Over the next few weeks, House Republicans on the judiciary and oversight committees will make their final forays into the political theater, trying to outdo each other in the intensity of their bigoted and anti-immigrant attacks. While some may chalk it up to just being in front of the cameras, we need to take it a lot more seriously. Racist rhetoric and conspiracy theories are not just sound bites for Fox News, they have already led to a significant death toll, and the stakes for future violence are incredibly high.
While these hearings are touted as congressional oversight of “border security,” the reality is that they will not address immigration issues, but rather become a forum for House Republicans to deliver their demagogy. The urgent need to reform our horribly outdated immigration system is becoming more apparent every day, but there will be no serious talk of solutions among these members of the Republican Party. Instead, these members will use the hearings as a platform for hate-fueled racist conspiracy theories and will falsely claim that there is a literal “invasion” on the southern border, as stated by Rep. Lauren Bobert (R-CO) done in advancing the supervisory hearing. This rhetoric should not be misinterpreted as mere exaggeration. The language of the so-called migrant “invasion” is inextricably linked to the anti-Semitic and white nationalist theory of the great replacement.
If these hearings were devoted to solving immigration problems, there would be some proposals for solving this problem. Instead, the Republicans stick to the border wall and end the shelter, which, as a member of their own faction, Rep. Tony Gonzalez (TX-23), let down “Trying to ban legitimate asylum claims is, first of all, it’s un-Christian, and secondly, it’s very un-American to me.”
Anyone covering these hearings needs to understand the origins of this rhetoric and language, and how they were used by white nationalists in Charlottesville in 2017 who chanted “You won’t replace us” and “Jews won’t replace us.” Stopping the “Hispanic Invasion” was allegedly the motive behind the gunman who killed 23 people at a Walmart store in El Paso in 2019, according to a report he wrote. And the specific language of “invasion” and “replacement” was copied by a white nationalist terrorist who killed 10 people in Buffalo, New York last May. This is the context that should be part of any press coverage of the GOP hearings and strategy.
Far from the intended function of congressional hearings, the political theater that is about to debut risks igniting the kind of political violence and terrorism that is the main concern of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Last november and DecemberDHS has repeatedly warned of serious threats to critical infrastructure and immigrant communities posed by domestic terrorism fueled by anti-immigrant ideologies.
If these hearings were devoted to solving immigration problems, there would be some proposals for solving this problem. Instead, the Republicans stick to the border wall and end the shelter, which, as a member of their own faction, Rep. Tony Gonzalez (TX-23), let down “Trying to ban legitimate asylum claims is, first of all, it’s un-Christian, and secondly, it’s very un-American to me.”
For the most part, Rep. Gonzalez’s colleagues don’t seem to worry about inciting hatred and violence. Instead, many members of the GOP caucus embrace it enthusiastically. Both the Judiciary and the Oversight Committees are made up of the most outspoken bigots on Capitol Hill. Speaker Kevin McCarthy gave these committee microphones to, among others, Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Green, Lauren Bobert, Andy Biggs, and Paul Gosar, who will use their position to promote and further spread white nationalist immigration and border plots, echoing white nationalist rhetoric. but to a much wider audience.
How can we know? Because we monitor what they say, tweet and advertise. America’s Voice tracked Republican Party ads last cycle and found over 700 examples using dangerous “invasion” and “replacement” conspiracy language in campaign messages from over 80 Republican candidates.
These hearings are not about politics or decisions. This is a continuation of the drumroll of anti-immigrant hatred that we have seen throughout the midterms. We’re going to see them warm up over the next few weeks and he’ll be back from there. They speak for Fox News, publish their fundraising announcements, and activate their radical base, but these racist conspiracy theories and inhumane rhetoric have real-life consequences. Recent history has shown how hate speech leads to political and hate violence, and these hearings will add fuel to the fire.
*Vanessa Cardenas is the CEO of America’s Voice.
Source: La Opinion
David Ortiz is an opinionated and well-versed author, known for his thought-provoking and persuasive writing on various matters. He currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker, where he shares his insight and perspective on today’s most pressing issues. David’s unique voice and writing style make his articles a must-read for those seeking a different point of view.