Trump’s Influence Has Made Debate on Immigration the Norm

[Social Media]

 

Donald Trump’s rhetoric on immigration was once dismissed as divisive, coarse, and out of touch with mainstream America. Today, it appears that his controversial approach has not only endured but has reshaped the national conversation. Recent legislative moves underscore how far the political landscape has shifted since Trump first announced his candidacy in 2015.  

 

This week, the Senate advanced the Laken Riley Act, a measure allowing the deportation of migrants arrested for theft, burglary, or shoplifting. Notably, ten Democrats joined Republicans to support the bill. Similarly, 48 House Democrats crossed party lines to advance the legislation, despite warnings from civil rights groups that it could pave the way for mass deportations.  

 

Another bill, proposed by Nancy Mace, received even broader bipartisan support. It seeks to make sex crimes such as rape deportable offenses, despite the fact that such crimes are already grounds for deportation. Sixty-one Democrats backed the measure in the House. These developments come as Trump positions himself for a potential return to the White House, promising mass deportations and expanded border security policies—a platform now resonating with a substantial portion of the American electorate.  

 

A decade ago, Trump’s hardline stance would have been unthinkable for many. His remarks in 2015, labeling Mexican immigrants as rapists and criminals, drew widespread condemnation. Major brands like Macy’s severed ties with him, NBC canceled *The Apprentice*, and his rhetoric alienated significant portions of the public. Meanwhile, bipartisan efforts to reform immigration policy were underway. In 2013, Senator Marco Rubio and other Republicans collaborated on legislation offering a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Although the bill passed in the Senate, it was met with hostility from Republican voters, ultimately stalling in the House.  

 

When Trump secured the presidency in 2016, Democrats rallied against his policies with slogans like “No human is illegal” and “Love trumps hate.” Yet, even as Democrats dominated the 2019 presidential primaries with calls to decriminalize border crossings, public opinion on immigration began to shift. Joe Biden, one of the few candidates opposing decriminalization, maintained that illegal border crossings were a crime—a stance he carried into his presidency.  

 

The dynamics shifted further during Biden’s tenure. A surge of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border triggered voter frustration, including among Hispanic communities, where immigration emerged as a critical issue. Public support for reduced immigration grew, with more Latinos backing measures like border walls and mass deportations.  

 

Trump’s rhetoric, including framing immigration as an “invasion,” has now become mainstream among Republicans. Democrats, scrambling to counter accusations of being “soft” on border security, tied border enforcement measures to funding bills for Ukraine and Israel in a bid to showcase toughness.  

 

Perhaps the most striking outcome of Trump’s strategy is its impact on Hispanic voters. Contrary to initial predictions, his policies did not alienate this demographic. Instead, he flipped majority-Hispanic areas in Texas, gained traction with younger Hispanic men, and secured pivotal wins in states like Arizona and Nevada. Trump also reconciled with Republican critics such as Rubio and Lindsey Graham, solidifying his hold on the party.  

 

Looking ahead, Trump’s second term could see less resistance to his immigration agenda than his first, when the family separation policy ignited fierce backlash. Democrats, wary of appearing out of step with voter priorities, may feel compelled to support stricter border security measures.  

However, this shift may not be permanent. History has shown that public sentiment on immigration can swing dramatically. Should Trump’s policies be perceived as excessively harsh or fail to yield tangible results, opposition could reignite.  

 

Still, the political Overton window has moved. While America may continue to see itself as a welcoming nation, the conditions for that welcome now reflect a stricter, Trump-inspired consensus on immigration.

 

Based on a report by The Independent 2025-01-20

 

 

[Cryingdick]

Only morons considered it divisive, coarse and out of touch. The majority of the population support mass deportations which hopefully begin tomorrow.

[KhunLA]

To the title ...

 

No debate needed.  If you want to enter the USA, do it legally, or get deported immediately, no court date, no need for due process.

 

Show your entry papers or bye bye 

[Watawattana]

This is not difficult.

 

If you break the law then you lose your right to remain in the USA.  This includes the extended families.  I'm not talking about a a tiny misdemeanour or simple traffic ticket.

 

If you are an illegal undocumented, you have never had that right to stay.  This includes the extended families.

 

If you come from a dangerous country and gained asylum or a legal immigration status in the USA, then you should have thought about that before you broke the law.

 

If you enter without prior approval then you can of course seek asylum.  Decision is made with 2 weeks.  Yes or no.  You have one attempt at an appeal, within 1 week, decision on that within 1 week.  

 

If you are granted asylum then remember your stay is at the discretion of the President.  Break the law?  You know what will happen, it cannot be a surprise.

 

Same goes for the UK, or any other country that has accepts legal immigrants or asylum seekers.

 

I repeat, this is not difficult.

 

[Eric Loh]

1 hour ago, Watawattana said:

This is not difficult.

 

If you break the law then you lose your right to remain in the USA.  This includes the extended families.  I'm not talking about a a tiny misdemeanour or simple traffic ticket.

 

If you are an illegal undocumented, you have never had that right to stay.  This includes the extended families.

 

If you come from a dangerous country and gained asylum or a legal immigration status in the USA, then you should have thought about that before you broke the law.

 

If you enter without prior approval then you can of course seek asylum.  Decision is made with 2 weeks.  Yes or no.  You have one attempt at an appeal, within 1 week, decision on that within 1 week.  

 

If you are granted asylum then remember your stay is at the discretion of the President.  Break the law?  You know what will happen, it cannot be a surprise.

 

Same goes for the UK, or any other country that has accepts legal immigrants or asylum seekers.

