Liberals love to quote the inscription on the Statue of Liberty when talking about the United States’ immigration policies. If you aren’t familiar with that phrase, it reads: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
It’s been a statement people have clung to when coming to the United States for over a century.
This morning, President Trump’s Immigration Services Director Ken Cuccinelli went on NPR and host Rachel Martin asked if those words are still reflective of America’s values in light of the recent policy changes within the administration.
While he agreed they were still a part of the fabric of the country, he also proposed some revisions to that famous statement.
“Give me your tired and your poor who can stand on their own two feet and who will not become a public charge,” he said.
Listen to the clip from the interview below.
Here's acting USCIS director Ken Cuccinelli saying on NPR this morning that the Statue of Liberty plaque should be changed to read, "give me your tired and your poor who can stand on their own two feet, and who will not become a public charge." pic.twitter.com/q8OoNn3k6r
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 13, 2019
As you can imagine, the reaction from the left was anything but calm.
Somebody needs to inform Ken Cuccinelli that undocumented immigrants pay billions in taxes and help fund benefits they can’t even use. They not only stand on their own two feet, they often help others stand, too. https://t.co/X0ah3YkzSR
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) August 13, 2019
Oh look. Another privileged white man telling underprivileged impoverished immigrants aka PEOPLE, that they are not welcome in a land where his family immigrated to. Ken Cuccinelli is a #Hypocrite or at the very least and idiot.
— Brigitte Hargrave (@Firefly_tardis) August 13, 2019
I was warning the world that @KenCuccinelli is a dangerous sociopath before it was fashionable… https://t.co/0P4WIXRT0Z
— Michael E. Mann (@MichaelEMann) August 13, 2019
Ken Cuccinelli is vile.
Q: Are lower-wage workers "less qualified to become American b/c they earn less?"
KC: "If they don't have future prospects of being legal permanent residents without welfare, that will be counted against them yes…it doesn't seem too much to ask" https://t.co/EJ6GqoPAwV
— Adrienne Watson (@Adrienne_DNC) August 13, 2019
Cuccinelli held a press conference yesterday to explain more about the new policies. Watch that below.