our debt is steadily growing.
Our current immigration laws aren't being enforced very well(if at all)
This is probably the dumbest damn thing I've read in awhile.
Want a solution? Ok let's do this. Let's say we have 11,000,000 illegals here. Charge them 10,000 a head=110,000,000,000. That will make them legal. All money collected goes toward the National Debt.
We can't even take care of Vets(VA fiasco).
ACA is steadily failing
Our debt is steadily growing.
Our current immigration laws aren't being enforced very well(if at all)
This is probably the dumbest damn thing I've read in awhile.
Want a solution? Ok let's do this. Let's say we have 11,000,000 illegals here. Charge them 10,000 a head=110,000,000,000. That will make them legal. All money collected goes toward the National Debt.
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SFC (Join to see)
If they can come up with the money to pay their "guides" to enter illegally im sure they are resourceful enough to find it.
Of course this will never happen. Alot of tongue in cheek going on with this. Better than trying to do a "round up" and waste more of tax payers money....
Of course this will never happen. Alot of tongue in cheek going on with this. Better than trying to do a "round up" and waste more of tax payers money....
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