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"In Mexico, the influx of corn has created a situation where U.S.-grown corn is cheaper than corn grown in Mexico, pushing farmers and families off their land." (Photo: Richard Perry/NYTimes)
Recognizing the Neoliberal Roots at the Heart of Trump's Cruel and Inhumane Border Policies
America’s unique responsibility for creating this crisis is one of the many reasons that we have to put an end to the president's "zero-tolerance" policy.
Jun 22, 2018
The human rights violations at the border and in detention centers all over the country are an outrage. Ripping children away from their parents with no plan for how and when to reunite them is inhumane -- and it has created irreparable trauma for thousands.
Trump's announcement to reverse his horrific decision to separate families is nowhere close to enough to address the current situation or the root of the crisis. It's cruel and ironic that many immigrants are seeking a better life in America to try to escape the effects of the very policies that the United States has used its enormous power to promote in their countries.
U.S. agricultural policy and trade deals like NAFTA and CAFTA have put corporate profit before the wellbeing of the people -- often creating a situation where people are not able to make a living and are forced to leave their homes.U.S. agricultural policy and trade deals like NAFTA and CAFTA have put corporate profit before the wellbeing of the people -- often creating a situation where people are not able to make a living and are forced to leave their homes.
For example, NAFTA created an overabundance of commodity crops in the U.S. that we export abroad. In Mexico, the influx of corn has created a situation where U.S.-grown corn is cheaper than corn grown in Mexico, pushing farmers and families off their land. On top of that, NAFTA required countries to weaken farm safety nets, making the impact of a flood of cheap U.S. corn exports to Mexico even more devastating.
U.S. policies have long-reaching impacts. The real human misery, conflict and cruelty we are seeing today are some of their many ripple effects. And as temperatures rise due to our irresponsible addiction to fossil fuels, people will be forced to migrate in response to drought and other impacts from climate chaos.
America's unique responsibility for this crisis is one of the many reasons that we have to put an end to Trump's zero-tolerance policy at U.S. borders.
We must reunite these children with their families and end indefinite family detentions.
We must eliminate corporate driven trade deals that are geared towards profit, while harming people, communities, workers and the environment.
We must take a hard look at the neoliberal policies that both political parties have wholeheartedly supported--including trade, security and economic policies--that benefit the richest and tear apart the lives of the poorest.We must ensure a just transition to 100% renewable energy to protect our planet and ensure a livable future.
And, we must reinforce the fact that seeking asylum in the United States is not illegal and instead ensure policies that give people the dignity and human respect they deserve.
Finally, we must take a hard look at the neoliberal policies that both political parties have wholeheartedly supported--including trade, security and economic policies--that benefit the richest and tear apart the lives of the poorest.
That's why we at Food & Water Watch will be side by side with activists and organizers at the Saturday, June 30 #FamiliesBelongTogether actions all over the U.S.
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It's never been this bad out there. And it's never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed, the threats we face are intensifying. We need your support now more than ever. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Will you donate now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Wenonah Hauter
Wenonah Hauter is the founder and executive director of Food & Water Watch. She has worked extensively on energy, food, water and environmental issues at the national, state, and local level. Experienced in developing policy positions and legislative strategies, she is also a skilled and accomplished organizer, having lobbied and developed grassroots field strategy and action plans.
The human rights violations at the border and in detention centers all over the country are an outrage. Ripping children away from their parents with no plan for how and when to reunite them is inhumane -- and it has created irreparable trauma for thousands.
Trump's announcement to reverse his horrific decision to separate families is nowhere close to enough to address the current situation or the root of the crisis. It's cruel and ironic that many immigrants are seeking a better life in America to try to escape the effects of the very policies that the United States has used its enormous power to promote in their countries.
U.S. agricultural policy and trade deals like NAFTA and CAFTA have put corporate profit before the wellbeing of the people -- often creating a situation where people are not able to make a living and are forced to leave their homes.U.S. agricultural policy and trade deals like NAFTA and CAFTA have put corporate profit before the wellbeing of the people -- often creating a situation where people are not able to make a living and are forced to leave their homes.