 

I repeat, this is not difficult.

 

There is already existing law and apparatus available that fulfilled all that your described to detain and deport immigrants. The problem is that Trump is pushing congress to consider a bill that allow deportation for less serious crimes like shoplifting.  

[Watawattana]

1 hour ago, Eric Loh said:

There is already existing law and apparatus available that fulfilled all that your described to detain and deport immigrants. The problem is that Trump is pushing congress to consider a bill that allow deportation for less serious crimes like shoplifting. 

Noted.  I'm assuming you are thinking it's a minor crime, apologies if I've misunderstood.  

 

Of course shoplifting is less serious than rape or murder, but I do not believe shoplifting is a minor crime.  I've worked in shops and had to deal with the aftermath.  I've also seen the aftermath of aggravated shoplifting, the aggravating factors being any one or more of verbal abuse, threats of or actual physical abuse, and being threatened by a used needle.  If we accept shoplifting as less serious and therefore acceptable for people who are guests in the USA then it's a slippery slope.

[Chomper Higgot]

3 hours ago, Watawattana said:

This is not difficult.

 

If you break the law then you lose your right to remain in the USA.  This includes the extended families.  I'm not talking about a a tiny misdemeanour or simple traffic ticket.

 

If you are an illegal undocumented, you have never had that right to stay.  This includes the extended families.

 

If you come from a dangerous country and gained asylum or a legal immigration status in the USA, then you should have thought about that before you broke the law.

 

If you enter without prior approval then you can of course seek asylum.  Decision is made with 2 weeks.  Yes or no.  You have one attempt at an appeal, within 1 week, decision on that within 1 week.  

 

If you are granted asylum then remember your stay is at the discretion of the President.  Break the law?  You know what will happen, it cannot be a surprise.

 

Same goes for the UK, or any other country that has accepts legal immigrants or asylum seekers.

 

I repeat, this is not difficult.

 

“If you break the law then you lose your right to remain in the USA.”

 

Odd thing to say on the very day a convicted felon is sworn in as POTUS.

 

 

 

[Will B Good]

28 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

“If you break the law then you lose your right to remain in the USA.”

 

Odd thing to say on the very day a convicted felon is sworn in as POTUS.

 

 

 

 

That has got to be post of the week....555

[Thingamabob]

A lack of proper immigration control is eliminating the customs and culture of many countries.Things naturally change with time, of course, but what is happening now is, sadly, the destruction of national identities built up over centuries. 

[proton]

55 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

“If you break the law then you lose your right to remain in the USA.”

 

Odd thing to say on the very day a convicted felon is sworn in as POTUS.

 

 

 

 

How long are you going to be crying about this felon nonsense? - IT DOES NOT MATTER

[Chomper Higgot]

8 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

A lack of proper immigration control is eliminating the customs and culture of many countries.Things naturally change with time, of course, but what is happening now is, sadly, the destruction of national identities built up over centuries. 

The wealth of these same countries is being concentrated into to possession of a tiny number of hyper wealthy people.

 

This leaves less wealth and resources to be shared by the remaining vast majority.

 

The outcome is reduced living standards for the many, fabulous wealth and luxury for a tiny minority.

 

Its in the interests of the tiny minority for the majority to believe the real cause of reduced living standards is not the concentration of wealth but immigrants.

 

Which is precisely why immigration will not be fixed, the hyper wealthy need high levels of immigration to keep you distracted.

[Chomper Higgot]

Just now, proton said:

 

How long are you going to be crying about this felon nonsense? - IT DOES NOT MATTER

Truth and facts matter.

[Will B Good]

16 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

Only morons considered it divisive, coarse and out of touch. The majority of the population support mass deportations which hopefully begin tomorrow.

 

The majority....how do you know that?

 

Only 29% of those entitled to vote chose Trump and his extreme rhetoric.

[nauseus]

5 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The wealth of these same countries is being concentrated into to possession of a tiny number of hyper wealthy people.

 

This leaves less wealth and resources to be shared by the remaining vast majority.

 

The outcome is reduced living standards for the many, fabulous wealth and luxury for a tiny minority.

 

Its in the interests of the tiny minority for the majority to believe the real cause of reduced living standards is not the concentration of wealth but immigrants.

 

Which is precisely why immigration will not be fixed, the hyper wealthy need high levels of immigration to keep you distracted.

 

And now we have a Labour government who are pushing all this as far as it can go.

 

Power to  the people!

Wolfie Smith

Concerned Citizen.

 

[Chomper Higgot]

7 minutes ago, nauseus said:

 

And now we have a Labour government who are pushing all this as far as it can go.

 

Power to  the people!

Wolfie Smith

Concerned Citizen.

 

Keep doffing your cap and tugging your forelocks, you know your betters respect you for it.

 

[James105]

3 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

There is already existing law and apparatus available that fulfilled all that your described to detain and deport immigrants. The problem is that Trump is pushing congress to consider a bill that allow deportation for less serious crimes like shoplifting.  

 

Rightly so.  Do you think you should be able to remain in Thailand if you are convicted for shoplifting here?  This person spent 6 months in jail and deported for doing precisely that.  

 

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/thai-prison-shoplifting_n_5c51e314e4b0ca92c6dc9c81

[Yellowtail]

3 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

There is already existing law and apparatus available that fulfilled all that your described to detain and deport immigrants. The problem is that Trump is pushing congress to consider a bill that allow deportation for less serious crimes like shoplifting.  

Illegal entry is a crime worthy of deportation. 

 

Shoplifting is a crime.