The Quote Below—More Misinformation from the Media
“Despite the city’s reputation for rough edges, rowdy sports fans, and blunt talk, Philadelphians are capable of showing a profound ability to welcome others, no matter where they come from.
“On Tuesday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced he had sent a bus filled with asylum seekers to Philadelphia. The Republican blames the nation’s sanctuary cities — places such as Philadelphia, which decline to enforce federal immigration law — for the large movements of people who brave the long and harrowing journey to the border.
“This is only the most recent in a series of cruel political stunts that Republican governors have pulled at the expense of vulnerable people. Abbott has led the way, sending more than 13,000 migrants and asylum-seekers to Washington, New York City, and Chicago. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has followed Texas’s lead, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tried to outdo them both by flying asylum-seekers to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.
“Stymieing Abbott’s cruel intentions, Philadelphians responded with compassion, empathy, and warmth. . . .
“It is true that the number of people seeking refuge has reached unprecedented levels — spurred by the effects of the pandemic, the impact of climate change, increased violence, and authoritarian governments. But instead of holding out their hand in welcome and allowing the legal asylum process to play out, these Republican governors seem to view immigrants as a threat and a burden.
“Fortunately, Philadelphians know the truth. After all, we are a city of immigrants — built over successive generations by new arrivals from England, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, China, Latin America, Africa, and the Caribbean. . . .
“And the way we treat immigrants is also a reflection of our collective values — beyond any fiscal or economic benefits. Welcoming newcomers is about refuting the fear and bigotry that drives much of the opposition to lifting a lamp beside the golden door.” – Immigrants Welcome Here. The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Editorial Board, 10/17/22 [Link]
Fact Check of Above Quote: This editorial deceives when it suggests that all or most border crossers today have legitimate claims for asylum. But the legal qualifications for it are strict, and require a person to have “a well-founded fear” of government persecution on such grounds as ethnicity, religion, and political opinion. Climate change and nongovernment violence don’t qualify, and neither does simply living under an authoritarian government. But the biggest reason why migrants come—a reason which also disqualifies them for amnesty—is simply their desire to improve their economic circumstances. Most of today’s migrants, after leaving their homelands, pass through other countries before arriving at our border. If freedom from persecution were all they wanted, they could request asylum in those countries. They aim for the U.S. because it offers more economic opportunities.
Having migrants make bogus asylum claims is a strategy devised by open border advocates to overwhelm our system of enforcement and make border control next to impossible. Unfortunately, it is a strategy working quite well under the Biden Administration.
This editorial concedes that border crossings by “people seeking refuge” has reached “unprecedented levels.” The accurate term for these people is illegal aliens. This massive breakdown of our rule of law doesn’t seem to trouble the Inquirer editorialists in the least. They ignore and hide it with maudlin platitudes about a “city of immigrants” and the “golden door.” They don’t bother to make a distinction between legal and illegal immigration. Again, it appears that our laws, as well as our national sovereignty, don’t concern them that much. They profess allegiance to “our collective values,” but allegiance to country doesn’t seem to be one of them.
Meanwhile our border continues to spiral into chaos. Governors trying to highlight it are not being cruel. They are trying to avert the cruelties that unchecked chaos will inflict on our nation.