For example, NAFTA created an overabundance of commodity crops in the U.S. that we export abroad. In Mexico, the influx of corn has created a situation where U.S.-grown corn is cheaper than corn grown in Mexico, pushing farmers and families off their land. On top of that, NAFTA required countries to weaken farm safety nets, making the impact of a flood of cheap U.S. corn exports to Mexico even more devastating.
U.S. policies have long-reaching impacts. The real human misery, conflict and cruelty we are seeing today are some of their many ripple effects. And as temperatures rise due to our irresponsible addiction to fossil fuels, people will be forced to migrate in response to drought and other impacts from climate chaos.
America's unique responsibility for this crisis is one of the many reasons that we have to put an end to Trump's zero-tolerance policy at U.S. borders.
We must reunite these children with their families and end indefinite family detentions.
We must eliminate corporate driven trade deals that are geared towards profit, while harming people, communities, workers and the environment.
We must take a hard look at the neoliberal policies that both political parties have wholeheartedly supported--including trade, security and economic policies--that benefit the richest and tear apart the lives of the poorest.We must ensure a just transition to 100% renewable energy to protect our planet and ensure a livable future.
And, we must reinforce the fact that seeking asylum in the United States is not illegal and instead ensure policies that give people the dignity and human respect they deserve.
Finally, we must take a hard look at the neoliberal policies that both political parties have wholeheartedly supported--including trade, security and economic policies--that benefit the richest and tear apart the lives of the poorest.
That's why we at Food & Water Watch will be side by side with activists and organizers at the Saturday, June 30 #FamiliesBelongTogether actions all over the U.S.
Wenonah Hauter
Wenonah Hauter is the founder and executive director of Food & Water Watch. She has worked extensively on energy, food, water and environmental issues at the national, state, and local level. Experienced in developing policy positions and legislative strategies, she is also a skilled and accomplished organizer, having lobbied and developed grassroots field strategy and action plans.
The human rights violations at the border and in detention centers all over the country are an outrage. Ripping children away from their parents with no plan for how and when to reunite them is inhumane -- and it has created irreparable trauma for thousands.
Trump's announcement to reverse his horrific decision to separate families is nowhere close to enough to address the current situation or the root of the crisis. It's cruel and ironic that many immigrants are seeking a better life in America to try to escape the effects of the very policies that the United States has used its enormous power to promote in their countries.
U.S. agricultural policy and trade deals like NAFTA and CAFTA have put corporate profit before the wellbeing of the people -- often creating a situation where people are not able to make a living and are forced to leave their homes.U.S. agricultural policy and trade deals like NAFTA and CAFTA have put corporate profit before the wellbeing of the people -- often creating a situation where people are not able to make a living and are forced to leave their homes.
For example, NAFTA created an overabundance of commodity crops in the U.S. that we export abroad. In Mexico, the influx of corn has created a situation where U.S.-grown corn is cheaper than corn grown in Mexico, pushing farmers and families off their land. On top of that, NAFTA required countries to weaken farm safety nets, making the impact of a flood of cheap U.S. corn exports to Mexico even more devastating.
U.S. policies have long-reaching impacts. The real human misery, conflict and cruelty we are seeing today are some of their many ripple effects. And as temperatures rise due to our irresponsible addiction to fossil fuels, people will be forced to migrate in response to drought and other impacts from climate chaos.
America's unique responsibility for this crisis is one of the many reasons that we have to put an end to Trump's zero-tolerance policy at U.S. borders.
We must reunite these children with their families and end indefinite family detentions.
We must eliminate corporate driven trade deals that are geared towards profit, while harming people, communities, workers and the environment.
We must take a hard look at the neoliberal policies that both political parties have wholeheartedly supported--including trade, security and economic policies--that benefit the richest and tear apart the lives of the poorest.We must ensure a just transition to 100% renewable energy to protect our planet and ensure a livable future.
And, we must reinforce the fact that seeking asylum in the United States is not illegal and instead ensure policies that give people the dignity and human respect they deserve.
Finally, we must take a hard look at the neoliberal policies that both political parties have wholeheartedly supported--including trade, security and economic policies--that benefit the richest and tear apart the lives of the poorest.
That's why we at Food & Water Watch will be side by side with activists and organizers at the Saturday, June 30 #FamiliesBelongTogether actions all over the U.S.
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