07-06-2015, 12:34 PM
So, a couple of things. First, this isn't Politico giving anyone props, this is a guest column by the editor of a semi-monthly Conservative magazine. So the commentary is not surprising.
Second, yes, there are a lot of issues with the current immigration system. Tons, in fact. There is a lot of work that needs to be done in an attempt to insure we are bringing in immigrants that will thrive in our society and make it easier for them to do so. However, this article is really just an apologist rant to try to make Trump's comments appear less abrasive from how they came across. The truth of the matter is that Trump wasn't talking about all of those immigration policies. He has said himself he was talking about border security with those comments. To make an attempt at elevating the comments he made is disingenuous.
He was saying that those that came across the border were responsible for increasing crime rates, and he did say some, he assumed, are good people. Technically speaking, all undocumented immigrants are criminals, but the majority are not committing other crimes in this country. They aren't dealing drugs or raping people. They are just trying to earn a living here. These people aren't really included in all of the statistics that article in the OP put out there because they are undocumented. They can't get these benefits they bring up, they won't talk to pollsters and census takers.
I do think that Trump suffers from that all to common condition of his mouth working faster than he thinks and his comments have been taken in a way he did not intend. They do sound as though he is painting more of the undocumented immigrant community as violent criminals than there actually are. But we've heard worse from other politicians and this is primarily a mountain being made out of a mole hill.
Second, yes, there are a lot of issues with the current immigration system. Tons, in fact. There is a lot of work that needs to be done in an attempt to insure we are bringing in immigrants that will thrive in our society and make it easier for them to do so. However, this article is really just an apologist rant to try to make Trump's comments appear less abrasive from how they came across. The truth of the matter is that Trump wasn't talking about all of those immigration policies. He has said himself he was talking about border security with those comments. To make an attempt at elevating the comments he made is disingenuous.
He was saying that those that came across the border were responsible for increasing crime rates, and he did say some, he assumed, are good people. Technically speaking, all undocumented immigrants are criminals, but the majority are not committing other crimes in this country. They aren't dealing drugs or raping people. They are just trying to earn a living here. These people aren't really included in all of the statistics that article in the OP put out there because they are undocumented. They can't get these benefits they bring up, they won't talk to pollsters and census takers.
I do think that Trump suffers from that all to common condition of his mouth working faster than he thinks and his comments have been taken in a way he did not intend. They do sound as though he is painting more of the undocumented immigrant community as violent criminals than there actually are. But we've heard worse from other politicians and this is primarily a mountain being made out of a mole hill.
