The swine flu virus has infected the immigration debate, with talk show comments like "fajita flu” and "illegal aliens are the carriers” drawing vehement protests from Hispanic advocates.
The volatile immigration issue had cooled off on talk shows and in the blogosphere as the presidential election and economic crisis unfolded. Now, some are using the spread of the virus to renew arguments that immigration from Mexico is a threat to America.
There have been no reports of swine flu leading to incidents of discrimination or profiling of Hispanics. But some Hispanics say racist anti-immigration rhetoric fueled the recent rise in hate crimes against Hispanics, and they want to prevent another surge.
Since the virus began to spread, talk radio host Michael Savage has said the Mexican border should be closed immediately and that "illegal aliens are the carriers.” Another radio personality, Neal Boortz, has suggested calling the virus the "fajita flu,” and CNN’s Lou Dobbs called it the "Mexican flu,” according to the liberal watchdog group Media Matters.
"Using fears over a serious and ongoing public health issue to demonize immigrants is incredibly low and incredibly cynical, not to mention completely unsubstantiated,” said Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J. "Some of these comments are overtly racist and have no place in our public discourse.”
The World Health Organization has said that the agency does not recommend closing borders, adding that it would have little effect, if any, on stopping the virus from spreading. President Barack Obama called the idea "closing the barn door after the horses are out.”
The volatile immigration issue had cooled off on talk shows and in the blogosphere as the presidential election and economic crisis unfolded. Now, some are using the spread of the virus to renew arguments that immigration from Mexico is a threat to America.
There have been no reports of swine flu leading to incidents of discrimination or profiling of Hispanics. But some Hispanics say racist anti-immigration rhetoric fueled the recent rise in hate crimes against Hispanics, and they want to prevent another surge.
Since the virus began to spread, talk radio host Michael Savage has said the Mexican border should be closed immediately and that "illegal aliens are the carriers.” Another radio personality, Neal Boortz, has suggested calling the virus the "fajita flu,” and CNN’s Lou Dobbs called it the "Mexican flu,” according to the liberal watchdog group Media Matters.
"Using fears over a serious and ongoing public health issue to demonize immigrants is incredibly low and incredibly cynical, not to mention completely unsubstantiated,” said Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J. "Some of these comments are overtly racist and have no place in our public discourse.”
The World Health Organization has said that the agency does not recommend closing borders, adding that it would have little effect, if any, on stopping the virus from spreading. President Barack Obama called the idea "closing the barn door after the horses are out.”
by the associated press
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