A.G. Gancarski
When it comes to undocumented immigrant families separated while crossing the border, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is more concerned with the media’s framing of the “reparations” than the families themselves.
On Tuesday morning, the senior Senator from Florida engaged the question, wondering why the media wasn’t asking Democrats about the issue.
“Let’s see how many Democrats are asked by the media to react to reports that Joe Biden wants to pay reparations to people deported for illegally entering the United States,” Rubio tweeted, referencing the Biden administration’s plan to provide payouts to people separated at the border under former President Donald Trump‘s border policies.
Rubio’s framing of the issue elides the human toll of the family separation policies. The class action plaintiff claim from the American Civil Liberties Union argues federal officials and policies “deliberately traumatized” those families, and the Biden administration seemingly concedes that point.
About 5,600 children were separated from their families, and 1,000 still have not been reunited, according to NBC News. If a parent and a child were separated, each could receive $450,000 in compensation from the U.S. Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services.
For Rubio, however, the issue at the porous Mexican border is one of national security. He has cautioned about the “terrorist threat” posed by border crossers, and has accused Biden of “luring” undocumented immigrants toward making the journey.
Rubio is not alone among leading Florida Republicans on what he calls “reparations” to families wronged by American border police. Though he is the first to pose the provocation about Democrats not getting asked about the matter, he’s not the first to fulminate about it.
His Senate colleague from Florida expressed outrage on a Sunday television program.
“What are we thinking? Why would we be doing this? They broke our laws. These individuals broke the laws of the United States of America, and then the Biden administration wants to write them a check,” U.S. Sen. Rick Scott thundered on Fox News.
Gov. Ron DeSantis called the proposed payouts a “slap in the face” to American citizens.
“I’ve seen a lot in my day. I’ve seen a lot that’s happened in the last nine or 10 months that I never thought I’d see. But this takes the cake. If that is done, that is going to be a slap in the face to every hardworking American,” DeSantis said Friday in Lake County.
The Governor said he was “very, very concerned about reports … that the Biden administration is going to pay with tax dollars hundreds of millions of dollars to people who came to our country illegally across the southern border as ‘damages.’”
6 comments
Prof. Emeritus
November 2, 2021 at 10:08 am
I realize the the GOP Neo Nazis don’t understand the Constitution but these are damages for a constitutional violation
“No person shall …… be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law”
People have a liberty interest in their children no matter what . It says person not citizen
PeterH
November 2, 2021 at 10:31 am
Lots of Republican whining over a policy that doesn’t exist.
Barb.slobojan
November 4, 2021 at 3:03 pm
And you believe Biden?
I’ve known Joe from my college days. The more distressed he becomes, the more he lies.
In fact, in recent weeks he has regressed to behaviors his handlers have worked to remove from his behavior. Soon he’ll pull out “the bully act”.
Kim
November 4, 2021 at 12:40 pm
Are you kidding me??? We work hard as Americans and all we had to do is break the law to receive 450.000!!! How ridiculous this is. It’s against all we,as Americans, believe in. Do you think if we would go to other countries and do this they would do this! It’s disgusting what this president does! Despise this person!
PeterH
November 4, 2021 at 12:51 pm
This is nothing more than a DeSantis racist dog whistle that you’ve been sucker punched to believe as fact!
Biden was questioned yesterday on this non-legislation and clearly said that it would never happen.
Lea Kate
November 5, 2021 at 3:16 am
That “person” is granted those liberties under the constitution of the United States of America which is America’s foundation. Yes! Those people have to be citizens of the United States to be entitled to our liberties! If those people were so concerned about being separated from their children why didn’t they stay home and apply for citizenship? Or, a work Visa? Or a school Visa? There are ways to gain legal status in our country. We do not pay ppl to break our laws then cry injustice because it didn’t work out for them! The fact that the thought was even vocalized has us up in arms. Whether it passes or not is immaterial! It’s the thought that counts! It’s an insult and bitch Biden is putting EVERYONE before US! Of course we don’t trust the dim-wit, racist, two-faced bastard! He has not given US one reason to trust him and a million reasons not too! He and his gang of henchmen and hoodlums should be in prison!! I’m sure he’d be happy to know our tax dollars would still be supporting his dumb-ass and his no brain Bobbleheads!
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