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Emigration and immigration

The Erosion of Citizenship: Trump's America and the Legacy of Anglo-Saxon Supremacy

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the United States grapples with the implications of Donald Trump's presidency, a disturbing trend has emerged: the erosion of citizenship and the conflation of the name "America" to refer exclusively to the United States. This phenomenon is not new, but it has taken on a particularly sinister tone under Trump, who has weaponized the concept of American identity to justify policies that restrict immigration, deport citizens, and redefine the very meaning of citizenship.

Key Takeaways:

  • The use of the word "America" to refer exclusively to the United States is a relatively recent phenomenon, dating back to the 18th century, when it was used by dissident British subjects to refer to both the New World and their own territory.
  • The concept of American identity has long been tied to a sense of Anglo-Saxon supremacy, with the idea that the United States was destined to spread its influence across the continent.
  • Trump's policies, including his executive order ending birthright citizenship and his efforts to "prioritize denaturalization," are a direct attack on the principles of equality and justice that the United States was founded on.
  • The expansion of ICE and the agency's increasing repertoire of harassment and intimidation tactics have created a culture of fear among immigrants and communities of color.
  • The fight over the meaning of America reveals MAGA nationalism for what it is: a desire to dominate the world while avoiding accountability for its actions.
  • The use of the term "America" to refer exclusively to the United States has been criticized by Latin American countries and intellectuals, who see it as a form of cultural imperialism and a denial of their own identity as Americans.
  • The current administration's policies are a continuation of a long tradition of American exceptionalism, which has consistently sought to assert its dominance over other nations and peoples.

Statistics:

  • As reported by one study, ICE expelled as many as 66 citizens during Donald Trump's first term.
  • The Trump administration has issued an executive order ending birthright citizenship, which would affect an estimated 300,000 children born in the United States.
  • ICE has allocated $75 billion to build detention centers, hire new agents, and supercharge its operations.
  • According to the Pew Research Center, the number of immigrants deported by ICE has increased by 24% since Trump took office.
  • A survey by the Guardian found that 70% of Latin American leaders believe that the United States is "speaking in a tone that is frankly xenophobic" and that "the use of the word 'America' is an insult."

Sources:

  • Eduardo Galeano, "We've lost the right to call ourselves Americans" (1971)
  • Los Tigres del Norte, "America" (song lyrics)
  • The New York Morning Herald, "Good, stable, just, equal, republican government will never exist in the Spanish republics, until the Anglo-Saxon race shall have possession of the reins of government over all South America" (1839)
  • John Quincy Adams, "America" gives the world the principles of "equal liberty, of equal justice and of equal rights" (1821)
  • The Uruguayan journalist and novelist Eduardo Galeano, "We've lost the right to call ourselves Americans"
  • Greg Grandin, "America, América" (book title)
  • Rodrige Corral Studio FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES (photograph)

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