It’s wonderful and frightening at the same time. A news photographer captures an image and it can inspire instantaneous national outrage. Take, for example, the crying migrant child that TIME appropriated for its cover to show that President Trump doesn’t care about children separated from their families.
The only thing is, the child was never separated from her mother; she was just put down for 30 seconds while the mother, who crossed illegally, was being frisked by a Border Patrol agent. But by that time it didn’t matter.
Today’s meltdown is over a photo of hundreds of migrants being held in the parking lot of a Border Patrol station in El Paso because there’s simply not enough room indoors for thousands of people. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted, “I cannot and will not accept it.” Kamala Harris called it a humanitarian crisis and a violation of human rights.
And Rep. Ilhan Omar? Not only was it “abhorrent and inhumane” in her eyes; it was also a reflection of white nationalism.
This is abhorrent and inhumane.
It's without a doubt a reflection of what white nationalism is doing to our country. As a country, we have to acknowledge that this is how people are being treated here and decide that we are better and we must do better. https://t.co/5YNAJFNZo7
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 28, 2019
It’s “beyond a doubt” a reflection of what white supremacy has done to the country. And we thought it was just thousands of migrants overwhelming the border in numbers the Border Patrol was not prepared to handle.
I’m sorry, what am I missing here? How is this white nationalism?
— Sophia Lee 소현 (@SophiaLeeHyun) March 28, 2019
This has nothing to do with white nationalism though. Tell me, were the refugee camps where you stayed before coming here overcrowded? Was that because of white nationalism?
— A D Beeks Sr (@beeks_sr) March 28, 2019
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This has absolutely nothing to do with white nationalism you foolish woman. El Paso’s border checkpoint lacks the resources to deal with this crisis. Don’t you read the news?? They currently have 12,000 people to house, with no place to house them. This is an unprecedented number
— VGP (@bttrflywarrior) March 28, 2019
What is happening at the border has nothing to do with white nationalism. Rather it is an inadequate response to the greatest number of persons, many of whom are children, crossing the southern border illegally in 12 years.
— Steve Mundie (@SteveMundie) March 28, 2019
Democrats are in charge of the house, talk to Pelosi about providing more housing & changing the laws So they stop coming here illegally. White Nationalism has not a damm thing to do with it, but our incompetent government does.
— carole (@dagnon_carole) March 28, 2019
Please stop with the lies.
— Steve Lawrence (@chef201atc) March 28, 2019
Because of white nationalism? Obama was doing this when he was in office…
— Rattington (@plankzilla) March 28, 2019
That photo of caged children — taken during the Obama administration — was another one of those outrage-inducing photos, with the outrage directed toward President Trump, of course.
THANK YOU for admitting that there is a crisis at the border! @IlhanMN
— Brandi Anderson (@rayofsteel) March 28, 2019
Here's an idea: convince your party to continue opposing border security and funding. That way, the problem will continue to get worse and you'll be able to keep talking about it instead of ever actually doing anything about it.
— Paul Whitley™️ (@PoliticalWhit) March 28, 2019
But Democrats sought to limit funding for detention centers in the budget deal. So?
— Jay W (@WaldoMDK) March 28, 2019
And they want to establish sanctuary states and abolish ICE so only criminals who are U.S. citizens face consequences.
They can turn around. There is plenty of room In Mexico.
— Bob (@Aimfarllc) March 28, 2019
This is what happens when you travel somewhere with no plan. They should have booked themselves hotel rooms, or called up some state reps to see if they had an extra bed or two. Plan ahead, illegals. Book a room.
— Jenny Anne (@tantrumblue1) March 28, 2019
You are such an ingrate. We saved you from that hell hole you came from and you accuse us of the worst things for no reason. I want YOU deported so you can remember how great and generous the U.S. really is and eat every last insult you spew at us.
— Steph (@steph93065) March 28, 2019
What's inhumane is how you turned on the very country and ppl that saved you from a refugee camp where you spent years of your life thanks to ppl who share your ideology… such a waste of resources and compassion!
— R.Cameron (@rcameron79) March 28, 2019
How you still have a job representing anyone is beyond me. You are hands down the most racist and pathetic excuse for a politician that I have ever heard of in my life. Your racist and prejudiced attitude towards others is what's really abhortent. Just shut up already.
— S. J. Woodrow (@OLD_No7_FTW) March 28, 2019
Yo Omar. I'm not white. They broke the law, and are being detained. You, ma'am, are a racist, and you show it every day.
— EDM (@EdMaharajh) March 28, 2019
Since it is the largest influx since 2006… and you are in congress, I take it you have some plan other than racial divisiveness? We can’t even take care of the impoverished citizens we have.
— PapaSwamp (@PapaSwamp) March 28, 2019
Welcome to Salinas, California… pic.twitter.com/QvyXBftirL
— Brian O'Higgins (@bphesq) March 28, 2019
What's your policy proposal on immigration?
— Clifford D. May (@CliffordDMay) March 28, 2019
Tell us what is your great plan? You represent me.
— matt kilian (@followmattslife) March 28, 2019
Ilhan Omar's motto: I sow division therefore I am.
— Gad Saad (@GadSaad) March 28, 2019
Related:
Rep. Ilhan Omar accuses The Hill of ‘otherizing’ her by mentioning she said a Muslim verse https://t.co/w5FIsOcM0C
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) March 16, 2019
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