Farmworkers wear protective clothing while working in a field in the morning heat near Coachella, Calif. Immigrants make up about two-thirds of the nation’s crop farmworkers, and states’ economies could be threatened under President-elect Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportations. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
There are dozens of good reasons related to basic human rights and decency to oppose President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to commence the deportation of millions of immigrants next month when he returns to office.
The idea of conducting mass roundups, destroying families and sending individuals who’ve live here for years — or even decades – to dangerous countries they barely know is ruthless, cruel and a betrayal of our nation’s time-honored tradition as a refuge for people yearning to breathe free.
But even for those who are unmoved by such factors, there’s another powerful and compelling reason – our overall national welfare.
As a long and growing list of experts and business leaders have testified in recent weeks, deporting millions of immigrants and frightening millions more back in the shadows will lead to disastrous results in essential numerous economic fields – from agriculture to construction to healthcare.
And that means higher prices, less productivity and longer waits and greater scarcity when it comes to basic goods and services.
The bottom line: Trump’s simplistic promises may sound appealing, but ultimately, they promise pain for everyone.
For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.