The anti-immigration rhetoric has taken a new low with State Representative Curry Todd (R-TN). At a fiscal review committee meeting Representative Todd compared pregnant undocumented women to breeding rats.
Representative Curry Todd of Collierville, compared pregnant, illegal immigrants to multiplying rats, Tuesday. He said they are ushered into the U.S. healthcare system without being checked for citizenship.
Latinos and human rights activists have protested his use of language, but that has done little to change Todd’s attitude.
The Washington Post reported that Curry’s “remarks were in response to a federal law that requires the state to extend prenatal care to women, regardless of their citizenship status because all children born in the United States are citizen.”
When asked if he would apologize his response was that he used the wrong words. What he meant was ‘anchor babies’. Anchor baby is a term used for children born to one or two undocumented immigrant parents. The idea is that people cross the border right before giving birth so that their children can be American citizens, thus ‘abusing’ the system. This new term has been used by the right to spread lies and fear about illegal immigration.
Curry Todd’s use of language not only shows his hatred toward Latino immigrants, but also his inability to see a woman’s fertility decision as her own. These are the racist and dehumanizing beliefs we have to contend with in the immigration debate.
By Myra Guevara, Research Intern
I can’t believe the lack of compassion in some of these posts (on Care2 )- and the references degrading other human beings. The Rep from Tenn did NOT “misspeak”- he knew exactly what he was saying. How do any of you PRESUME to know what these women are thinking? Have you Seen anyone giving birth in a field? Also- the children are innocent. SHAME on America. There are poor people here of all races and nationalities receiving care…and plenty of white Americans retiring in Mexico and raising the cost of living for the local people. I have no answer for the immigration situation, and it is not limited to Mexico- but I will still treat everyone as God’s child- and not judge or lie.
i will make sure to vote against this creep
I don’t know if this appropriate for here- I tried to leave it om CARE2 petition site, and couldn’t.