The conservative literates of the Heritage Foundation are articulating lies about Latino immigrants in premeditated and selective academic language.
Jason Richwine and Robert Rector, authors of a new Heritage Foundation study “The Fiscal Cost of Unlawful Immigrants and Amnesty to the U.S. Taxpayer,” seem determined to make immigrants, specifically Latinos, a synonym for social and medical service exploiters, intellectually inferior to whites, delinquents, lazy, unaffordable burden to society and responsible for the social and economic problems of the United States of America.
Heritage Foundation Perpetuates Racist Notions
In the study, released on May 6 by the Heritage Foundation in an apparent effort to influence lawmakers when considering the current comprehensive immigration reform bill, they are singling out Latino immigrants, who they claim would cost taxpayers $6.3 trillion over the next 50 years if given legal status.They claim that Latino immigrants’ limited formal education is certain to relegate them to a permanent low income, hence a stronger and never-ending dependence on government services and benefits.
In essence, the study perpetuates the notion propagated by conservative leaders, such as former California governor Pete Wilson, that immigrants take far more than they contribute.
It is easy to correlate these manipulated assumptions with those documented by Mr. Richwine in his 2009 thesis, “I.Q. and Immigration Policy,” which earned him a doctorate from Harvard University.
In his thesis, Mr. Richwine argued that: “Mexicans, for example, tend to be among the least educated immigrants,” and, in general, “today’s immigrants are not as intelligent on average as white natives… The IQ difference between the two groups is large enough to have substantial negative effects on the economy and on American society.”
Not Just the Wrong Answer, But the Wrong Question
Both the doctoral dissertation and the conservative think-tank study prompted criticism as inaccurate, illegitimate, deeply flawed, offensive, anti-immigrant, racially motivated rhetoric or pure political propaganda by scholars and other prominent leaders.Among those critical of the study are Tim Kane, former analyst for the Heritage Foundation, Robert Hahn, Director of Economics and a professor at the Smith School, University of Oxford, and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).
Bill Keller of The New York Times writes in his “Dark Heritage” piece that “the fundamental flaw is framing the immigration debate as essentially about the federal deficit… Heritage is not just offering the wrong answer; it’s obsessing on the wrong question.”
He further warns readers to "be wary of scholarship that can be twisted into the service of bigotry” and used to manipulate people's fears and prejudices.
Even Mr. Richwine’s thesis advisor, Cuban born George J. Borjas, expressed doubt about Richwine’s “The I.Q. and Immigration Policy” dissertation, stating that “on the whole, the focus on IQ is a bit misguided.”
On Friday, May 10, the Heritage Foundation, which distanced itself instantly from the 158-page Harvard paper, announced that Mr. Richwine had resigned from his post as senior policy analyst.
Immigrants’ Voices Left Out
As has been the pattern, the direct voice of immigrants is rarely heard in any of this debate. Why?Is it because they are in the shadows, living 24/7 in fear of deportation, accustomed to being subjected to political propaganda, racial slurs, condescending attitudes and jobs white Americans are not particularly interested in filling?
Is it because they’re too busy working in the fields, taking care of animals for consumption, taking care of other people’s children and senior citizens, cleaning houses in the daytime and offices at nighttime, maintaining beautiful landscapes, trying to make sure that in the service industry everything looks impeccable, that their faces and language project a friendly welcoming and that the food served is properly cooked and delicious?
Is it because they know they’re allowed to breathe but not get sick, pay rent and taxes but not feel secured or protected, think but not speak, have a name but not a vote, listen but not complain when white Americans, like Jason Richwine and Robert Rector, are busy calling immigrants freeloaders and criminals who are, and will always be, both inferior and a burden to whites, as if they had divine power to predict the future?
Given the opportunity to defend themselves, without the constant and imminent threat of deportation, many of the estimated 11 million people living undocumented in the United States could prove to anyone that they’re productive members of society, that they can create revenues, acquire new skills, learn the English language, and lend a hand to those in need.
