August 21, 2015 12:01 PM UTC

An Open Letter to Donald Trump

•  
• by: Ron Ruggiero

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

I am compelled by conscience to respond to your recent hate-filled rhetoric toward immigrants and your call to deport all 11 million undocumented immigrants currently living and working in the United States.

I must call out your words for what they are: cowardly and immoral. It is cowardice to categorically attack and dehumanize 11 million people to further your own political ambition. Your words are those of a demagogue—a false ‘solution’ that riles up the worst of our humanity.

I must ask you: Did undocumented immigrants make the decisions to shutter thousands of American factories and send millions upon millions of good jobs to other countries? Did undocumented immigrants pass the ‘free trade’ agreements that have ruined both well-paid manufacturing and, increasingly, service jobs in America?  Did undocumented immigrants pass the massive tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans that have showered further wealth upon them and led to public services cuts and extreme deficits? (I could go on and on.)

No, people with enormous economic and political power made those decisions—Wall Street, CEO’s, members of the 1%, and the politicians whom they have bought made those decisions. I will say that again—people with incredible power made those decisions. Yet, you prey upon the considerable economic insecurity that almost all Americans feel today and blame undocumented immigrants—a group that is a far cry from wielding power over the commanding heights over our economy and our politics. This is not courage, sir—it is rank cowardice.

Worse than that, you are attempting the ugly, dangerous, and age-old tactic of scapegoating. We must look at our history—and the history of the world—and remember just how dangerous scapegoating is. I urge you, and every American, to pause for a moment and reflect upon what has happened every time in history when a group that is different is first made to be the ‘other’ then blamed for that society’s problems? The next step on that treacherous path is always a call for their removal from that society—or much, much worse. This perilous call is what you have just issued.

Already, that peril is becoming clear. Two men, apparently ‘inspired’ by your rhetoric, beat a Latino homeless man in the place of my birth, Boston.  Mr. Trump, can you imagine Jesus Christ uttering the hateful words that you have towards undocumented immigrants? In fact the Bible says, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40) Where in any tradition of any major world religion does it call for such hatred and dehumanization of our fellow man? This is why your words are immoral.

Turning to the facts for a moment, others have already documented why your ‘proposal’ is prohibitively expensive and unworkable. However, as a nation of immigrants, you must be held to account not based on the dollar cost of your inhumane ‘proposal’, but for the dangerous and un-American values that it reflects and that you spew.

The vast majority of undocumented immigrants in this country are hard-working, pay taxes, and came here fleeing persecution in their home country or for a better life for their children. Every reputable study shows the economic benefit that immigrants provide to America—including the undocumented. In 2014, the Social Security Administration estimated that undocumented immigrants paid over $100 billion into Social Security in the previous decade—for benefits they will likely never use.  As an additional benefit, approximately 145,000 new jobs would be created each year if we initiated a path to citizenship for the undocumented according to the Center For American Progress.

I am urging my fellow Americans to see you for what you are. We must not be distracted or fooled by your appeal to our economic insecurities to be inhumane. To embark on your ‘solution’ to those insecurities that is no solution at all. We must have the courage to be clear-eyed about who and what has devastated the middle-class in America and take action to hold those responsible accountable. Standing up to those with immense money and power is courage—attacking a vulnerable group that already lives in the legal shadows is not.

I am urging every public figure and official to denounce your dangerous words now. We must remember the wisdom of Edmund Burke, considered the father of conservatism, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”. And your words, sir, are evil. This third generation son of Italian immigrants (who were also once considered ‘less than’ American), will not do nothing. I will lend my voice, my time, and, if needed, my body to defend our great country against your irresponsible and dangerous manipulation. For the sake of America, I hope others will join me.

In unity,

Ron Ruggiero, President, SEIU Local 105

SEIU Local 105 represents almost 7,000 healthcare and property services workers in Colorado.  We are dedicated to improving the lives of workers and their families by creating a more just and humane society. We support comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship as a solution to raise the quality of jobs for all workers, lift up the economy for all, and to keep families united.