Advocates Call on Congress to Refuse to Legitimize “Invasion” Conspiracy Theory
Portland, Ore. — Today, Western States Center — a non-partisan organization that works to strengthen inclusive democracy and help communities and institutions counter organized bigotry and anti-democracy activity — sent a letter to Congress with 82 other civil and human rights organizations, labor unions, and community-based groups urging Congress to reject legislation and not to fund executive actions that rely on the false and bigoted “invasion” conspiracy theory.
Characterizing peaceful migrants and asylum seekers at the border as a literal military-style invasion propelled by malevolent actors, President Donald Trump has embraced a bigoted conspiracy theory and made it the foundation of federal policy.
Just last month, Trump used the so-called migrant “invasion” as the basis for two Executive Orders — “Guaranteeing The States Protection Against Invasion” and “Protecting The American People Against Invasion.” The letter warns that this extreme rhetoric justifies an expansion of federal powers that threaten our democratic institutions and the safety and liberty of our communities.
Read the letter with a full list of signers here.
Research shows the vast majority of immigrants come to the U.S. fleeing violence or seeking a better life for themselves and their families. However, the Administration’s claim that they are an “invasion” driven by malicious actors depicts immigrants as dangerous and criminal. This dehumanizing and conspiratorial rhetoric is rooted in white nationalism and antisemitism and has repeatedly animated racially-motivated violence.
According to America’s Voice, 165 Members of the 118th Congress employed this rhetoric in their official capacity a total of 1,259 times. This bigoted narrative has inspired deadly attacks across the nation, targeting the Latino community in El Paso, Texas, Black Americans in Buffalo, New York, and Jews in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Terrorists who carried out these horrifying hate crimes and violent murders echoed words from elected officials.
The letter details how the use of this bigoted conspiracy theory in policy discussions poses a public safety risk not only to immigrant communities, but also to Jewish, Black, Brown, Muslim, LGBTQ+, AANHPI, Latinx and many other communities who are implicated in this conspiracy.
The letter concludes: “We implore Senate and House leadership not to support or fund efforts that are led by a fictional and dangerous conspiracy theory purporting an “invasion.” Congress should not provide the justification for continued attacks on our democracy. We cannot let a false and bigoted conspiracy theory replace critical policy conversations, nor threaten the safety and liberty of our communities.”
Dr. Liz Yates, Director of the Momentum Program at Western States Center said: “Depicting migrants and refugees as an ‘invasion’ is not only a dangerous and bigoted attempt to fearmonger, it is now the basis of an authoritarian power grab. We must recognize and denounce these attacks on our communities and assert our collective voice in opposition: migrants and refugees are not pawns in a nefarious conspiracy, as white nationalist movements have long alleged. We are a representative democracy and we will continue to defend our political institutions. We call on members of Congress to do the same and reject the bigotry of the so-called migrant ‘invasion,’ in rhetoric and in policy.”
Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs said: “These dangerous and deadly ‘invasion’ and ‘replacement’ conspiracy theories are being used by this administration to advance dehumanizing policies and an unprecedented expansion of presidential power — directly threatening our communities and our democracy. We know these conspiracy theories have already fueled a cycle of extremist violence targeting Jews, Latinos, the Black community, and others, including the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in U.S. history at Tree of Life in Pittsburgh. Any official who claims to care about our safety and our democracy has a fundamental obligation to reject this extremism.”
Juliana Macedo do Nascimento, Deputy Director of Federal Advocacy for United We Dream said: "The Trump Administration has sought to dehumanize and scapegoat immigrants at every turn in order to distract from the ways they're actively and recklessly endangering the lives of everyday Americans, including immigrants. By trying to characterize immigrants as the enemy, Trump and his cult of anti-immigrant officials are trying to advance their white nationalist nativist agenda and hide the real villains in this story: themselves and their billionaire oligarchs. The American people will not be fooled. Immigrants are part of our families, neighborhoods and communities and are an indelible part of the fabric of our society. These Executive Orders are dangerous and will only serve to harm immigrants and their communities, separating families and making our everyday lives less safe. We urge Congress to uphold their duties and not provide the resources this Administration needs to enact these blatantly xenophobic and racist policies."
Vanessa Cárdenas, Executive Director of America’s Voice said: “The Trump Administration’s obsession with mass deportation has little to do with keeping America safe and more to do with reshaping the nation in MAGA’s preferred image. Advancing a host of anti-immigrant policies wrapped in the language of ‘invasion’ - and the false notion that America is under an assault goes against our values and who we are as a nation. These hostile acts and rhetoric go hand-in-hand with white nationalist conspiracy theories and are linked to multiple deadly acts of violence against civilians-- now including the tragic and heartbreaking suicide of an 11-year-old girl in Texas who was being bullied with deportation threats. The Trump immigration agenda fuels radicalism, hate, and fear, and comes at a high cost to America's soul.”