Many HSMSE students scrolling on TikTok might have stumbled upon videos of cute pets featuring the trending “Cats and Dogs” remix. But did you know this audio originated from a presidential candidate’s false and dangerous remarks on immigration during the debate, broadcasted to almost a third of the country’s population? In context, Donald Trump claimed Haitian immigrants are “eating the dogs…they’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there.” For immigrants living in the U.S., these remarks are a cause for concern about what our nation might be like in a few months.
Former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris had an intense showdown on September 10, 2024, two months before Election Day. The debate was the first time Harris and Trump had formally met in person. In the 90-minute segment, they debated many subjects U.S. citizens are concerned about, including abortion, foreign policies, immigration, and more.
The debate began with a discussion on the economy, but Trump quickly diverged to the topic of undocumented immigrants, saying they’re taking jobs from Black and Hispanic Americans. He also declared immigrants are “taking over towns [and] buildings,” describing them as “dangerous” and the “highest level of criminality.”
On the topic of immigration, Harris was asked whether her plans differed from the Biden administration’s decision to establish new and stricter asylum restrictions, to reduce border crossing numbers. She discussed a previous strict border security bill that would have added more agents and resources to the border if former President Trump passed it. “But you know what happened to that bill?” Harris asked. “Donald Trump got on the phone, and called up some folks in Congress to kill the bill. And you know why? Because he’d prefer to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem.” She declared that the nation needed a leader to put policies into place before the country was overpopulated. This would hurt the nation’s economy because wages would decrease when that many people work for one country.
Trump then responded with his infamously baseless claim that immigrants were eating pets: “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in. They’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there,” Trump proclaimed, as Harris laughed, seemingly in disbelief. CBS News investigated this claim and concluded there are “no credible reports or specific claims” of pets being eaten or harmed by immigrants.
That was one of the last discussions regarding immigrants in the U.S. presented at the Presidential Debate. However, let’s dive into what the candidates’ policies mean for the approximately 45 million foreign-born people nationwide.
When running for vice president in 2020, Harris advocated for closing private immigration detention centers, limiting deportations, and fighting for a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. However, she now supports the stricter border bill mentioned prior in the article—it would give the president greater control to shut down the border when border crossings are high and limit parole of migrants, which allows them to enter the United States temporarily. At the Democratic National Convention in August, Harris said, “We can create an earned pathway to citizenship and secure our border.”
Trump’s Policies on Immigration
Trump stated in September 2023 that he intends to make the largest mass deportation of undocumented immigrants in American history, rivaling Operation Wetback, a 1950s operation to deport undocumented immigrants under President Eisenhower. According to The New York Times, Trump would “round up undocumented immigrants in mass migrant camps and employ a speedier way to deport them known as ‘expedited removal,’ though that could face legal challenges.” He even intends to hire more officers and agents to carry out this deportation, based on what he said at the Conservative Political Action Conference in March of 2023.
Effect of the Policies on Immigrant Families and Communities
The policies of both of the presidential candidates are going to impact families of mixed status heavily. With Trump’s policy, mixed families would be deported without question, whereas under Harris’s policy, it’s unclear if or how she would provide a pathway to citizenship. The stricter immigration laws create anxiety and fear or relief for those looking to get pathways to citizenship and protection from deportation.
Another factor to consider is how much immigrants support the American economy. As of June 2024, immigrants make up over 19% of the U.S. workforce—that’s over 32 million people! Immigrants also participate in the labor force at a higher rate than native-born workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If the deportation policy gets passed, it would majorly harm the nation’s economy: Businesses would face labor shortages, decreased production, and slower economic activity across multiple industries.
The online commentary about these candidates affects people’s perceptions of them, especially for young voters. Gen Z, for instance, is coping with the political turmoil through humor. For example, Trump’s bizarre claims about immigrants and Harris’s comebacks have been made into memes that can simplify what is going on during the debate or even mock the candidates. The spread of racist disinformation through out-of-context memes can be concerning. While some may perceive it as satire, others might interpret it as supporting Trump and his violent actions, with potential real-life consequences. The memes are overall contributing to voter engagement, mostly among Gen Z and millennials. CNN’s senior data reporter, Harry Enten, said in an appearance on CNN Tuesday that pretty much everyone has made up their minds. “It’s the lowest level of undecideds that we’ve seen in polling at this point this entire 21st century.”
Officials in Springfield said the allegations of dog eating are false, with police issuing a statement that said there were “no credible reports” of Haitian immigrants’ harming pets. After Trump’s brutal claims that spread nationwide and abroad, Springfield is now facing dozens of bomb threats. At least 33 bomb threats have been made in Springfield, Ohio, since the false claims surfaced about Haitian migrants’ eating people’s pets, according to Springfields’ governor, JB Pritzker. This has led to temporary closings and evacuations of schools and city buildings. So, not only is the city of Springfield unsafe, but Trump’s allegations have also made its future unclear. With schools closing, many are unable to get basic education. It is amazing how many people one comment is affecting.
How do MSE immigrant students feel after hearing this?
I spoke to an immigrant student at MSE, who wishes to remain anonymous, to get their perspective on the presidential election. They said the debate made them feel “like a threat to this country, which I know I am not.” Regarding their preferred candidate, they had consistently supported Harris. Their parents, who are both immigrants, initially supported Trump and post-debate are “now leaning towards the Kamala vote but still have a bias for Trump.”
For many students at HSMSE, policies on immigration have a direct impact. The current political climate can be frightening, or even overwhelming—understandably, this topic has many emotions tied to it, especially regarding family. Staff members at MSE are here for those struggling, and students can always visit the Wellness Center in Room 111 to decompress any pent-up feelings.