In today’s political landscape dominated by Donald Trump, it’s hard to believe that the Republican Party once embraced immigration and advocated for pathways to citizenship for undocumented individuals in the U.S.
Take, for example, Ronald Reagan’s farewell address as president in January 1989, where he passionately praised immigrants as vital contributors who transformed America into a nation that is “forever young, forever bursting with energy and new ideas.”
In stark contrast, Trump has normalized derogatory language and policies aimed at immigrants. During the current presidential campaign, he has shamefully referred to undocumented individuals as “animals” and claimed they are “poisoning the blood of our country.”
Both Trump and his vice presidential pick, JD Vance, have propagated a false narrative suggesting that Haitian “illegal aliens” are responsible for the disappearance of pets in Springfield, Ohio. This misleading story illustrates their disregard for truth.
Perhaps most alarming is Trump’s promise to initiate “the largest deportation effort in our nation’s history” if he regains the presidency. This pledge casts a shadow over the future of countless families.
A Historical Perspective on Immigration Policies
The concept of nativism, or hostility towards immigrants, has a long tradition in U.S. political discourse.
In 1924, the U.S. implemented a stringent immigration quota system that focused on racial and national origins, envisioning a country predominantly composed of white, Anglo-Saxon Protestants.
Interestingly, there were no restrictions on immigrants from the Western Hemisphere, as sectors like agriculture and railroads heavily depended on Mexican labor. These industries relied greatly on Mexican workers during this period.
The quota system was abolished in 1965, replaced by visa preference categories that favored family and employment-based migrants, along with slots for refugees and asylum seekers.
Fast forward to the 1970s, when violence and economic turmoil in Central America led to a notable increase in undocumented immigration to the U.S.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the so-called “Latino threat narrative” began to dominate media narratives about immigration, largely fueled by Republican politicians in border states who gained politically by amplifying public fears.
This growing negative rhetoric coincided with a significant rise in income inequality, a consequence of neoliberal policies pushed by Reagan and other Republican leaders.
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There is a long history of race-baiting and fear-mongering that predates Trump
A Shift in Republican Immigration Rhetoric
Historically, in the early to mid-20th century, Democrats were often the proponents of restrictive immigration policies.
In contrast, many national-level Republicans, often backed by business interests, pushed for policies that facilitated the flow of labor across borders and increased legal immigration levels.
Key conservative figures refrained from demonizing undocumented individuals, portraying immigrants as individuals striving for better opportunities for their families—this narrative highlighted a collective aspiration for the American dream. This perspective emphasized how immigrant labor contributed to economic growth.
Ronald Reagan, a defining conservative figure of the late 20th century, opposed building a border wall and supported amnesty over mass deportations.
Reagan also strongly favored bipartisan immigration reform. In 1986, Congress enacted an immigration law that not only bolstered border security funding but also enabled 2.7 million undocumented immigrants, mainly from Latin backgrounds, to achieve legal status.
Two decades later, President George W. Bush and Republican Senator John McCain advocated for a bipartisan measure that aimed to strengthen border enforcement while also “legalizing” around 12 million undocumented individuals. Unfortunately, this legislation was narrowly defeated.
The vocal support for immigrants by influential Republicans during this time was noteworthy, especially considering that a majority of Americans were in favor of reducing immigration levels between the late 1980s and early 2000s.
However, starting around 2009, the political narrative shifted dramatically. The Tea Party movement brought border security and sentiments of “racial resentment” towards immigrants into the spotlight, challenging mainstream conservative Republicans.
Ross D. Franklin/AP
Consequently, an increasing number of Republicans began adopting stringent and xenophobic rhetoric while backing legislation targeting undocumented immigration.
Interestingly, during this period, the number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. was actually declining, dropping from 12.2 million in 2007 to 10.7 million in 2016.
Trump and the Resurgence of Nativism
Amid the intensifying hostility towards immigrants, Trump launched his presidential campaign in mid-2015 by descending a golden escalator.
In his inaugural speech, he placed immigration front and center, vowing to “build a tremendous wall” and alleging that Mexico was sending “rapists” and “criminals” across the border.
Throughout his campaign, Trump frequently employed anti-Mexican rhetoric and advocated for Islamophobic immigration policies. This antagonistic approach towards immigration was pivotal to his success during both the Republican primaries and the general election against Hillary Clinton.
Once in power, Trump embraced a “zero tolerance” policy on undocumented immigration. His administration implemented an emotionally devastating family separation policy that tore children away from their undocumented parents at the border. Conservative media, including Fox News, heralded this approach.
During his presidency, Trump nearly halved legal immigration rates, significantly limited the intake of refugees, and enacted bans on individuals from predominantly Muslim countries.
According to policy analyst David Bier, there has been a noticeable shift in Republican lawmakers’ priorities:
It seems that the focal point of the immigration narrative is no longer about legality; the primary aim appears to be minimizing the presence of foreigners within the United States.
Trump’s vision was marked by overt racial undertones.
In a 2018 meeting, he infamously inquired why the U.S. should accept immigrants from “shithole countries” such as Haiti or El Salvador, expressing a preference for immigrants from Norway instead.
Immigration’s Role in Elections
Between 2021 and 2023, undocumented crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border surged due to natural disasters, economic strife, and violence in various Latin American and Caribbean countries, with many newcomers seeking asylum.
Although the numbers have dropped sharply in 2024, immigration remains a crucial issue for voters across all political affiliations, particularly in key battleground states like Arizona.
In 2024, Trump’s prominent immigration pledge was symbolized by enthusiastic delegates at the Republican National Convention, waving signs proclaiming “Mass Deportations Now.”
Trump and Vance have attributed nearly every economic and social challenge to undocumented immigrants, painting them as a threatening and incompatible “other” to American culture.
Despite this rhetoric, Trump, during both his presidency and his candidacy, has actively blocked border security legislation. Turmoil at the border serves his political interests.
Moreover, his nativist stance now extends to all types of immigration—he has vowed to limit legal immigration channels as well.
This rhetoric has profoundly influenced public perception. Between 2016 and 2024, support for the deportation of undocumented immigrants rose from 32% to 47%.
By July 2024, 55% of Americans expressed a desire to see immigration levels reduced—an increase of 14 points in just one year.
Many Americans no longer view immigration as a source of renewal and vitality, as they once did. Instead, they increasingly see immigrants as a significant threat to the nation’s future, reflecting the rhetoric employed by Trump.