Trump Relies on Dangerous “Invasion” Conspiracy Theory to Justify Extreme Immigration Policy

At CPAC Speech and First Month Actions, Trump Relies on Dangerous “Invasion” Conspiracy Theory to Justify Extreme Immigration Policy

Washington, DC — During President Trump’s speech at CPAC this weekend, viewable here and excerpted below, he again relied on the false and dangerous “invasion” conspiracy theory that immigrants and immigration represent an existential danger and threat to the United States and one that must be repelled by force.

Vanessa Cárdenas, Executive Director of America’s Voice, reacting to the news:

“Just because we are so used to hearing the ‘invasion’ phrase from President Trump and his right wing allies shouldn’t make it any less appalling that the President of the United States is advancing a white nationalist conspiracy theory, already linked to multiple deadly acts of violence in places like Buffalo, El Paso and Pittsburgh.

Beyond just being dangerous rhetoric that stokes fears and inflames divides, the ‘invasion’ conspiracy is the justification for a host of extreme anti-immigrant policies, including several executive orders and Trump’s stated plans to refocus military personnel and resources to focus on indiscriminate mass deportations. It’s all based on the false notion that America is under an assault which must be repelled by force.

Meanwhile, it shouldn’t be lost that in the CPAC crowd listening to Trump’s ugly speech were violent felons who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021 and are only out of prison due to a pardon from President Trump. It’s a reminder that this isn’t about public safety and that the true threats to our democracy aren’t the immigrants being targeted by President Trump.”

Among the immigration-related lowlights of Trump’s CPAC speech included:

• Multiple uses of “invasion” rhetoric, including to justify his pledged “largest deportation in America’s history.”
• Proudly celebrating the revocation of TPS for Haitians, noting of Haitians legally in this nation:  “I also canceled Temporary Protected Status for migrants from Haiti. They’re pouring into our country; pouring in. If I weren’t elected President, there’d be nobody in Haiti anymore.”
• Asserting that Springfield, Ohio – where the legal Haitian community became a target of JD Vance and Trump during the presidential campaign – had “been occupied by illegal alien criminals from all over the world. We’re rescuing the Americans whose jobs have been stolen, whose wages have been robbed and whose way of life has been absolutely destroyed.”

Also read the press release and letter from 82 organizations, led by Western States Center, calling on Congress to stop legitimizing the dangerous “invasion” conspiracy theory