#35 ¿Que pasó? with Señor B - week of 11/24

This week, something truly annoying crossed my desk. The Department of Homeland Security put out a post that wasn't just misleading, it was a despicable act of scapegoating. They essentially blamed immigrants for every single economic hardship facing American families today, from the high cost of housing and the difficulty finding jobs to the inability to afford a car. They even went so far as to blame migrants for spiking healthcare costs!

The trash message is clear and simple: deport immigrants, and all your problems magically disappear.

But we know better. This is not governance; this is a distraction tactic, and sadly, it’s a distraction that is working on too many people.

We live in a world where real economic pressures are squeezing everyone, and the reality is that none of those issues are linked to migrants. The root causes are staring us right in the face;but they are politically inconvenient to talk about.

We can point the finger at tariffs (which inflate the costs of materials for building homes), we can blame the unchecked greed of millionaires and corporations (who drive housing costs and suppress wages), and yes, we can even blame the systemic failure of capitalism to serve the common good.

Instead of tackling these complex, structural failures, powerful people point the finger at other human beings. It’s a tool used throughout history: create a readily identifiable enemy, make them responsible for everyone's pain, and watch as the public focuses its energy on division instead of demanding real change.

The most transparent lie of all is blaming immigrants for healthcare costs. This is not just false; it ignores recent history. The soaring, complex healthcare prices we deal with are a result of things like administrative bloat, pharmaceutical costs, and the systematic dismantling of affordable care options. In fact, many of the barriers to affordable care;like the chilling effect that keeps immigrant families from accessing basic health services;were exacerbated by the previous Trump administration's attacks on the Public Charge rule. Immigrants, by and large, use fewer healthcare resources than their U.S.-born counterparts, often contributing more through taxes than they consume. They are part of the solution, not the cause of the problem.

This DHS narrative isn't just a political post;it’s a calculated effort to erode our empathy and deflect from the policy failures that hurt us all. We must refuse to let it succeed.

This past week, I was fortunate enough to be invited to a community space to meet with Congressman Eric Swalwell, who has just announced his run for Governor of California.

Let me be clear: I am generally weary of politicians in general, especially those who have taken Super PAC money. It’s hard to reconcile the needs of the people on the ground with the influence of big donors, and that skepticism is a protective instinct for our community.

However, a core part of my mission is to be present, ask the tough questions, and take up space for our community wherever important decisions are being made.

He talked about making California more affordable, housing and more. I asked about immigration to be able to understand his stance.

In general, I appreciate his connection to the needs of immigrants and can certainly see him performing well for our communities given his progressive track record in Congress on issues like comprehensive reform, protecting Dreamers, and stopping the inhumane conditions of detention centers. He certainly speaks the language of a fighter for the vulnerable.

But appreciation is not endorsement. We have seen too many politicians speak well during the campaign and act differently when the pressure of power is applied. So, I will continue to wait and see before promoting or backing anyone in this crowded race.

You can judge his response for yourself. I've linked the video below so you can hear directly from Mr. Swalwell about his views on immigration and our community.

In the wake of DHS's ridiculous attempts to blame immigrants for economic woes, they doubled down on their strategy by using a single word that should send a shiver down the spine of anyone who cares about justice: “Remigration.”

We have talked about this concept before, but let's be crystal clear: While on the surface, "remigration" might sound like a neutral, technical term for "migrating people again," the reality is that its modern usage is a far-right, ethno-nationalist belief originating in Europe. It is the polite-sounding term for ethnic cleansing.

The far-right groups that popularized this word use it as a euphemism for the forced removal of non-white people. Crucially, this plan is not limited to undocumented individuals; in its European context, it explicitly includes citizens and the children of citizens if they have "foreign roots" or are deemed "non-integrated." It is a plan rooted in the hateful "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory.

The fact that the Department of Homeland Security is now not only embracing but blatantly promoting this term (even establishing an "Office of Remigration" within the State Department) is wild. This is not a mistake in vocabulary; it is a clear dog whistle to the most extreme elements of the far-right, letting them know exactly where the government stands.

This is not a policy debate over enforcement priorities. This is a battle for the soul of our nation and the fundamental recognition of human dignity.

My stance remains:

This blatant use of a hate-filled concept is a wake-up call. We must treat this not as politics, but as a direct threat to the safety and humanity of millions of our neighbors. The time for mere observation is over.