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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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Flu Revives Immigration Debate

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(AP) – The swine flu virus has infected the immigration debate, with talk show comments like "fajita flu" and "illegal aliens are the carriers" drawing vehement protests from Hispanic advocates. The volatile immigration issue had cooled off on talk shows and in the blogosphere as the presidential election and economic crisis unfolded. Now, some are using the spread of the virus to renew arguments that immigration from Mexico is a threat to America.

There have been no reports of swine flu leading to incidents of discrimination or profiling of Hispanics. But some Hispanics say racist anti-immigration rhetoric fueled the recent rise in hate crimes against Latinos, and they want to prevent another surge. "Using fears over a serious and ongoing public health issue to demonize immigrants is incredibly low and incredibly cynical," said Sen. Robert Menendez.

Residents wearing a surgical masks ride their bicycles at the Guatemala-Mexico border crossing in Tecun Uman, Guatemala, Tuesday, April 28, 2009.
Residents wearing a surgical masks ride their bicycles at the Guatemala-Mexico border crossing in Tecun Uman, Guatemala, Tuesday, April 28, 2009.   (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
People, one of them wearing a face mask as a precaution against swine flu, line up at the international border crossing between San Ysidro, CA, and Tijuana, in Mexico, Saturday, May 2, 2009.
People, one of them wearing a face mask as a precaution against swine flu, line up at the international border crossing between San Ysidro, CA, and Tijuana, in Mexico, Saturday, May 2, 2009.   (AP Photo/Guillermo Arias)
People line up at the US-Mexico border crossing in Tijuana, Mexico, Saturday, May 2, 2009.
People line up at the US-Mexico border crossing in Tijuana, Mexico, Saturday, May 2, 2009.   (Guillermo Arias)
Relatives of Juana Garcia react after acknowledging her death outside the National Institute of Respiratory Illnesses, INER, in Mexico City, Tuesday, April 28, 2009.
Relatives of Juana Garcia react after acknowledging her death outside the National Institute of Respiratory Illnesses, INER, in Mexico City, Tuesday, April 28, 2009.   (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
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7 comments
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northeast
May 2, 09 4:51 PM CDT
For the sake of this argument, let's posit that swine flu is something to actually worry about. That being said, it originated from Mexico. If you can't stop diseases from seeping over your borders, that's a national security problem. Reply
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radnip
May 2, 09 4:53 PM CDT
There are conservatives who really want to say all Hispanics go back to Mexico, conveniently forgetting there were Hispanics in several states before those states became a part of the U.S. Reply
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SPH
May 2, 09 5:38 PM CDT
The conclusion of the falsely justified war of 1846 resulted in the US annexation of California, New Mexico, and Arizona...Curiously, two years later vast deposits of gold were discovered in CA...Just guessing but if those resources had remained possessions of Mexico they would be a tad less likely to immigrate to the US... Reply
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LarryG
May 2, 09 8:03 PM CDT
Close the border and keep these low lifes outta my country!!!!! Reply
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+2
ClearSight
May 2, 09 8:34 PM CDT
Our nation has slipped in to the abyss and the darkness that surrounds us is one of our own making with the long years of apathy and denial. Cry Havoc.......... Reply
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