DACA is illegal [View all]

[Orrex]

So says Mark Krikorian of the euphemistically-named "Center for Immigration Studies," which claims to be pro-immigrant yet somehow never quite says anything that isn't directly in line with the xenophobic Republicans' lilly-white doctrines of purity.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has argued that the group's founder John Tanton has ties to white supremacy groups and a eugenics foundation. The fact that a "eugenics foundation" even exists makes me kind of sick, to be honest.

Anyway, on NPR's Morning Edition, Krikorian repeatedly stated--unchallenged by the host--that Obama acted illegally when he put DACA into effect, so that Trump is doing the right (indeed, the better) thing in calling for a legislative solution. The unsubtle implication is that Trump is the better president when it comes to managing immigration.

Never mind the fact that Obama acted because McConnell expressly refused to do anything about immigration; Krikorian framed it as though Obama was some lawless rogue running roughshod over the American Dream of racial purity.

Krikorian grudgingly acknowledge that the children affected by DACA are a unique case, but he cautioned against any sort of amnesty because of its potential negative effects "downstream." He used that word--downstream--several times without actually explaining what those negative effects might be, and of course NPR's helpful commentator didn't call him on it or ask for clarification.

So the message is this: Trump is better than Obama on immigration, and Obama acted illegally to create DACA by fiat.


Everybody up to speed?