First, they came for the Mexicans, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Mexican.
Then they came for foreign nationals of color, and I did not speak out – because I was not of color.
Then they came for the Muslims and I did not speak out – because I was not a Muslim.
Then they came for the Hispanics seeking refuge and safe haven in the US, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Hispanic.
When they come for the Jews, will anyone be left to speak for us?
We must never forget that we Jews are a minority with a history of being persecuted, perhaps more than any other minority. Why are our voices not the loudest when we see crying children torn from the arms of their parents; children, including those with disabilities, taken from schoolyards, only to “disappear”; pregnant migrant mothers shackled and thrown brutally onto the ground; asylum applicants shipped to third world countries where they face indefinite incarceration and torture; and people living in the U.S. legally (paroled in or granted temporary protected status) suddenly rendered illegal with a stroke of the Presidential pen?
Are we so naïve as to think that it could not happen to us? When antisemitism has more than doubled in the last five years with an estimated 1 in 4 Americans (an even higher percentage worldwide) being antisemitic. Whenever we see other minorities, or other groups of people who are disfavored for whatever reason, being denied legal and human rights, being treated as subhuman, being treated in ways that shock the conscience, Jews should be the first to say no – never again. If we do not want this to happen to us –we must not let it happen to others. Hopefully, because of our innate sense of humanity. If not, just because it would be foolhardy to believe that we cannot be next.
Our president has institutionalized racism, labeling foreigners “animals”, “garbage”, “rapists,” “eating pets”, “from shithole countries,” “poisoning our blood.” Dehumanizing people is part of the playbook for ethnic cleansing. Make no mistake – we are witnessing with our very eyes an ethnic cleansing of foreign nationals, people of color, Hispanics, non-white, and non-Christians. History has proven that ethnic bigotry will come back to harm Jews. After all, antisemitism is just a form of racism.
To be clear, this has nothing to do with going after foreigners with serious criminal records. That is what people voted for when they elected President Trump. If that formed the basis for US immigration policy, very few would be outraged.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of those subjected to this administration’s brutality are not criminals. Studies consistently show that foreign nationals commit crimes at lower rates than native born citizens. A small minority of people being picked up on the streets, in schools, in places of worship have criminal records; and most that do have criminal records have committed minor driving and other offenses that would not even constitute deportable offenses.
We take solace in polls that show that a majority of my fellow Americans are opposed to apprehending and deporting people because of how they look or their accent. They oppose separating children from their parents. They oppose children being taken into custody at schools and places of worship. They oppose parents being separated from a child dying of cancer. They oppose incarcerating foreign nationals in atrocious facilities, without clean water, adequate facilities or food. They do not support “disappearing” people to prisons in El Salvador or other third-world countries where they have no ties.
They do not support over 200 U.S. citizens and countless lawful permanent residents being apprehended by ICE in the name of cleansing our country of evil We are witnessing – and, by our silence, empowering – our government systematically unraveling our entire history and culture of honoring our international and treaty obligations of offering the opportunity of a haven for persecuted foreign nationals, including Jews. Many of our Jewish friends from Russia and elsewhere came to the US as refugees. President Trump has indefinitely suspended the refugee program (other than for white South Africans). This Administration has drastically reduced opportunities for people fleeing persecution, including Jews, at a time when Jews are under siege around the world, by placing a hold on all pending asylum decisions indefinitely, violating international law and treaty obligations. He has implemented a travel ban on 26 countries, almost all of which are black nations. Anyone who cares to open their eyes can see that what started as going after “Mexican rapists” has been used as an excuse to implement a white national agenda as the basis for US immigration policy.
We have been practicing immigration law for over 40 years. We have always been proud that our country has offered the opportunity of refuge for the oppressed, giving them a chance to demonstrate that they would be persecuted in their home country because of their race, religion nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion. Many of our fellow Jews were able to avail themselves of protection in the U.S. – but not anymore. The words “give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” meant something! It is what America was all about. Now they are a bunch of meaningless words on a statue.
Our Jewish brethren must stand up against this reign of terror…if for no other reason than less than a century ago we were the victims of oppression. We said “Never Again.”
Did we really mean that? If we don’t stand up for others now, no one will stand up for us.
*Ron Klasko and Tammy Fox-Isicoff are partners in Exodus Migration, LLC.
