In today's immigration debate, even the truth is controversial
Homan redeemed himself when he said this: "I'll tell you, you can't have it both ways. You can't be part of this country and not respect its laws."
Bravo. That's another problem with the pro-immigrant left. They teach illegal immigrants to demand all the benefits of living freely in the United States while accepting none of the responsibilities that come with it.
Meanwhile, in Texas, it is pro-immigrant activists who are in hot water for telling the truth. After they confronted legislators over a law that would prohibit cities from declaring themselves "sanctuaries" for illegal immigrants, things quickly got ugly. Republican state Rep. Matt Rinaldi called ICE on the mostly Latino group of protesters because, he said in a statement, they were chanting and holding signs that read: "I am illegal and here to stay."
Oh, grow up. After I wrote a column about the incident, I heard from an irate reader who said that signs like that, and symbols like the Mexican flag, are incendiary because they amount to protesters "rubbing our noses" in the fact that they're here and there is not much Americans can do about it. Even if we deport them, they'll often come back -- especially if their spouses and children are caught on this side of the border.
Of course, as I mentioned, there is one surefire way to get rid of illegal immigrants: Stop hiring them, and do your own chores. For many Americans, though, this is a nuclear option they won't even allow themselves to contemplate.
The point is, let's not get distracted and start attacking each other for telling the truth. Instead of bashing people for sharing an unpleasant reality, we should change the reality.
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Ruben Navarrette's email address is ruben@rubennavarrette.com.
(c) 2017, The Washington Post Writers Group
