Detention camps Archives

April 27, 2021

Eyewitness to Kids in Cages

In the beginning of March, I traveled to my birthplace of Dallas, Tejas. I made the difficult decision to travel and visit family after two years. I have always possessed conflicting feelings about what returning “home” means to me. In a state that historically was part of México and tries to erase this fact. On land historically belonging to indigenous people that was stolen. I am reminded of the quote, “We didn’t cross the border, the border crossed us.” Yet, the racist politicians in power fight to keep those who have been forced to migrate due to U.S. imperialist invention from seeking refuge. As immigrants and Xicanos being told and made to feel that we do not belong. A state that loves our “culture” but in the same vein demands that we only speak English.

December 17, 2019

by Blas Reies

The Gilroy and El Paso massacres: Trump and the long history of anti-Mexican racism in the United States

It’s sad to say that I was shocked and angered but not surprised when I heard of the July 28, 2019 mass shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, which was carried out by a white supremacist. I felt more shock, anger, and apprehension a few days later when I heard of yet another mass shooting carried out by another white supremacist, this time in El Paso, Tejas. Again, I wasn’t surprised that something like this could happen in the U.S. today.

Trump started his campaign for president about three years ago by calling Mexicans “rapists” and “criminals.” He has called us “enemies” of the U.S. and promised to build a wall to keep us out of this country. Once in office, he has called Central Americans “animals,” and their nations “shithole countries.” Political pundits like Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham have followed suit by claiming that immigration from poor countries makes the U.S. “dirty” and are “destroying America.” They have called Mexico a “hostile foreign power,’ implying that Mexicans in the U.S. are subversive agents. They have said that immigration is a threat to the U.S., which will lead to a less safe country and that it will result in the death of “America.”