MSNBC Mocks Virginia Voters and Denies The Border Crisis

On March 5th, Virginia was one of 16 states to hold their presidential primary election. In the Republican race, Donald Trump secured a commanding victory, receiving 63.1% of the vote, while Nikki Haley trailed with 34.9%. On the Democratic side, President Joe Biden maintained strong support, earning 88.7% of the party’s votes. According to an exit poll conducted by NBC News, immigration emerged as the foremost concern for Virginia Republican voters, with 37% prioritizing it as their top issue. Following closely, 33% of voters emphasized the economy, while issues such as abortion and foreign policy lagged well behind.

During the coverage of Super Tuesday results, MSNBC featured a panel consisting of Rachel Maddow, Jen Psaki, and Joy Reid. A specific segment focusing on immigration drew considerable criticism, for valid reasons. 

The clip begins with Reid painting Republicans as racist, to no one’s surprise. She asserts, “Republicans are voting on race. They’re voting on the idea of an invasion of brown people over the border…it isn’t about economics.” However, a quick examination of the data regarding immigration sentiment disproves her theory. A poll of Chicago voters reveals that 38% of white voters oppose Chicago becoming a sanctuary city, while 48% of Hispanic and 51% of black voters share the same view. Moreover, black Chicagoans filed a lawsuit against Mayor Brandon Johnson, seeking to end the housing of migrants in public buildings. Perhaps the concern lies not in the “brownness” of the migrants but rather in the prioritization of noncitizens over predominantly minority and low-income citizens.

Psaki proceeded to state, “I live in Virginia. Immigration was the number one issue,” followed by laughter from Reid. Maddow responded mockingly, “Well, Virginia does have a border with West Virginia.” These seemingly tone-deaf anchors appear either completely ignorant or deliberately dishonest. The reality is that migrants exploiting the asylum system are traveling nationwide, contributing to crises in cities like New York, Chicago, Denver, and others, straining resources.

This is in part due to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who, frustrated by federal inaction on immigration challenges in southern border states, started shipping migrants to left-wing cities, with the Democratic-party mayor of El Paso being a major contributor. Thousands of migrants have been bused to Washington, D.C., which, in fact, does border Virginia. However, can these cities legitimately be angry with Texas when they declare themselves to be “welcoming” to migrants and institute policies like “right to shelter,” essentially serving as a magnet to these incoming noncitizens?

At an intense Manhattan town hall meeting on September 6, 2023, New York Mayor Eric Adams passionately explained, “This issue will destroy New York City. We’re getting 10,000 migrants a month. One time we were just getting Venezuela, now we getting Ecuador, now we getting Russian-speaking coming through Mexico, now we getting Western Africa. Now we getting people from all over the globe have made their minds up that they’re going to come through the southern part of the border and come into New York City…We have a 12 billion-dollar deficit. Every service in this city is going to be impacted.”

Adams expresses genuine concerns, given the record-high number of migrant encounters at the US border towards the close of 2023, marked by a notable shift in their countries of origin. Historically, most border encounters involved individuals from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. However, in December 2023, a substantial 54% of encounters involved citizens from other countries as well. 

Any rational person should be able to question the validity of these migrants’ claim to asylum. If their home country poses an imminent threat of death or persecution, why not seek asylum in the numerous countries they pass through before reaching the U.S.? The accommodation of these fraudsters is evident in the U.S., as illustrated by Denver mayor Mike Johnston reallocating city funds to offer them more services or New York’s policy of issuing prepaid debit cards and hotel rooms to migrant families, while thousands of Americans sleep on the street. Not to mention that asylum fraudsters significantly complicate the process for migrants trying to secure safety from legitimate harm in their home country. 

The border crisis is no longer confined to the borders alone. Politicians and the media have long overlooked or denied the issue of illegal immigration, often because they reside far from the border and don’t experience its effects. MSNBC’s dismissive “Virginians shouldn’t have an opinion” rhetoric is concerning, particularly in light of recent crimes committed by migrants such as a sexual assault charge against a minor and a law enforcement officer assault charge in Campbell and Fairfax counties. 

Even the northern U.S.-Canada border is witnessing a surge in crossings, presenting a lucrative opportunity for migrant smuggling rings—also an issue dismissed by Psaki. “Asylum-seekers” are opting to fly to Canada to attempt crossing from the north, driven by the perception that the southern border is more secure. This strategy has proven fatal for some migrants, particularly in the harsh cold temperatures.

Americans have the right to decide who comes into their country and prioritize any issue they please. A significant majority of Americans (78%) view the substantial influx of migrants attempting to enter the U.S. through the U.S.-Mexico border as either a crisis (45%) or a major problem (32%). Only 18% believe the U.S. government is effectively managing the large number of migrants at the border. 

Unfortunately, illegal immigration may be a hopeless issue. These past few years have proved that Biden can essentially call for migrants to “surge” to the border with no consequences, giving him no incentive to enact policy change should he win the election. Republicans, in turn, have used immigration as a talking point without presenting concrete solutions, proving to be an effective strategy for gaining voters. Additionally, in the event of a Trump victory, any legislation on this issue will likely be deemed “racist” by Democrats.

On a more positive note, it is crucial to recognize that immigration, at its core, is a testament to the greatness of the U.S. and the sheer privilege it is to be born here. There must be a balance that maintains compassion for those in danger who yearn for a better life while preventing the abuse of our systems and upholding the rule of law.