Rantz: Ludicrous outrage over ICE deportation of local activist

The purported targeting of an activist for deportation is earning the ire of many in the region. I’m not entirely sure it’s as cut and dry as many are claiming.

Maru Mora-Villalpando is an outspoken critic of immigration policy. She’s also here illegally and has been for over 25 years.

Now she finds herself the target of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Outraged, some activists and politicians, are claiming retaliation.

Condemning the move “in the strongest possible terms,” Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal argued this move by ICE “…is nothing but an attempt to drive fear into immigrant communities, intimidate people out of standing up for their rights and weaken our movement for change.”

Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda claims ICE aims “to silence those advocating for human rights for immigrants…”

I think targeting political opponents with the brute force of the law is immoral. But I’m also not sure, just because you’re an activist, you should be offered special considerations when you’re actively breaking the law by being here illegally. Mosqueda’s position is preposterous and dishonest. Mosqueda doesn’t even acknowledge Mora-Villalpando is here illegally. It turns out ICE can’t deport you if you’re a legal citizen, thus the claim that they’re simply going after human rights activists is ludicrous.

And Jayapal’s statement? I agree that deportation, regardless of who is being deported, can drive fear into illegal immigrant communities (Jayapal doesn’t use the term illegal). It’s supposed to. ICE is meant to disincentivize people from coming to this country illegally the way tickets disincentivize people from using their phones while driving.

This particular case requires a more nuanced discussion, not well-intentioned, but reflexive press releases.

Mora-Villalpando knowingly breaks the law by choosing to live here in excess of what her tourist visa allowed — and flaunting it, while trying to, one could argue, encourage others to break the law like she had. If she is being targeted for deportation, why exactly are we shocked? I would expect someone who constantly says they’re speeding will find themselves on the tail end of police setting up a speech trap on the road they tweet about speeding on. Mora-Villalpando acts like she wants to be a martyr for the immigration cause. Perhaps now the federal government is granting her wish.

ICE hasn’t responded to comment on why she’s received their attention. The assumption from her supporters indicate retaliation, but that’s speculation at this point and none of her supporters seem willing to find out the answer. If the only reason she was targeted is due to her activism, I find that distasteful, though well within their rights. I’d like to get more information on this.

Beyond that, it’s also worth noting what Mora-Villalpando stands for. Despite earning the respect of some, Mora-Villalpando is an extremist with positions that should alarm any hoping for meaningful immigration reform.

In an interview with me in 2015, for example, Mora-Villalpando told me that under no circumstance should anyone ever be deported — even after being convicted of murder — and that “no country benefits from deportation.”

I disagree. Most people would disagree. Her position is as absurd as it is extreme. Most of us want to see bad elements go, while opening our arms to those who want to set up a better life here, while contributing to our neighborhoods and economy. That is my position, while also supporting robust border security and a much easier, faster and merit-based path to becoming a US citizen.

If you hope to accomplish reasonable and fair immigration reforms such as protecting DREAMers, which I also strongly support, you should distance yourself from activists like Mora-Villalpando. She’s one of the voices that make immigration reform increasingly difficult. Why would any Republican want to compromise on this topic if it gives ammunition to an extremist like her to gloat?

It’s human nature to resist these voices and a big reason why Democrats don’t like handing Republicans — or President Trump — any legislative victories. They don’t want to be seen as enabling him. Well, many don’t want to enable voices who think literally no one, under any circumstances, should be deported.

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