Gutierrez: Trump Believes in ‘Stopping Legal Immigration,’ and Stopping People of Color From Coming in

On Wednesday’s broadcast of MSNBC’s “All In,” Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) state President Trump is “about stopping legal immigration,” particularly legal immigration by people of color.

While discussing the president’s comments during the State of the Union on chain migration, Gutierrez said, “Look, Chris, we — you and I should just spend five minutes one night, we can’t do it tonight, and let’s see what countries get eliminated. And you know what we’re going to find? We’re going to find China. We’re going to find South Korea, India, the Philippines. We’re going to find South Korea. We’re going to find Mexico and El Salvador. What do all those countries have in common? Well, they have in common people of color that come to the United States of America, and that’s what he wants to stop. So, he says it’s about crime, right? But it’s really not. He said it’s about a border and building a fence and building a wall. But it’s not. It’s about stopping legal immigration, so that people like me, people like my mom, that came to this country can’t come here anymore.”

Anchor Chris Hayes then asked, “So you’re saying that this is explicitly is a racial project. You believe that the president wants to preserve, essentially, the whiteness of the country and that that is what is motivating his immigration rhetoric and policy?”

Gutierrez responded, “There is absolutely no doubt.”

Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett

COMMENTS

Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.