Mainstreaming Hate: the Anti-Immigrant Movement in the U.S
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NOV A report from the Center on Extremism 2018 Mainstreaming Hate: The Anti-Immigrant Movement in the U.S. Our Mission: To stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all. ABOUT THE CENTER ON EXTREMISM The ADL Center on Extremism (COE) is one of the world’s foremost authorities on extremism, terrorism, anti-Semitism and all forms of hate. For decades, COE’s staff of seasoned investigators, analysts and researchers have tracked extremist activity and hate in the U.S. and abroad — online and on the ground. The staff, which represent a combined total of substantially more than 100 years of experience in this arena, routinely assist law enforcement with extremist-related investigations, provide tech companies with critical data and expertise and respond to wide-ranging media requests. As ADL’s research and investigative arm, COE is a clearinghouse of real-time information about extremism and hate of all types. COE staff regularly serve as expert witnesses, provide congressional testimony and speak to national and international conference audiences about the threats posed by extremism and anti-Semitism. You can find the full complement of COE’s research and publications at ADL.org. ADL is a leading anti-hate organization that was founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of anti-Semitism and bigotry. Today, ADL is still the first call when acts of anti-Semitism occur and continues to fight all forms of hate. A global leader in exposing extremism, delivering anti-bias education and fighting hate online, ADL’s ultimate goal is a world in which no group or individual suffers from bias, discrimination or hate. A Report from the Center on Extremism Mainstreaming Hate: The Anti-Immigrant Movement in the U.S. Cover Image: A migrant child looks out the window of a bus as protesters try to block a bus carrying migrant children out of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Detention Center on June 23, 2018 in McAllen, Texas. Dozens of protesters blocked the bus from leaving the center resulting in scuffles with police and Border Patrol agents before the bus retreated back to the center. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Mainstreaming Hate: The Anti-Immigrant Movement in the U.S. • Anti-immigrant fervor, once relegated to more extreme • The Trump administration includes senior officials quarters, has been increasingly mainstreamed over the such as now former Attorney General Jeff Sessions last ten years. Over the last two years, with the advent and Stephen Miller, a senior advisor for policy, who are of a new administration focused on much stricter known for promoting hardline anti-immigrant policies. immigration policies and complementary executive The Trump administration has also hired people with actions, anti-immigrant and anti-refugee sentiment has close ties to well-known anti-immigrant groups like made life substantially more difficult for all immigrants. FAIR and CIS throughout the executive branch. • Anti-immigrant groups like FAIR (Federation for • President Trump has referred to immigrants and Immigration Reform) and CIS (Center for Immigration refugees as “an invasion” and used language to stoke Studies) have successfully moved the Overton Window fears about immigrants, telling the crowd at an October – or the boundaries of what’s considered acceptable 22 rally in Texas, “They [Immigrants] carve you up with within political action and public discourse. a knife.” • These groups’ ideologies have been brought into the • Anti-immigrant groups and activists use social media mainstream by policymakers who appear to agree with to demonize immigrants and get their messages their rhetoric, and who have sought to institute harsh across to the public. anti-immigrant laws nationwide. Anti-immigrant ideology has gained mainstream acceptance, infiltrated policy implementation, been used as a wedge issue to scare constituents and become the fodder of media personalities who regularly demonize immigrants to a wide audience. They frame their messages as reasonable and valid but are promoting xenophobia and preventing a reasonable conversation about real [reform to address real challenges in the immigration system.] • Anti-immigrant groups’ bigotry has also been normalized by the media, which provides a context- free platform for anti-immigrant spokespeople and their talking points. • While white supremacist groups remain on the fringes of society, they share certain beliefs and rhetoric with anti-immigrant groups, and often feed off of the anti-immigrant beliefs of groups like FAIR and CIS. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS: Before the extreme ideas of the anti-immigrant movement fully take root, the government, media and general public must take intentional steps to remove this ideology from tolerable discourse in America’s pluralistic society. The following policy recommendations are explored in depth in our report: • Enact Policies that Provide Legislative and Legal Protections for Immigrants and Refugees • Improve Federal Response to Hate Crimes • Build Trust Between Law Enforcement and Immigrant Communities • Cities and Towns Should Work to Be More Welcoming for Immigrants • Denounce Anti-Immigrant Bigotry, Racism and Xenophobia • Provide Students with Tools to Combat Hatred and Bigotry and Protect Immigrant Students • Expand Dialogue Between Civil Society and Tech Sector Mainstreaming Hate: The Anti-Immigrant Movement in the U.S. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction .....................................................................................................8 II. The Politics of Immigration ...........................................................................10 III. An Overview of the Anti-Immigrant Movement in the U.S. ............................. 14 IV. Anti-Immigrant Themes and Conspiracies .....................................................16 V. Profiles of Anti-Immigrant Groups .................................................................17 VI. Anti-Muslim Groups that Focus on Immigration .............................................20 VII. The Immigration Debate: States Weigh In ......................................................22 VIII. Donald Trump’s Presidential Campaign: Build the Wall ..................................24 IX. Trump Administration Figures Have a History of Anti-Immigrant Sentiment ........................................................................28 X. Anti-Immigrant Rallies and Candidates Bring Their Message to the Masses ................................................................................ 31 XI. Anti-Immigrant Group Staff Members Testify before Congress and State Legislatures ...................................................................34 XII. Anti-Immigrant Groups’ Use of Social Media ..................................................37 XIII. The Media’s Role ...........................................................................................38 XIV. White Supremacists and Other Extremists Promote Virulent Anti-Immigrant Sentiment ................................................................42 XV. Conclusion and Policy Recommendations .....................................................44 XVI. Endnotes .......................................................................................................46 A child climbs up the Mexican side of the U.S./Mexico border fence on June 24, 2018 in Sunland Park, New Mexico. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) 8 I. INTRODUCTION merica is a nation of immigrants. Immigrants are and views that demonize immigrants. A number of fundamental to America’s existence, its economic these groups have attempted to position themselves Agrowth, diversity and success. As a country built as legitimate advocates against “illegal immigration” on immigration and Emma Lazarus’s call to the world’s while using stereotypes, conspiracy theories and “tired and poor,” the United States has also been a harbor outright bigotry to disparage immigrants and hold them for refugees and asylum seekers. Yet, America has also responsible for a number of societal ills. A decade ago, suffered from waves of nativism. This anti-immigrant most of this bigotry was directed primarily at Latino fervor, once relegated to more extreme quarters, has immigrants, but today, Muslim and Haitian immigrants, been increasingly mainstreamed over the last ten years. among others, are also targeted. During the last two years, in particular, an administration In the last ten years, there has been a mainstreaming of that demonizes immigrants and those seeking refuge these groups. Anti-immigrant groups have successfully and focused on hardline immigration policies and moved the boundaries of what’s considered acceptable executive actions, has galvanized the anti-immigrant within political action and public discourse. They movement and made life substantially more difficult for have influenced policy at the state and federal levels. all immigrants and the communities that welcome them. Anti-immigrant groups and their spokespeople are frequently featured by mainstream media outlets, Anti-immigrant ideology has gained mainstream which promote their ideas to an ever-larger audience, acceptance, infiltrated policy implementation, been used including government officials. Staff members of these as a wedge issue to scare constituents, and become the groups often testify before Congress, which also helps fodder of media personalities who regularly demonize promulgate their views. immigrants to a wide audience. They