Even the legacy media is now acknowledging what’s been painfully obvious for years: the southern border is a sieve. Millions of unscreened illegal immigrants have poured in since early 2021 when the Biden administration (and brutal cartels) took command.
An interesting aspect of this violation of law is how enthusiastically unions, especially our so-called teachers unions, have helped foster this rampage of humanity into our country — and, oddly, how the unions of 50 to 75 years ago stood 180 degrees opposite today’s union position on immigration.
How right they were then; how wrong they are now.
They were right because illegal immigration imposes housing, healthcare, educational, and other costs on taxpayers. More pertinent to unions, illegal immigrants also take jobs. Sometimes they pay taxes into the system, but sometimes — maybe even oftentimes — they don’t. And even more concerning, they enter our country unvetted, so hardened criminals and people who don’t embrace American values are permitted to destabilize our culture.
Until the AFL-CIO abruptly switched positions in 2000, unions were reliably lawful about illegal immigration.
For labor icons, look no further than Cesar Chavez, head of the famous United Farm Workers. His bona fides in labor circles are virtually unassailable. But inconveniently, Chavez was a vitriolic critic of illegal immigration, calling it “A vicious attack on the local workers.”
Among other things, in an October 1974 interview, Chavez said, “They’re coming in with the consent of the … Department of Justice.” Also: “The workers themselves, even though a lot of them are of Mexican descent themselves, are very uptight and very worried and very mad about the illegals coming to … take their jobs.”
“We don’t want Mexico to export its poverty to us,” Chavez said.
You should see the leftist organs these days try to square Chavez’s stance on illegal immigrants with labor’s sycophantic support for unrestricted immigration today. Even the UFW website is out with some pieces about his “nuanced” views. Another outlet spoke of “Chavez’s Complex History on Immigration.”
Unions have to engage in revisionism because their power resides in Democratic electoral wins. A Democratic win in 2024 would ensure an avalanche of border crossers — no matter the law or what’s humane, who’s coming across, their health status, or their intentions.
The Left’s numerous attempts at historical revisionism (see: critical race theory or the 1619 Project, both taught in government schools) are geared to push an anti-American agenda. And so it is with even an icon as revered as Cesar Chavez. He may have been a foe of big agribusinesses, but you’d be hard put to say he was anti-American. Well, he is now.
For its part, the UFW asserts that “no American union or labor leader embraced undocumented immigrants and immigration reform earlier and more consistency (sic) than the UFW and Cesar Chavez.”
That’s a telling assertion, and an outright misrepresentation of Chavez. Sadly, these organizations exist to protect and enrich themselves. They will say or do anything to push those priorities. Anything that threatens them is an enemy worthy of opposition.
Hence, the National Education Association posts a form letter on its website encouraging its 3 million members to write their representatives to encourage them to oppose the Secure the Border Act. This is no surprise for those of us who watch NEA carefully. In 2017, NEA adopted a new business item asserting support for sanctuary cities and sanctuary schools and another declaring, “public school staff should decline cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.” And yet another labeling former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies as “heartless, racist, and discriminatory.”
Really unions? Have you considered the lived nightmare of open border victims of sex trafficking and rape — including the child victims? Is it “heartless” to protect them and their grieving parents with strong border policies?
NEA leaders regularly brandish posters demanding “Abolish ICE,” “Defund Police,” and “Sanctuary cities NOW!” with no remorse for the chaos and devastation they’re causing.
So why do unions today back illegal immigration? Because a) they’ve lost their way and no longer exist to protect workers, and b) it will potentially lead to a one-party state run by Democrats, which means an endless gravy train of money for unions.
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How? California supplies a good example. Thanks to union influence, the state red-carpets illegal immigrants. It even offers an “ID card” for them through the Department of Motor Vehicles (which is run by unions). The application for that ID includes an automatic registration to vote. The DMV website helpfully says, “Those who indicate eligibility to vote and do not opt out, will be registered to vote.” And voila. Oodles more illegal Democratic voters.
So-called teachers unions, along with many other government unions, are out of their lane. These unions endanger the safety of students they claim to treasure, imperil their learning environments, and cheapen the value of citizenship by pushing outside-the-law policies. They should do another 180 and get back on the right side.
Rebecca Friedrichs is the founder of For Kids and Country, the author of Standing Up to Goliath, and a 28-year public school teacher who was lead plaintiff in Friedrichs v. CTA. Roger Ruvolo is a longtime newspaper editor and a contributor to For Kids & Country.