Of all the lies Donald Trump has told in and out of office, perhaps one of the most egregious is his continued contention that migrants are being allowed entry into the country as part of some vast conspiracy to “overthrow” the U.S.
He repeated this baseless allegation again last weekend while campaigning in North Carolina for his third Republican nomination for president. The Associated Press quoted Trump speaking about the current crop of asylum seekers: “They’re trying to sign them up to get them to vote in the next election.”
“They” apparently means officials in the administration of President Joe Biden. Or perhaps specifically Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, impeached in a blatant political move last month by House Republicans for allegedly refusing to enforce federal immigration laws.
Maybe that’s what Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker had on his mind the other day when he said of the former 77-year-old president: “Donald Trump was stupid and ignorant long before he got old.”
Although President Biden, 81, was at the southern border last week hearing about the migrant crisis, he wasn’t handing out voting cards and ballots. Or was he?
Even if he was, there’s simply no way the millions of migrants crossing our southern borders will be able to vote come Nov. 5. There’s a process to becoming eligible to vote in U.S., state and local elections.
Current migrants probably won’t be voter-eligible until a few years down the political road, when another member of the Trump cabal runs for office. After Super Tuesday, the former president looks like he has the GOP nomination for another run at the White House in the bag.
But asylum seekers are too busy trying to acclimate themselves to a new country, a new language, a new culture and a different lifestyle to think about voting. They’re engaged in filling out forms for aid, finding housing, clothing and jobs.
Besides, it takes a minimum of five years of continuous permanent residency in the U.S. before an immigrant with a so-called green card can apply for naturalization. Unless one is married to a U.S. citizen or is in the armed forces, which shortens the requirement by about two years.
They also have to come up with a $725 filing fee. You can look it up if you don’t believe it.
This is federal law, and something former President Trump should know of since he was settled in the White House for four years. Or facts his advisers should be whispering in his ear when he decides on the campaign trail to rant and rave about the Biden administration wanting to, “establish a new base of power that gives them control for generations.”
Some of his supporters may believe that. Fox News talking heads definitely believe it. Don’t let facts get in the way of a good stump speech, or ratings, or hysterics.
Interesting that when Biden backed a bipartisan deal in the Senate that included stiff border actions, including expulsions, it withered. The measure also included work permits for migrants, bolstering border patrols staffing at crossings and increasing the number of immigration judges.
Republicans in the House reneged on the deal at the urging of Trump, so he can use it as a campaign crutch.
Another part of the journey for immigrants, no matter where they originated from, is that once those five years of U.S. residency are met, they can apply for naturalization. After that, they have to take a citizenship test. In English.
Only then, once they have passed the test and become certified red-white-and-blue naturalized U.S. citizens, can they register to vote. They also get to enjoy the other freedoms that come with citizenship, like serving on juries, running for office and carrying a U.S. passport.
There are agencies across America that help immigrants become citizens. Several are in Lake County, including the HACES (Hispanic American Community Education and Services) based on Waukegan’s North Side.
In 2023, volunteers at the nonprofit helped some 150 residents of Lake County become U.S. citizens. Also last year, HACES immigration case workers helped 214 individuals submit applications seeking asylum in this country.
HACES was among three Lake County agencies to receive state funding to help migrants now living in the area. Illinois has spent more than $41 million so far to aid asylum seekers, most of whom have been bused here by Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.
Those migrant bus trips to Illinois have ebbed for the time being. Odds are they will begin anew as temperatures warm more so than our recent 70-degree days.
The former president will continue his untrue railings about immigrants and voting conspiracies. It is red meat for true Trumpers, even though the message has turned rancid.
Charles Selle is a former News-Sun reporter, political editor and editor.
sellenews@gmail.com
X @sellenews
