Editor’s Note: The following article was originally published through a newsletter.
Those in Washington, DC and Texas’ capital city of Austin are addicted to the politics of spectacle. Texas Governor Abbott has doubled down on his defiance of the federal government by continuing to roll out wire in and occupy part of the Eagle Pass border. Meanwhile, President Biden has issued a statement supporting the “toughest and fairest” set of reforms negotiated in Congress and affirming he would use an authority to “shut down the border.”
Both sides are seeking to show that politicians in charge are “strong enough” to put our humanitarian commitments on hold for political gains, even knowing that it will create chaos at the border, as Catholic organizations working here recently denounced.
The Biden Administration and the Senate are on the verge of finalizing a deal that would include the authority to temporarily halt all asylum-related processes at the U.S.-Mexico border. Such an agreement could not only have a very detrimental impact on asylum seekers but also on border residents, affecting daily border crossings for work, school and many other reasons.
It must be said that no measure, however tough it looks, will ever appease those looking to deport our neighbors and reduce any kind of migration to levels that would impoverish the U.S. culturally, economically and socially.
The reality is that magic solutions like “closing the border” are not only factually impossible but also real nightmares for people seeking safety, border residents, the economy and our neighboring countries. It’s time to leave these spectacles of force behind and, instead, work to address humanitarian needs with humanitarian solutions adequately. You still have time to call your Senator and tell them so.
El Tribuno del Pueblo brings you articles written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Unsigned articles reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: tribunodelpueblo.org. We’re all volunteers, no paid staff. Please donate at http://tribunodelpueblo.org to keep bringing you the voices of the movement because no human being is illegal.
