Trump Admin Pauses Visas for 75 Countries, Ignores Wealthy Tax Evaders
The Trump administration's directive, effective January 21, aims to block foreign nationals deemed likely to 'take welfare and public benefits,' according to the BBC. This, from an administration that oversaw tax cuts largely benefiting corporations and the wealthy, which, according to the Congressional Budget Office, added trillions to the national debt. One might wonder why the concern for
public benefits only applies to those seeking entry, not those already here actively reducing the public good. This isn't just about 'welfare.' It's a classic bait-and-switch, framing immigrants as the drain on society while massive multi-national corporations, many registered in tax havens and engaging in aggressive tax avoidance (a 2017 study by the Tax Justice Network estimated global tax
evasion costs countries over $500 billion annually), are rarely subjected to such scrutiny. When does the concern for the public purse extend to those with actual capital, rather than just those seeking a new life?