RNC & ”Migrant Crime”: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

The Republican National Convention (RNC) and Divisive Rhetoric

• The Republican National Convention (RNC) was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
• The event featured a variety of speakers, including former President Donald Trump, who promised to "make America great again again."
• The RNC was characterized by a lack of unity and a focus on divisive rhetoric, particularly regarding immigration.
• Trump and other speakers repeatedly claimed that the United States is facing an "invasion" at the southern border, blaming Democrats for the influx of immigrants.
• The RNC also featured a number of bizarre and attention-grabbing moments, including a man wearing a "Where is the Epstein Client List" t-shirt, a woman in a "Brides to Be" sash, and Hulk Hogan tearing his shirt off.

The "Migrant Crime" Narrative

• The term "migrant crime" has seen a significant increase in usage, particularly on Fox News, starting in late January. This coincided with a rise in public concern about immigration.
• Despite the increased use of the term, there is no evidence of a "migrant crime wave" in the real world. Crime rates in general have been declining, and experts have found no correlation between immigration status and criminal activity.
• Donald Trump claims to have invented the term "migrant crime," but it is not a new category of crime. He even attempted to rebrand it as "Biden migrant crime" before settling on "byrant crime."
• The initial use of the term "migrant crime" on Fox News was linked to a brawl in Times Square on January 27th, where a group of migrants allegedly assaulted two NYPD officers.
• Fox News repeatedly used footage of one migrant flipping off the camera after being released from jail without bail, emphasizing this incident as a symbol of the Biden presidency.
• The Guardian Angels claimed to have apprehended a migrant who was shoplifting, but the incident turned out to be fabricated.
• The Guardian Angels' leader, Curtis Sliwa, claimed the man was a migrant because he was speaking Spanish, despite the fact that approximately 25% of New York City's population speaks Spanish.
• The man the Guardian Angels apprehended was not actually shoplifting, and surveillance footage showed he was simply trying to move through a crowd.
• The incident in Times Square that sparked the controversy involved an NYPD officer pushing a man against a wall after the man called the officer "Ugly Betty."
• The man who was arrested for flipping the bird at the NYPD officers was later released because he was not involved in the incident and was mistaken for someone else.
• The NYPD's actions in both incidents were questionable and raised concerns about racial profiling and excessive force.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) and the "Migrant Crime" Narrative

• The Republican National Committee (RNC) has been pushing the narrative that migrants are dangerous and responsible for a "crime wave," despite a lack of evidence to support this claim.
• The RNC created a website called "Biden Bloodbath.com" to track alleged examples of "migrant crime," but the evidence presented is often misleading or irrelevant.
• The text points out that fentanyl seizures at the border are primarily from US citizens, and only a tiny percentage of people arrested by border patrol possess fentanyl.
• The text argues that while some migrants may commit crimes, it's important not to generalize about an entire group based on the actions of a few.
• The text highlights that over 70% of Republicans believe there is a high risk of migrants committing crimes, despite the lack of evidence.
• The text criticizes Democrats for often going along with the false narrative of "migrant crime," citing Biden's recent immigration restrictions and Governor Kathy Hochul's inflammatory statement about migrants.
• The text emphasizes that the "migrant crime" narrative is harmful because it creates fear and makes it harder to address genuine immigration issues, such as the backlog in immigration courts and providing support for migrants awaiting hearings.

The Consequences of the "Migrant Crime" Narrative

• The speaker urges viewers to vote against Donald Trump in the upcoming election, emphasizing that this should be a no-brainer.
• While acknowledging that Joe Biden may not be perfect on immigration, the speaker argues that he or any Democratic candidate will be significantly better than Trump.
• The speaker expresses concern about reports of Democratic leaders resigning themselves to a second Trump presidency, highlighting the potential consequences for immigrants.
• Trump and his supporters are openly advocating for the largest deportation operation in American history, with the Republican platform explicitly calling for it.
• The speaker criticizes the Republican party's plans to harm immigrants, including terminating the legal status of Dreamers and barring US citizens from federal housing subsidies if they live with non-citizens.
• The speaker emphasizes that these plans are outrageous and could become public policy if Trump wins, urging Democratic leaders to fight against them.
• The speaker concludes by highlighting the Republican National Convention's focus on anti-immigrant rhetoric and the party's clear intention to win the election by targeting immigrants.