Sen. #AlexPadilla (D-Calif.) bashed Trump’s #immigration policies & accused the admin of seeking to interfere in the next #election in the Democrat’s #Spanish-language rebuttal to the #SOTU address.
The speech from California’s first #Latino senator was just as focused on threats facing #democracy as the immigrant story in shaping America, ending with a direct plea to register & #vote.
#USpol #Trump
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5753995-padilla-bashes-trump-immigration/
“We just heard Donald #Trump do what he does best∶ #lie. He #lies about the #economy. He lies about his #violent & out-of-control enforcement of #immigration laws. And he’s trying to deceive us about his plans to interfere with the #elections this November. The truth is that the State of our Union does not feel strong for everyone,” #AlexPadilla said during his address.
“Not when the costs of #rent, #food & #electricity keep rising. Not when #Republicans raise our #medical costs to fund tax cuts for #billionaires. And definitely not when federal agents — armed & masked — terrorize our communities by targeting people because of the color of their skin or for speaking #Spanish — including immigrants with legal status & citizens,” Sen #AlexPadilla said.
#Trump #SOTU #USpol #immigration #StateSponsoredTerrorism #affordability #CostOfLiving #healthcare
Sen #AlexPadilla last year was forcibly removed from a press conference with #DHS Secretary #KristiNoem as he sought to question her about an #ICE raid in Los Angeles. It was an episode that he used to critique broader #Trump #immigration policies & the importance of fighting back.
“They may have knocked me down for a moment, but I got right back up….This country has always been shaped by people who were told they did not belong — but who persevered & kept moving forward,” he said.
During his speech, #Trump made numerous disparaging remarks about #immigrants, including #Somalis, & also falsely claimed that noncitizens have been widely voting in US #elections.
Sen #AlexPadilla repeatedly attacked Trump’s #immigration policies & noted that since Trump took office last year, 40 people have died in #ICE custody.
#SOTU #USpol #StateSponsoredTerrorism #ExtraJudicialKillings
“They have even taken the lives of two American citizens in broad daylight, simply for exercising their freedom of speech. These operations began last year in Los Angeles, in my hometown, & have spread to communities in every corner of the country. And that’s not the only threat. #Trump wants to manipulate the next election,” Sen #AlexPadilla said.
#SOTU #USpol #immigration #ICE #StateSponsoredTerrorism #ExtraJudicialKillings
“He has signed executive orders intended to prevent millions of eligible voters from exercising their right to #vote. And he has suggested using #ICE agents at polling places to intimidate voters. These are tactics we have seen in other countries governed by #corrupt #dictators.”
#Trump #SOTU #USpol #ElectionInterference #immigration #Sturmabteilung #StateSponsoredTerrorism #ExtraJudicialKillings
Much of Padilla’s speech was a defense of the role #immigrants have played over #UShistory, comments that come as polls have shown declining support for Trump’s #immigration policies.
“Donald Trump will not be president forever. More importantly, the Dream that has inspired generations of Americans & immigrants will remain long after #Trump is gone,” #AlexPadilla said, listing a number of immigrant groups that faced a history of #discrimination in the #US.
“My message tonight is simple: Only the people save the #people. Our #democracy shines brightest when we stand up & defend one another,” he said, before nodding to the recent Super Bowl performance given by #BadBunny.
“As Bad Bunny reminded us a few weeks ago∶ ‘Together, we are America.’”
#Trump #SOTU #USpol #immigration #StateSponsoredTerrorism #affordability #CostOfLiving #healthcare
@Nonilex Easy to rant, but Senator Padilla takes money & orders from the same corporate interests as most of the Ho’s in Congress. They are all bought & paid for.
https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/alex-padilla/summary?cid=N00047888&cycle=2022
Nonilex
Deb Nam-Krane
Don Hawkins - W7DAH