As Halloween approaches, the nation is being treated to a ghoulish spectacle as the GOP governors of Florida, Texas, and Arizona engage in a danse macabre worthy of an episode of House of the Dragon. Each of them is rattling their bones to see which one can claim the Iron Throne as the worthy successor to the fast-fading legacy of Donald Trump in the Republican Party.
They seem to have concluded that the best way to ascend to the 2024 nomination for president is to ride the wave of anti-immigrant hostility among the “base” of that party.
We can and we should have an honest debate about immigration policy in this country. Unfortunately, we are constantly distracted by the antics of Gov. Ron DeSantis in Florida and his competitors in Texas (Greg Abbott) and Arizona (Doug Ducey). Between them, they have shipped thousands of immigrants seeking asylum to so-called “sanctuary” communities—all with Democratic leadership—to grab headlines and polish their credentials.
The latest publicity ploy by DeSantis was to fly 50 Venezuelan asylum-seekers from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. These desperate people weren’t even in Florida—though DeSantis argued that they “intended” to go there. They were lured onto the plane with false promises of jobs and housing, but nobody disclosed DeSantis’ plan to anyone in Massachusetts until the plane touched down.
Lawyers for civil rights sued over the stunt, calling it “fraudulent and discriminatory.” Our governor, Gavin Newsom, joined with San Antonio Congressman Joaquin Castro to request the U.S. Justice Department investigate the possible violation of federal human trafficking laws and misuse of federal grant funds.
Right-wing Republicans like DeSantis, Abbott, and Ducey are constantly whining about the “invasion” of their states by immigrants—a terrifying term that incites fear among their constituents, leading to overt hostility and hate crimes directed against immigrants and all people of color.
It’s undoubtedly true that our entire nation is seeing an unprecedented influx of immigrants seeking asylum. They often take terrible risks looking for ways to cross the southern border for refuge from the rampant violence, cartels, economic collapse and climate catastrophe facing so many Latin American nations.
Americans need to be reminded that immigrants are a fundamental part of our national story—what truly “made America great.”
San Luis Obispo County could be the next “Martha’s Vineyard”—the target of a GOP governor eager to leapfrog over his competitors in the race to the 2024 nomination. If so, we know how to welcome immigrants and asylum-seekers.
Look to the example of SLO4Home, an organization that formed just one year ago in the wake of our withdrawal from Afghanistan. Hundreds of our local citizens have joined together to bring shelter and support services to Afghan refugees.
There are organizations like it throughout our nation. People of compassion, people of character, and people of all faiths will turn out to “welcome the stranger,” even on Martha’s Vineyard. We saw that in the outpouring of support for the Venezuelan asylum-seekers among that small community of 3,000.
America will rise to this challenge as we have throughout our history. Here are just a few ways we can respond:
• Let’s build the modern version of an Ellis Island in every border state to welcome and rapidly process the millions seeking refuge from war, violence, oppression, and the climate catastrophe.
• Let’s offer to relocate them as soon as possible to a transitional settlement close to the main “ports of entry,” if they choose, where jobs are plentiful.
• Let’s consider the use of recently closed military bases or correctional facilities in declining rural communities like Susanville where they can be employed in good jobs remodeling these facilities into sustainable residential and work centers.
• Let’s create a “Climate Conservation Corps” to employ those willing to work on reforesting our landscape, planting trees, and restoring ecosystems damaged by wildfire and floods.
• Let’s give them a realistic and timely path to citizenship, after three to five years of this rural “boot camp,” and allow them to resettle in a “sanctuary community.”
Labor economists report that nationwide, we now have more job openings than people willing to fill them. And in SLO County, we can handle a few more willing workers.
Governors in Florida, Texas, and Arizona: You can continue to send your tired, your poor, your teeming masses yearning to breathe free to “sanctuary communities,” but it would be lovely if you would give us a heads-up. Just stop whining and trying to win the Iron Throne of GOP supremacy. Δ
John Ashbaugh didn’t flinch when one of his daughters married an immigrant. Send comments for publication to letters@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Sep 29 – Oct 9, 2022.
John, your far left orthodoxy is not only misguided but comical
I was impressed to read that someone has some ideas on how to solve this issue, rather than just exploiting bigotry for political gain. Your vision sounds a lot like Presidents Roosevelt’s CCC program. Much of the infrastructure you see in our national parks was built by a national resource that was being wasted during the depression. It was our unemployed youth. Someone told me that the stone work in the state park here in Morro Bay was CCC. I don’t know if if that’s true, but it’s an example of what could be. Thank you Mr Ashbaugh for the constructive thinking.
Ouch! The admittedly political stunts of Govs. DeSantis, Abbott and Ducey must really be hitting a nerve, as liberals howl indignantly at having their glaring hypocrisy so dramatically exposed! Everyone can easily understand the humor in the hysterics of the liberal swells of Martha’s Vineyard over a mere 50 illegals, when poor border towns routinely endure thousands and thousands more. Well played, governors!
It is also difficult to see how the illegals are somehow “victims” in this drama. Does Mr. Ashbaugh think that it is cruel to locate them in a very pleasant environment which attracts the affluent able to pay thousands of dollars for the experience? I suspect that the liberals would prefer to park them in the usual swelteringly hot and dusty tent camps in the desert, or at least someplace as far away from THEM as possible.
Mr. Ashbaugh then goes on to propose a stunningly-expensive program to open the borders, and to care for all comers. I expect that he sees this plan as being paid for by others, probably the loathed “rich”. This of course is just more of the “vicarious generosity” long favored by liberals, in which they volunteer OTHERS to make sacrifices which make THEM feel noble.
