Summary: I outline the extent to which our national conversation around immigration, in the form of media coverage and politicians’ rhetoric, has become racialized. Research shows that this framework helps the GOP through emphasizing the racial threat narrative, so I argue that Democratic politicians should retain old rhetorical lines on immigration policy, asking and trying to answer basic policy questions without indulging in racial rhetoric. I outline Rep Jim Himes’ (D-CT) platform and public statements, arguing that he is going about talking about immigration in the right way, from the perspectives of serving his constituents and advancing the interests of the party.

Full op-ed here:  himes_reticence_parkhurst_oped