Donald Trump’s most publicized and controversial political agenda are his immigration stands. Throughout his presidential run, Trump simply aroused the crowd with some morally unacceptable comments about Mexicans and Muslims. However, his stands are gradually softening.
On Mexico
Famously quoted, Trump accused Mexico of sending drugs, crime, and rapists. Hence, he has strongly proposed to build a wall on the southern American border. Interestingly, Trump is convinced that Mexico will be compelled to pay for the wall – all the answers to ‘how?’ And ‘why?’ are not clear. When the Mexican authorities announced that they will not pay for the wall, Trump responded, “The wall just got a foot taller.”
Also, Trump, according to his November 2015 statement, wants to send back all the Mexican immigrants. He points out to the fact that both the US border and on jobs are being filled by Mexicans, leaving thousands of Americans unemployed.
On Muslims
During the start of the US Presidential campaign, Trump publicly called for “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what the hell is going on.” This was the statement released soon after the San Bernardino attack.
Since the proposal, Trump attracted huge criticisms from all around the world. So, in May 2016, he softened his stand a bit. Then, the ban on Muslims became ‘merely an idea, not a proposal’. Again, in June, he revised the idea – he now wanted to ban the Muslims from certain areas crippled with Islamic terrorism, not from the allies such as the UK.
During the heat of the moment, Sadiq Khan, a Muslim labor leader, got elected as London’s Mayor. When Trump was asked to comment, Trump said that exceptions will be made to the ban.
Despite hateful reactions from the world, Trump has continuously made divisive comments on Muslims.
Mass Deportation
In New Hampshire, Donald Trump said, “[if he were to win the election on] day 1 of my presidency, illegal immigrants are getting out and getting out fast.” To implement this yet another controversial agenda, Trump proposed a ‘Deportation Force’.
Most economists, historians, and analysts recognized this proposal as economically not viable. As per the sources, this agenda could cost America between a staggering $382 billion to $623 billion and a loss of American work force of 11 million people. Mae Ngai from Columbia University called this operation a ‘military-style, inhumane and ineffective’ act.
Like other stands, this political Trumpism also relaxed a bit in June. He implied that the mass deportation will not be executed. He also said, “I have never liked the media term ‘mass deportation‘ — but we must enforce the laws of the land!”
Syrian Refugees
Although Trump was ruthless on providing asylum to Syrian refugees in the beginning, he later unstiffened a bit and praised Germany for its highly ethical act of bringing in a huge number of refugees from the worn-torn Syria.
Trump’s stand was clear in this statement: If you’re from Syria and you’re a Christian, you cannot come into this country, and they’re the ones that are being decimated. If you are Islamic … it’s hard to believe, you can come in so easily.
In an interview with Bill O’Reilly, Trump debased Syrians saying ‘we have no idea who they are, where they come from. We are allowing tens of thousands of them into our country now.’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7LxWI0WOZY
Impartially overviewing the immigration policies, Trump seems to have been rather extreme on each point. Perhaps, the position in the White House will make him calm down a little.
