During MSNBC’s 11:00 a.m. ET hour on Monday, co-hosts Stephanie Ruhle and Ali Velshi were eager to provide a friendly platform for left-wing immigration activist George Escobar to slam the Trump administration’s “wildest anti-immigrant, racist, warped dreams” when it came to the debate over renewing DACA.
Escobar, Senior Director of Services for liberal illegal immigration advocacy organization CASA, launched into a tirade: “First of all, it was the Trump administration who manufactured this crisis. We had a DACA program....And now, he arbitrarily cancels the program and then he uses it as a bargaining chip to try to basically create – manufacture, again, his wildest anti-immigrant, racist, warped dreams.”
He continued:
I mean, this is a failing administration who’s putting forward principles in their negotiating tactics that are really based on limiting the people that come to this country from certain countries of origin, right? He wants to change the face of our immigrant community. He’s trying to reduce the number of people coming into this country from countries of origin that people of color that originate from there, right?
Rather than challenge his guest for hurling such nasty rhetoric, Velshi voiced his support for the incendiary ranting: “But George, I’ll just interrupt you. I hear you, we’re on the same side on this one.” The anchor then wondered: “But what exactly – what’s the difference between what is good and what can be had?”
Escobar pleaded for liberal lawmakers to take action: “I mean, ultimately, what we want is Democrats to step up and create real solutions.”
Here is a transcript of the February 12 exchange:
11:37 AM ET
(...)
STEPHANIE RUHLE: Okay, we know this is never going to be all or nothing. So are immigration advocates willing to accept the path to citizenship for Dreamers, even if they have to accept the end to the diversity visa lottery and limits on family migration?
GEORGE ESCOBAR [SR. DIRECTOR OF SERVICES, CASA]: I mean, I think it’s important to remember where all this started, right? First of all, it was the Trump administration who manufactured this crisis. We had a DACA program that allowed folks to stay in this country with work permits that were thoroughly vetted, right? These were individuals who had to come forward every two years, do background checks, pay a fee, et cetera, et cetera. And now, he arbitrarily cancels the program and then he uses it as a bargaining chip to try to basically create – manufacture, again, his wildest anti-immigrant, racist, warped dreams.
I mean, this is a failing administration who’s putting forward principles in their negotiating tactics that are really based on limiting the people that come to this country from certain countries of origin, right? He wants to change the face of our immigrant community. He’s trying to reduce the number of people coming into this country from countries of origin that people of color that originate from there, right? We’re talking about eliminating programs in which – that are the only path to entry to the United States from countries such as in the African continent. We’re talking about, again, eliminating these programs, eliminating what it means to be a citizen.
ALI VELSHI: But George, I’ll just interrupt you. I hear you, we’re on the same side on this one. But what exactly – what’s the difference between what is good and what can be had?
ESCOBAR: I mean, ultimately, what we want is Democrats to step up and create real solutions.
(...)
