The New York Times says the Trump administration's obsession with immigrants has “infected its efforts to control the spread” of the coronavirus pandemic.
The newspaper’s comments came in an editorial posted Tuesday.
“Rounding up undocumented immigrants and shutting down the border is something President (Donald) Trump has yearned to do since long before the coronavirus began its fateful spread,” the Times said.
“And his animosity toward undocumented immigrants is affecting the efforts to contain the coronavirus far beyond the border.”
The Times said those who are not documented worry that going to a public health facility will “expose them to ICE agents.”
“Immigrants in the country legally and hoping to obtain a green card fear that seeking help will ruin their chances under the public charge rule, which went into effect in February…” the newspaper said.
“These immigrants are particularly at the mercy of the pandemic. They often live in crowded conditions, have little money and no paid sick leave, and so lack the ability to self-quarantine.”
And the newspaper pointed out that the coronavirus doesn’t care about the passports “its human host may carry or tongue they speak.” And it also said global health isn’t served by just American citizens washing their hands and practicing social distancing.
“Those are best practices that should transcend borders and walls and help us acknowledge our common plight, and humanity,” the editorial said.