>> The house passage this week of a tax cut and
spending bill that enacts President Donald Trump's
agenda, does so by adding some $2.5 trillion to the
national debt over ten years. That's after cutting
more than $1 trillion in social safety net programs
like Medicaid and food aid. The bill also beefs up
spending on immigration enforcement, billions of
dollars for more Ice officers and the border
wall, for example. And it includes things like a
thousand dollar fee on migrants seeking asylum, on
immigration policy as it affects Wisconsin. We turn
for reaction to Darrell Morin, who's national
president of Forward Latino. He joins us from Milwaukee.
And thanks very much for being here.
>> Well, thank you for having me here today.
>> So passage of the bill, as you know, was not without
kind of Republican infighting over its
provisions. But what is your reaction to what's in it
around immigration? >> Well, we're continuing to
see an attack on our immigrant community, which
we know has so many, you know, impacts our state in
so many different ways. From from the workforce and labor
force shortage that we have right now in the state of
Wisconsin to the very social fabric tearing apart people,
tearing apart families. And we're talking about people
for the majority who are worshiping in our pews,
working in our shops, helping pick our food and
care for our parents. So it's going to continue to
have a profound impact on our state here.
about the numbers of immigrants in Wisconsin who
have come in contact with Ice?
>> Well, fortunately, the Ice offices in the state of
Wisconsin do not have the resources that we know they
wish they had. So we've seen we've seen a slight uptick
in the number of detentions. But the ones that have
happened have been very high profile, such as the
detentions that have taken place in courthouses, for
instance. And that was a practice that under
Democratic and Republican administrations before was
strictly banned because they realized the impact that
would have on public safety. But sadly, things have
changed with this administration.
>> Yes, because perhaps the most visible arrest in
Wisconsin was that of Milwaukee Judge Hannah
Dugan, charged with allegedly helping a man
evade arrest by Ice agents. And it was shown in a photo
released by FBI Director Kash Patel. What do you make
of that case? >> Well, sadly, I fear that
the FBI and the folks working there are not being
led well, that issue seems to be more one about
garnering headlines and trying to intimidate the
courts than doing anything to improve public safety.
What's been rather surprising and welcome
welcoming to see, is that so many people on both the
liberal and conservative sides are actually donating
to the judge's campaign to fund her. Her her legal
representation. And in fact, she's being represented by
two of the most conservative attorneys, well credentialed
conservative attorneys in the state. So I think
everybody's coming together and said it's important not
only to defend her, but more importantly, defend the
Constitution and the separation of powers between
the executive branch and the judiciary.
>> And yet, when people you advocate for see a judge
arrested, what do they think about their own protections?
>> Well, there's I'm not going to deny it. There is
tremendous concern out there right now with all of the
policies and rules that are changing outside of the
normal channels. We're seeing individuals across
the country, even those lawfully present in the
United States, being detained and deported
without any due process whatsoever. And what I think
should concern every American is that a lot of
those detentions and deportations have taken
place despite court orders. Saying that they're we're
not to move forward, and they were not to occur. So
not only is this an immigration issue, but it's
quickly becoming a constitutional issue as
well. >> We know this week that
the U.S. Supreme Court allowed Donald Trump to
revoke Venezuelans protected status, as that case
proceeds. What is your and others reaction to that?
>> Oh, there's a tremendous amount of fear. And but I
think, more importantly, a feeling of betrayal amongst
so many in the Venezuelan community whose vote was
literally courted by the administration's campaign,
you know, accusing our previous president of being
a dictator and the framework of the current leader of
Venezuela. And then to see what is happening today,
they are completely dismayed and disappointed and enraged
and fearful because many of them are going to be
returned under these conditions to an oppressive
regime and will feel those repercussions in a very
serious way. >> When you consider all of
the kinds of ways that the administration wants to
sweep immigrants from our shores and prevent new
immigrants from coming here, what stands out the most?
>> Well, being a person of faith, I can tell you that's
the first thing here. I think that I fear the
administration has taken an all stick approach to this.
It doesn't have to be one or the other. For years we've
advocated with others, such as former Speaker Paul Ryan
and the late, great Senator John McCain. We've advocated
for immigration reform that would not only meet our our
country's security and economic concerns and
requirements, but would allow us to fulfill the
tenets of our faith and to be the defenders of
humanity. So we know we can have all three. They're not
mutually exclusive. >> Darrell Modine, thanks