OPINION: The Truth About Life on the Border
By Vivana Sanchez, Skyline Reporter
ALPINE- “The great invasion in history is taking place right here in our country. They are coming in from every corner.” This is the ideology that President Trump frequently repeats in his speeches and rallies regarding immigration and what he refers to as the “border crisis”. The “invasion” rhetoric used by the Trump Administration to describe the U.S.-Mexico border is not only inaccurate, it’s dangerous.
“Is it scary?” is the common question asked when a person mentions they live in a border town. Trump’s claims portray a distorted image of border communities like El Paso, a city that, according to studies by organizations like Safewise, ranks among the top 10 safest in the nation.
I find it truly devastating that people fall for this fearmongering. I respond by highlighting how safe and welcoming our towns and cities are. When they ask about illegal immigration, I share the heartbreaking reality of the graves and remains of migrants lost in the Chihuahuan Desert. El Paso and the small points-of-entry towns are full of families, ambitious students, and hardworking people. People on the border grow up immersed in an intercultural life, shopping in both countries, speaking multiple languages, building friendships and families across national lines.
The so-called “crisis” looks very different when you're living it every day, where life is calm, communal, and full of culture.
In August 2019, a gunman drove over 600 miles from North Texas to El Paso. Fueled by a racist manifesto that spoke of “a Hispanic invasion” the gunman went searching for the invaders of President Trump’s rhetoric. He murdered 23 innocent people, purposely targeting Mexicans, and wounded 22 others.
The killer's murderous intent didn’t just occur randomly, it was derived from the language used by Trump and other politicians who portray border towns and cities as frontlines in war. It’s a lie that portrays Mexicans as an enemy to be fought, while the reality is that all people deserve to live free from the fear and evil such dictions invites.
Meanwhile, some argue that the border needs to have more military presence to keep Americans safe from foreigners.
However, this argument ignores the residents of these towns and the racism, profiling, and violence that this would cause. Militarization would only make daily life more difficult for people who already live there.
If these politicians actually spent time in one of these cities, they would find a place that was built on community and compassion rather than danger and discord.
