Since his famous Trump Tower speech back in 15ʼ‚ Donald Trump has kept immigration as his main focus. During recent election he blocked a bi-partisan border bill (even though it had most GOP demands) just to keep this topic hot
His campaign showed next-level anti-immigrant talk with plans for mass-deportation programs. In one odd statement he talked about Haitians eating pets in Springfield OH. Exit polls proved this strategy worked well - voters blamed current administration for relaxing border rules about 3 years ago
The new admin picks show whats coming: Stephen Miller (who made first-term travel bans) gets deputy chief spot; Tom Homan becomes border czar. Like Reagan used anti-communism Trump uses immigration to keep his different supporters together:
- podcast fans
- business people
- rural workers
- religious groups
- climate-change non-believers
Back in 80s Reagan used Soviet threat to unite different conservative groups - from Wall St folks to church people. His famous “Bear“ ad got him huge win with 525 electoral votes. Democrats had hard time fighting back then just like now they struggle with immigration topic
There is a bear in the woods For some people the bear is easy to see Others dont see it at all
Looking at history Reagans stance changed when Mikhail Gorbachev came to power: they made deals cut nuclear weapons. But experts think Trump wont change his mind - his immigration plans will likely get stronger making many communities feel unsafe