In a recent episode of MSNBC’s “The ReidOut,” host Joy Reid delved into the complex and contentious issue of immigration, particularly focusing on why polling data suggests that even Democrats and Hispanic Americans are increasingly favoring mass deportations. Reid’s guest for this segment was Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), a key figure on the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement. The discussion ranged widely, touching on the supposed unreliability of polling data and the influence of media narratives.
Reid began by addressing the surprising polling results: “There is this thing that’s happening in the conversation on immigration on the ground level, which is that polling…seems to see more even Democrats or at least a third of Democrats and even Latinos, in some cases, in favor of mass deportation.” She speculated that this could stem from fears of employment competition and a perception of disorder at the border.
Rep. Jayapal responded by casting doubt on the accuracy of these polls. “First of all, I think the polls are all over the place,” she said, echoing Reid’s skepticism. Jayapal suggested that the wording of poll questions heavily influences the results. “There was just a poll recently — a lot of it depends on how you word it. If you say, do you want disorder at the border or do you want people to just come in across the border?”
Reid jumped in with an example: “To your point, not to cut you, but let me read this to you. So, this is the poll in favor of mass deportations. This was the question, it was, ‘Would you favor or oppose the U.S. government starting a new national program to deport all undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S. illegally?’ And so, it’s like it casts these people, but these are folks that working in the meatpacking plants.”
The conversation then shifted to the role of media in shaping public perception. Both Reid and Jayapal suggested that conservative outlets, particularly Fox News, were to blame for stoking fear and opposition to illegal immigration. Reid pointed to contrasting headlines as evidence: “Our banner said, ‘Soon Biden announces legal protections for undocumented spouses of citizens.’ CNN’s banner said, ‘Biden announces new protections for some undocumented spouses.’ Here’s FOX’s banner: ‘Migrant arrested for raping 13-year-old New York City girl.’”
Jayapal laughed at the Fox News headline, while Reid emphasized that such coverage undermines the Democratic agenda on immigration by fostering fear and resentment. “So I think that’s part of the problem, right, is that you have a lot of fear-mongering,” Reid concluded.
From this segment, it’s clear that Reid and Jayapal believe media portrayal and fear-mongering are driving the public’s hardening stance on immigration, rather than legitimate concerns over border security and economic competition. They downplayed the polling results as products of biased questioning and overblown media narratives.
However, this perspective might overlook the genuine anxieties and frustrations felt by many Americans, including those who traditionally support the Democratic Party. As the immigration crisis continues to escalate under the Biden administration, it’s becoming harder to dismiss these concerns as mere products of media manipulation. The reality on the ground, with rising crime rates and economic pressures, cannot be ignored.
The debate over immigration is far from settled, and as more Americans voice their demand for stricter enforcement and control, it’s crucial for policymakers to listen and respond to these valid concerns, rather than simply blaming opposing media outlets.
