When the illegal immigrant next door is your friend

[Dark Matters]

Just a story about the effects of Orange Chump's immigration ban on people who have been living, working and PAYING TAXES in this country while being an illegal immigrant.  And how Trumphumpers are forced to rethink their position on immigration when it wears the face of someone they know, like and respect.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/27/us/immigration-trump-illinois-juan-pacheco.html?referer=&_r=0

WEST FRANKFORT, Ill. — Ask residents of this coal-mining crossroads about President Trump’s decision to crack down on undocumented immigrants and most offer no protest. Mr. Trump, who easily won this mostly white southern Illinois county, is doing what he promised, they say. As Terry Chambers, a barber on Main Street, put it, the president simply wants “to get rid of the bad eggs.”

But then they took Carlos.

Juan Carlos Hernandez Pacheco — just Carlos to the people of West Frankfort — has been the manager of La Fiesta, a Mexican restaurant in this city of 8,000, for a decade. Yes, he always greeted people warmly at the cheerfully decorated restaurant, known for its beef and chicken fajitas. And, yes, he knew their children by name. But people here tick off more things they know Carlos for.

[fraurosena]

I read that article too. What I find so disconcerting about these people is their persistant cognitive dissonance, even when faced with the facts. Yes, they see their friend, this pillar of the community, well-liked and respected, being taken away. They believe Pacheco doesn't deserve this treatment. However, they still believe in the crack down and even support it. Because all the other  illegals, the ones they don't know personally, they are bad guys! 

Sigh.

[Cartmann99]

7 hours ago, fraurosena said:

I read that article too. What I find so disconcerting about these people is their persistant cognitive dissonance, even when faced with the facts. Yes, they see their friend, this pillar of the community, well-liked and respected, being taken away. They believe Pacheco doesn't deserve this treatment. However, they still believe in the crack down and even support it. Because all the other  illegals, the ones they don't know personally, they are bad guys! 

Sigh.

Don't you understand? Carlos is one of the "good" ones.