Trump’s Bombastic Behavior On Immigration Is That Of A Bull In A China Shop By Alexandra D. Datig

By Alexandra D. Datig, Jul. 12, 2015

In the minds of many Americans, Donald Trump is speaking a truth that has captured the hearts and minds of Americans fed up with the cost of warehousing and supporting illegal immigrants from Mexico, South America, Cuba and other countries.  These undocumented immigrants are costing the country billions in taxpayer dollars that could be spent on things like job-creating infrastructure. 

Unauthorized immigrants make up 5.1% of the labor force amounting to around 8.1 million unauthorized immigrants working or looking for work, i.e. living off the taxpayer dole (Pew Research Center, 2012).  One question we should ask is how much of your tax dollars are being spent on supporting the lives of illegal immigrants and how much of that money ends up back in Mexico and other foreign lands?

According to the Department of Homeland Security, there were 11.4 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. in 2013, around 3.6% of the nation’s population. Half of those unauthorized immigrants represent people from Mexico. Pew cites 60% of unauthorized immigrants come from six states; California, Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey and Illinois.

Presidential Candidate Carly Fiorina recently stated on ABC’s "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," Donald Trump is tapping in to an anger with divisive comments he made on illegal immigration.  It is hard to argue against illegal immigration costing Americans millions of jobs and billions in taxpayer dollars.  Trump’s recent surge however, only takes a populist stance and offers no plan of action on how to mitigate or solve the enormous problem illegal immigration has caused in the U.S. 

Americans like to hear something will be done about an endless injustice on both sides of the border. Trump's lacks a plan of action and does not show Americans how to solve this highly complex problem.  Trump’s bombastic behavior on immigration is that of a bull in a China shop.  How Trump will handle issues on the environment, foreign policy and race relations, to name a few, is anyone’s guess.  While Trump is surging in the polls, Americans supporting Trump should ask if Trump’s provocative stance on immigration is right for the future of America in the national and global perspective or if it's just good TV.