Trump Appoints Hate Group Leader to Border Patrol Agency

Trump Appoints Hate Group Leader to Border Patrol Agency Julie Kirchner, former executive director of an anti-immigrant hate group, now has a key role with U.S. Border Patrol. - Just one day after U.S. President Donald Trump issued orders to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and attack migrants living in the U.S., two outlets are reporting that he has also appointed Julie Kirchner, former head of the anti-immigrant hate group Federation of American Immigration Reform, as Chief of Staff at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency. The Southern Poverty Law Center labels FAIR a hate group, crediting its white nationalist and pro-eugenics founder John Tanton with creating the modern anti-immigration movement in the U.S. by advocating a complete moratorium on all immigration and encouraging violence towards racialized migrants. Kirchner worked with Tanton – who wrote that the U.S. “requires a European-American majority” – for years before leaving FAIR in 2015 to work on Trump’s campaign as an advisor on immigration issues. Both Democracy Now! and the SPLC reported that Kirchner will serve as chief of staff at Customs and Border Protection, one of the world’s largest law enforcement agencies, which is in charge of customs, immigration, and border security. However Rewire reported that when contacted the agency would not confirm Kirchner’s position, only saying she will serve as an advisor. During the election campaign, Trump repeatedly cited “studies” by FAIR and its offshoot Center for Immigration Studies, which the SPLC also designates as a hate group noting that it distributes work by Holocaust deniers and white supremacists, to justify his racist immigration policies. Just before Trump’s inauguration, FAIR bought advertisements calling for an end to Sanctuary Cities. On Wednesday, Trump signed an executive order cutting off funding to cities which refuse to enable federal government attacks on migrants. The appointment is especially concerning for migrant rights activists given the Border Patrol’s long history of violence towards migrants and the openly racist pronouncements of the U.S. Commander in Chief. “Now that people feel like it’s OK to be proud of being racist [because of Trump’s rhetoric on the campaign trail], I think we will see an increased level of mistreatment and misconduct by Border Patrol agents — and there’s no way to stop it. No independent accountability measure has been put into place or will be put into place, and Congress doesn’t care. These things have been happening for a long time, but now we will face some of the most brutal aggression against immigrants and border communities,” said Fernando Garcia, executive director of the Texas-based Border Network for Human Rights, in an interview with Rewire.  teleSur Pro Deo et Constitutione – Libertas aut Mors Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis Joseph F Barber The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FREEDOM OR ANARCHY Campaign of Conscience Trump, Pena Nieto Talked by Phone After Wall Feud, Official Says: The call was reported earlier by the Associated Press, which said the two leaders spent an hour on the call. Mexican Government to Launch Anti-Trump Strategy: Representatives from the three branches of the Mexican government meet today at the presidential residence of Los Pinos in Mexico City to coordinate a joint plan of action in response to attacks by U.S. President Donald Trump against Mexico. Mexico wall: Trump condemned over imports tax proposal: "A tax on Mexican imports to the United States is not a way to make Mexico pay for the wall, but to a way make the North American consumer pay for it through more expensive avocados, washing machines, televisions.'' How a 20% Mexico tariff could cost US shoppers: American consumers may have to pay more for products ranging from Toyotas to vegetables to beer if a proposal floated by President Trump to impose a 20% tariff on Mexican imports goes into effect. The Dangers of a U.S.-Mexico Trade War: This situation could get rather ugly. A recession in Mexico can backfire for the US – including bringing more of what the “great wall” is trying to prevent. Expecting Trump action, U.S. suspends refugee resettlement interviews: The decision effectively amounts to a pause in future refugee admissions, given that the interviews are a crucial step in an often years-long process. The White House will publish a weekly list of crimes committed by immigrants: The Secretary of Homeland Security will be publishing a weekly list of crimes committed by immigrants, and of the cities that refused to turn them in for deportation. Sanctuary Cities Have Upper Hand in Legal Battle Against Trump: Silver lining of the week: Lawmakers didn't review Trump's executive orders, making them easy to legally dismantle.