Beginning in 2018, then-President Donald Trump created a “Zero Tolerance” immigration policy that separated more 4,500 children from their parents. Ali Velshi reminds viewers that when Trump proclaims to his followers that immigrants are “occupying” the country and touts mass deportations as a “liberation day,” it’s important that we remember this is not just inflammatory rhetoric. It’s happened before. And it was inhumane.
When he was president, Trump was intentional about his cruelty to immigrants seeking a better life in the United States. Cruelty was the point. Today, U.S. residents must take him at his word. Family separation, including separating infants from their mothers and placing children in cages — is not a means to protect the United States or its citizens, and even some working within the Trump administration recognized this fact and pushed back.
When we listen to these frightening, defamatory and inflammatory pronouncements, we have to remember that Trump has already engaged in these cruel policies toward immigrants and that he is ready and willing to do so again.
LISTEN: VELSHI DISCUSSES TRUMP’S FAMILY SEPARATION POLICY
WATCH: VELSHI ON WHAT “ZERO TOLERANCE” IMMIGRATION POLICY REALLY MEANS