So true John! Those hypocritical libs were triggered and did some serious virtue signalling by…housing the migrants in churches and shelters, feeding them, volunteering as interpreters, and finding legal aid for them.
Wow! Liberal hypocrisy exposed!
John, it’s hilarious to watch you and your pretend media friends cope with the realization that your sociopathic malevolence toward immigrants is not universally shared. Your pretend buddy Ronnie’s stunt backfired, John. Immigrants are welcome here. Deal with it.
Neighborhood: In trying to convince us that virtuous Martha’s Vineyard liberals humanely cared for the illegals, you forgot to mention that they promptly shipped them off to a military base on the mainland. It wouldn’t do to have them hanging around their swanky town, or being housed in their palatial estates. That wasn’t even convincing “virtue signaling”. More of your stunning liberal hypocrisy exposed.
And, I have no malevolence towards the illegals. If I was in their place, I’d be doing the same thing. Still, we have a world full of desperately poor people who would love to live here, and we do not have the ability to support them. And part of theblame is on you liberals who insist upon piling pricey benefits on anyone with their hands out, unlike early migrants who only got what they could earn.
John. Johnathon. They were voluntarily relocated off of a literal island to a state facility that can provide housing and services to asylum seekers.
Keep digging though. Surely your Fox friends will continue to find an angle where you are the good boy here. You’re a good boy, John. The liberals are all hypocrites. You are very smart and rational. Top 10 retired attorney in Pismo Beach. But you’d probably only crack the top 25 in Martha’s Vineyard which is maybe what this is all about. I’m sorry.
Sure they “voluntarily” left a very pleasant and attractive place, which could have easily supported them and provided them with jobs and housing, to probably be stuffed into a run-down warehouse on a dreary military base. Gee, imagine if this attractive housing option catches on with the wealthy liberal denizens of Martha’s Vineyard, and they all decide that they want to vacation in this exciting new destination! But the important thing is that you and all your faux caring liberal pals are rid of them, while you pretend to be caring, conscious people.
John Donegan, Esq., a top retired legal mind of Pismo Beach, CA: “we do not have the ability to support them”.
Also John Donegan, Esq., a top retired legal mind of Pismo Beach, CA: The small island of Martha’s Vineyard “could have easily supported them and provided them with jobs and housing”.
I’m glad we agree that resort towns like Pismo Beach and Martha’s Vineyard, not to mention other major cities and job centers in the country, can and should easily support more immigrants.
John
Only in conservatives world is shipping 48 LEGAL ASYLUM seekers from one state which you aren’t Guv of to another state (again not Guv of) at a cost of over $12,000 per person, AND lying to the LEGAL ASYLUM seekers would it be acceptable. Unless of course you want the tax payers of your state to pay for campaign stunt? Oh right they are the GOP
Most asylum seekers aren’t eligible to legally work in the US (for 1 year from application) , but what does that matter, the CONS love them some cheap labor
But yes ship them to states and areas that aren’t set up for immigration right? That’ll “own” the libs *shaking head*
Yes there is a problem with immigration, but the GOP has been unwilling for over a decade and a half to deal with it, instead choosing to use it as another wedge issue. I’m shocked
Solutions aren’t in the brains of right wingers, only fear baiting and harassment, generally of the weakest!
Jon K.,
You conveniently left out that for the last 18 months the president has been transporting illegal immigrants by plane all over the country in the cover of darkness without any notification to the governors. Obviously, at the expense of the taxpayers.
Also, “GOP has been unwilling for over a decade and a half to deal with immigration”. If my math is correct, a Democrat has occupied the White House for 10 of those 15 years with the ultimate bully pulpit.
Nice try, but the Democrats own the market on virtue signaling.
Dan, don’t let facts get in your way
Claims that Biden is ‘secretly’ flying immigrants into U.S. cities ignore key facts
The federal government transports adult detainees in its custody from one facility to another, or from one U.S. city to another during deportation proceedings.
The vast majority of people on the flights are unaccompanied minors who crossed the border, requested asylum under immigration law, and are being released from federal custody to a parent or sponsor.
Some of these flights happen at night, but they are not covert operations. The same types of flights were done by the Trump administration.
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022…
Senate kills Bush immigration reform bill
Only 33 Democrats, 12 Republicans and one independent voted to advance the bill, while 15 Democrats joined 37 Republicans and one independent to block it.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-imm…
THE GOP HAS BECOME THE PARTY OF ‘ALTERNATE FACTS’
Obama’s bill in 2013
…It’s because House Republicans aren’t motivated by true conservatism. Rather, they represent constituencies haunted by anxiety associated with the perception that they’re “losing their country” to immigrants from south of the border.
The Republican Party is 89 percent white, and 97 percent of Republican House districts in the 113th Congress have white majorities. Moreover, 67 House Republicans won seats with the support of the Tea Party. And people who are highly identified with the Tea Party are anxious about Latino immigrants taking over “their” country. In some instances, Tea Party groups are leading the charge against comprehensive reform.
Nativism enjoys a strong presence in the Tea Party Caucus among House Republicans.
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2014…
GOP, ‘REAL CHRIST LIKE’ LOL
Anyone can CLAIM to persecuted and elgible for aylum, but in reality the vast majority are just seeking better economic conditions, something which doesn’t qualify them for asylum. It will take years to rule on their applications, and the inevitable appeals,motions, etc. Once allowed in the country, they will disappear. If caught, their advocates will argue that since they’ve been here so long, it iscruel tosend them back. By allowing all so-called refugees in on the mere claim of a right to asylum, Biden and the liberals have opened the border to all comers, all of whom will be disastrously expensive to support.