As we approach the apex of the United States presidential campaign, immigration policy has taken center stage, with current president Donald Trump and Democratic contender Joe Biden at odds over who would best safeguard the nation’s borders. In the throes of campaign fervor, both presidential hopefuls have expressed firm, distinct stances on the issue, using striking imagery such as ‘angels’ and ‘animals’ to drive their points home.
One of President Trump’s primary policy priorities throughout his presidency has been cutting down on illegal immigration. He believes that strict immigration enforcement is crucial to American safety and prosperity. To validate this stance, the Trump campaign has often invoked allusions to ‘angels’, a term they use to describe families who have lost members to crimes committed by unauthorized immigrants. This powerful imagery serves as a platform upon which Trump hopes to deliver on his promises of increased border security and stiffer rules against illegal immigration.
On the other hand, Biden hails from a completely different viewpoint. He does not share the incumbent’s emphasis on enforcing harsh immigration policies and vehemently counters the narrative that illegal immigrants are criminals at large. Drawing references from Trump’s previous description of some immigrants as ‘animals’, Biden argues that such rhetoric is not only dehumanizing but also factually misleading. Notably, Biden has pledged to reverse many of Trump’s immigration policies, including family separations at the border and indefinite detentions.
This divergence is more than just a war of words; it represents two fundamentally different visions for America’s immigration policy. The Trump administration, with its zero-tolerance policy, has enacted measures to discourage illegal immigration, including ramping up deportations and constructing more segments of a border wall with Mexico. Trump’s team believes such steps are essential for protecting American jobs and reducing crime.
Conversely, Biden’s proposal includes a pathway to citizenship for the approximately 11 million unauthorized immigrants currently living in the US, arguing that such actions would contribute to the economy and social fabric of the nation. He also vows to restore asylum processes and absorbed criticism sharpened by images of children separated from their parents under Trump’s policies.
Moreover, Biden’s stance takes into account the children brought illegally into the US — the ‘Dreamers’, as they are commonly known. He plans to reinstate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program which allows young immigrants who were brought to the country as children to work and study without fear of deportation.
In conclusion, the two presidential hopefuls offer markedly different views about immigrants and their place in American society. They choose their metaphors–angels and animals–to communicate contrasting philosophies on American values, foreign policy, and national security. As the country gears up for the presidential debate, it is clear that the chosen immigration policy, shaped by the next leader, will significantly impact the future societal and economic fabric of the nation.