Rep. Juan Vargas said Friday Donald Trump’s focus on building a border wall and deporting immigrants will ultimately turn around the national immigration discussion in a positive way.
“I think positive things are going to come out of the negative rhetoric,” said Vargas, drawing a parallel with California’s divisive, anti-immigrant Proposition 187 in 1994 that rallied Latinos to vote and participate in state politics.
Vargas predicted that ultimately comprehensive, national immigration reform will be enacted with bi-partisan support.
The Congressman, who represents the 51st District along the border in San Diego and Imperial counties, spoke at the South County Economic Development Council‘s 25th annual South County Economic Summit.
He noted that business and political leaders in San Diego are focused on increasing economic integration along the border, building bridges rather than walls.
The South County group has championed the pedestrian bridge to Tijuana’s airport, expansion of the land ports at San Ysidro and Otay Mesa, and re-opening the cross-border railroad.
“Thank you for countering the negativity that we hear at the federal level when it comes to one particular person,” Vargas said to the group.
