Group Uses Faulty Numbers to Tie Immigration to Global Warming

Beyond the misrepresentation of statistics in the Californian's for Population Stabilization advertisement, there's a larger subtext from these ads that is crucial to acknowledge. While it is informative to show the faults within the purported facts of CAPS' advertisement, it is not enough to simply deconstruct the numbers of one advertisement. This is especially relevant when the organization in question presents a slue of campaigns that aim to support a homogenized vision of California claiming that it is for the betterment of the United States and the world environmentally, economically, and socially. In addressing CAPS' concerns of immigration and population growth, there are a few inconsistencies. CAPS assumes that immigrants are the leading factor in population growth, and that without them, American consumption rates would decline. This perpetuates a false notion that, rich or poor, all people living within the United States consume equally, and doesn't acknowledge that resources are granted to the affluent with very little afforded to the economically disadvantaged. The second problem that arises out these campaigns is the character of the "immigrant". CAPS portray a very specific image the immigrant as one who a.) has lots of babies b.) doesn’t contribute c.) engages in criminal activity thus rupturing the safety of our communities. This idea is categorically untrue and is a sweeping generalization based on fear of “the other”. The prejudices that society perpetuates about immigrants only solidify class and racial barriers that are extremely difficult to escape, and thusly these stereotypes become a vicious cycle. Not only does CAPS promote a superfluous image of the immigrant, but it is important to mention that CAPS has been linked with the Council of Conservative Citizens--formerly known as the White Citizens Council, who oppose immigration of individuals that are not from Europe or other Westernized countries and goes so far to say that they"oppose all efforts to mix the races of mankind”, in their statement of principles (cofcc.org). Knowing about the origins of an organization like CAPS sheds light on the frame of the rhetoric they espouse, which is important to keep in mind when people consider the immigration debate. There is a fine line between conversations about immigration and racism, and although we don’t advocate “open season” on borders, it should be rooted in social reform rather than blame and fear mongering. Not only does CAPS perpetuate fear of immigrants, but they use harmful rhetoric within the frame of environmentalism to mask ulterior motives behind their anti-immigration stance.
— May 13, 2012 12:34 p.m.