When the Trump campaign ran on the promise of fear and deporting every illegal immigrant back to wherever, I think most Americans had an idea the US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) existed. I think they also knew that it could not handle the workload given to them. It should also be noted they do not just handle immigration. They also handle customs, trade and border control. All these tariffs are in their domain. By most current estimates there are between 11 to 13 million illegal immigrants in the United States. In this day and age you have to check every fact that is thrown your way. A number thrown out is 21 Million illegal immigrants came in under Biden. Which if you run through the numbers and do basic math is ridiculous. That would mean 17,123 illegal immigrants per day. Not to mention most of those would be on border states namely – Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas. This would mean right across the border somewhere you would have a settlement of over 1 million people in some camp. I have yet to see that on the news. Year ago, during the George W Bush administration, I had a chance to talk with Washington State Congressman Dave Reichert (R). We discussed illegal immigration. He said the idea of removing every illegal immigrant was daunting. Specifically he said “it would take the entire National Guard and that would just handle Los Angeles”. As of this writing ICE is on top of many peoples minds, in the news especially if you are not white. We see the deportations being done ad hoc. More in line with meeting a quota than doing the actual due diligence to identify illegal immigrants.
Xenophobia is a common affliction among many people in America. The definition of xenophobia being a dislike of people from another country. A odd US fear given we are a country of immigrants. That being said it has always been a part of the American experience. There was discrimination when Italians started to come to America, the Irish, Polish etc…Some of that can be traced to basic demographics. We are all familiar with the knowledge that somewhere around 2050 the US population make up will tilt towards those that are non-white. This means there will be more Black People, Hispanic People, Asian People, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders than white people in America. Given our history of being immigrants this was inevitable. That does not mean some people are not pissed about it. In fact many are downright angry about it. When you campaign with fear the emotions that go along with it are anger, hate, loathing etc..all the poorest conditions of human nature.
History can cloud peoples views of the future. It is easy to reflect on the past and come to a conclusion that things were better at a different time and can we not go back to that place in time? That to me is the mystifying thing of Make America Great Again, it’s a nice marketing campaign with no details. I guess this should not be surprising given the source. That would require a basic knowledge of US History. We are good at highlighting our greatness, but in some circles do not like to discuss our dark past, Some would believe that, that is history and we have moved on. But at our core we know our history with slavery still haunts us to this day. America has been a giving nation, a nation many have looked to when in need, but never underestimate the darkness in our heart. Granted that last statement seems rooted in darkness which I am quite comfortable with (lets darken the light and play some Bauhaus). I would shed a more positive light on America by quoting the French political philosopher Alexis De Tocqueville. He said, “The great privilege of Americans does not simply consist in their being more enlightened than other nations, but in their being able to repair the faults they may commit.”
Because we have allowed illegal immigration for decades we have created a shadow economy. As consumers we receive huge benefits from that “illegal” economy. Like it or not those “illegals” contribute greatly to the US GDP. They also perform services such as being the maids at our hotels, picking our fruits and vegetables, construction sites have a Latin flair, landscaping etc.. and the list goes on. The impact is felt in taxes collected, labor force participation (estimate is 4.9% of US Labor is force consists of illegal immigrants), and economic growth. We have allowed a shadow economy to emerge and frankly it is one we can’t do without. There are thousands of construction jobs underway that would be delayed or simply not finished because the labor force relays on immigrants, legal and illegal. When was the last time you saw a white or black woman cleaning your hotel room? What would Las Vegas do? They literally have tens of thousands of rooms. What would a ICE raid look like in Vegas? How many people would have to be deployed? What would be the economic impact. I agree we need to strengthen border control. We also need to think through the consequences of our actions in both the short term and long term.
I think we tend to overlook how Latin culture has enriched the American experience. For all the talk of going back to a husband, wife, two kids, house, car etc..when I think of a family centric lifestyle, just look to the Hispanic community. The family is core to people south of the border. It defines loyalties. More importantly it defines love. If you cross America you will come across Latin communities everywhere, both small and large. Anyone who has visited Miami will find every country in the Caribbean and South America represented. Drive down highway 99 in the Central Valley of California and you would be hard pressed to NOT find Mexican food. Catholic Mass often has a Spanish mass, especially the further south you are. When I see the new fashion of food trucks I see a business designed for the Latin communities and there are plenty. FInd a soccer field and you will find an adult Mexican league with fans…likely family. Overtime the Latin culture has ingratiated itself into the America melting pot. I often like to say, “Show me an American who has not eaten Mexican food and I will show you someone who is not an American”. Probably the best write up on this comes from famed chef, author and travel host Anthony Bourdain title “Under the Volcano” He is a much better writer than I am and he is missed. RIP Anthony.
The above is not what ICE wants to hear. They are focused on violent criminals and gangs like MS-13. Though I understand the sentiment, to portray an entire community as belonging and having ties criminal organizations is wrong. It is what Trump campaigned on in 2016 and every campaign since and it has resonated. It shows that the big lie has a life and can prey upon the weaker minds. If you tell a lie often enough and loud enough eventually it is perceived as truth. There are criminal from Latin America in the US but the percentage is relative. Categorizing all illegal immigrants as the problem neglects the truth. It also ignores what the community provides to the citizens of the United Dates.
Finally there is the question that no one seems to want to ask where are they coming from and why? In Venezuela here is the travel advisory from the US Department of State “Do not travel to or remain in Venezuela due to the high risk of wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure. All U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents in Venezuela are strongly advised to depart immediately.” If this is for US residents what must life be like for Venezuelan citizens? One of the largest refugee camps for Venezuelans is across the border in Columbia. People are fleeing the Maduro dictatorship. In Mexico a number of states are known to be violent and for a family the fear is their children will be sucked into a life in the cartels. One which will likely lead to a violent death. They flee looking for a better life. Guatemala is in a similar state as Mexico as the country suffers from a high crime rate and lack of safety. Like Venezuela. Guatemala is also a Level 3 in terms of travel advisory. Immigrants are coming to seek a better life for themselves and their children. It is what the American dream was built on and when we let that go a large piece of America will go with it. We will then have to ask the question “Who is America?”
The most famous words of the Statue of Liberty are “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”. If we turn our back on those words that built a nation who have we become? If we let xenophobia become the dominant faith are we still free? These cultures we fear enrich America. Mark Twain who traveled the world said about his experience “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow mindedness”. A large part of our nations fear is being consolidated into a isolationist political view. Isolationism is a failed policy. So I will ask again, “Who is America?”
Good Night and Good Luck
Hans Henrik Hoffmann June 25, 2025
Hans Hoffmann's Blog 