No, Mr. President — Sexual Violence Isn’t an Immigration Issue

“This month, we recognize National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month by ending the unfathomable human abuse committed under open borders policies.”

When I read President Trump’s proclamation for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, my jaw dropped. On one hand, after he failed to recognize Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month in February, it was positive to see any recognition at all.

On the other . . . it felt more like I was reading a tirade against immigrants rather than an acknowledgment that sexual assault continues to be a prevalent issue on an international scale. It’s hard to watch Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month be used not to center survivors, but to push a political narrative that misplaces blame and distracts from the root causes of violence.

… the vast majority of sexual assaults are committed by people the victim knows

Sexual violence is a systemic issue, deeply tied to power, misogyny, and cultural normalization of abuse — not a “border crisis.” The truth is, the vast majority of sexual assaults are committed by people the victim knows — and they’re family, neighbors, classmates, co-workers.¹ Weaponizing a handful of tragic stories to vilify immigrants doesn’t just misrepresent the data — it actively harms real efforts to address sexual violence. If we actually care about ending sexual violence, we should be funding the people and programs doing the work — not scapegoating immigrants and ignoring the cultural movements
that allow this violence to persist in every corner of this country.

… migrants are actually less likely to commit crimes than citizens

Furthermore, since when does the USA have an open borders policy? We’ve had some form of immigration policies since the Page Act of 1875 – this was the first federal law to restrict immigration, specifically targeting Asian women.² Ironically, the argument for the “Oriental Exclusion Act of 1875”was that it was to protect women from being trafficked into the USA
against their will, in response to a thriving prostitution industry on the West Coast.³

A few years later, the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act was passed to prevent Chinese men from immigrating as well.⁴ That same year, the Immigration Act of 1882 marked the beginning of the formal immigration process — complete with visas, entry screenings, and exclusions based on perceived desirability. Since then, the United States has never had open borders.⁵ To claim otherwise is not only misleading — it erases over a century of policy, enforcement, and bureaucracy.

(USAID) was completely shut down . . . their efforts to prevent global human trafficking were halted

While the President’s proclamation points out cases of crime by migrants, like the tragic murder of Laken Riley, research has shown that migrants are actually less likely to commit crimes than citizens⁶ and immigrants are 60% less likely to be incarcerated than citizens.⁷ The New York Times debunked the widely held belief that immigration leads to increased crime in the United States, in “The Myth of the Criminal Immigrant.” The analysis, in collaboration with The Marshall Project, examined data from 200 metropolitan areas over several decades, revealing that as immigrant populations grew, violent crime rates either decreased or remained stable.⁸

And yet, what’s even more insulting is that the same administration making this proclamation has overseen or supported constant cuts to programs that actually help survivors: community-based prevention initiatives⁹, trauma-informed care, research funding¹⁰, school-based consent education¹¹, and more¹². The Crime Victims Fund, which funds domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers, crisis hotlines, and legal aid, experienced a 40% reduction in funding.¹³

How can this administration claim sexual violence is an “unfathomable human abuse,” while simultaneously encouraging this abuse to occur against people they consider undesirable?

The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) funding was impacted, leaving local organization without funding and leaders of divisions like the Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services, put on administrative leave.¹⁴ The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was completely shut down, which meant their efforts to prevent global human trafficking were halted.¹⁵

Alongside this performative outrage about sexual violence and human trafficking, our government is even sending legal migrants to El Salvador prisons, where sexual violence against deportees is common.¹⁶ How can this administration claim sexual violence is an “unfathomable human abuse,” while simultaneasly encouraging this abuse to occur against people that they consider undesirable? We cannot pick and choose who is and who isn’t worthy of protection. We have a criminal justice system for a reason, and assault is not a legally permissible consequence for crime.

Here is what all of us can do. . .

Meanwhile, we’re seeing a disturbing rise in public misogyny — from influencers glorifying male dominance to lawmakers mocking women’s rights. Where is the national emergency for that?

Jordan Peterson¹⁷, Andrew Tate¹⁸, Donald Trump¹⁹– all birds of a feather, with significantly large platforms. Trump himself has been accused of sexual violence against multiple women, most notably E. Jean Carroll. On May 9, 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse against Carroll – and then went on to win the presidency.²⁰

To end on a positive note, I speak specifically to those of us who do not hold positions of office. Here is what all of us can do:

• Donate your time and money to organizations helping survivors.

• Don’t forget prevention is in your hands; groups working to prevent future violence need support too.

• Keep your heart open when hearing stories about abuse.

• If you suspect something is happening to a friend or co-worker, reach out to them.

• Let the people in your life know that you can be trusted – set that example.

• Keep the conversation going in your home, work, school, and anywhere you go.

There are underlying root causes behind sexual violence. Engaging in open conversations about respect, relationships, and responsibility will help all of us to better understand them. We can all play our part in preventing future violence and supporting survivors.

Despite everything that is happening right now, remember: we do matter, we can enact change, and we can be a force for good.

References