In the murky waters of political campaigning, few issues are as compelling as unfounded fear over immigration, and Curtis Bashaw, the GOP candidate for U.S. Senate seems determined to stoke terror and apprehension rather than illuminate facts.
With a series of inflammatory statements and dubious statistics, Bashaw has allied himself with the notorious Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)—an organization with ties to white supremacist groups and eugenicists who have made many racist statements.
FAIR has a long history of producing questionable data on immigration but Bashaw’s website boldly claims that “illegal immigration is costing Garden State taxpayers $7.3 billion a year, or $2,100 per household.”
He attributes this figure to a “recent study,” though it remains clear that Assemblyman Paul Kanitra used bogus numbers from FAIR as a foundation for his study, while other credible data points tell a very different story.
This isn’t just misinformation; it’s a dangerous narrative built on a foundation of falsehoods that stretches back decades.
For instance, in 2011, Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose claimed that illegal immigration costs New Jersey taxpayers over $3 billion annually. PolitiFact swiftly debunked her assertion as “false,” pointing out that the data came from FAIR, an organization criticized for its dubious methodologies.
FAIR’s calculations have repeatedly been discredited, including a 2005 report that claimed Texans spent $4.5 billion on illegal immigration, only for the Texas Comptroller’s Office to reveal that the revenues generated by undocumented immigrants exceeded costs by $425 million.
Yet, Bashaw appears unfazed by this track record as he echoes rhetoric from Kanitra, who used FAIR’s dubious figures to produce a report, which was also discredited.
These are not the only lies shared by Republicans that raise serious questions about the GOP’s commitment to the truth and even their perception of reality.
Disgraced former President Donald Trump, one of history’s most dishonest leaders, engaged in a bizarre lie during the presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris when the unhinged nominee amplified false rumors that Haitian immigrants in Ohio are abducting and eating pets.
“They’re eating the dogs. They’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there,” said Trump, although officials in Springfield, Ohio, previously said there is no evidence that Haitian immigrants are doing that, after his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, made the same false claim.
Vance subsequently tried to justify lying to heighten fear of immigration.
In stark contrast to Trump, Vance, and Bashaw’s lies, a recent report by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy found that undocumented immigrants in New Jersey contributed a staggering $1.3 billion in state and local taxes in 2022.
Erik Cruz Morales, a DACA recipient and policy advocate, encapsulates the reality faced by many undocumented immigrants: “They file their taxes every year and they pay taxes, and they have no benefit.”
This contradicts the narrative that undocumented immigrants are a drain on public resources. Instead, they contribute significantly to the tax base—taxes from which they are ineligible to benefit.
This irony cannot be overstated: while Bashaw and his ilk perpetuate myths about immigrants being burdensome, the evidence reveals that they are, in fact, vital contributors to the economy.
Even more alarming is Bashaw’s repeated invocation of the southern border crisis to bolster claims made following Kanitra’s trip to Texas, where he allegedly investigated the impact of immigration policies on New Jersey.
His junket, paid for by campaign funds, reeks of political theater rather than genuine concern for the issues at hand.
The border crisis is a complex, multifaceted problem, yet Bashaw simplifies it to fit his political narrative, invoking images of chaos while ignoring the contributions and rights of the very immigrants he vilifies.
Undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022, a reality that starkly contrasts with the figures bandied about by Bashaw.
This tax revenue is crucial for funding public services and infrastructure. Claims that undocumented immigrants are receiving taxpayer-funded benefits at alarming rates fail to consider the substantial taxes they contribute without reaping equivalent benefits.
Bashaw’s campaign is emblematic of a broader trend within the GOP to use fear and misinformation as political tools.
The party’s continued reliance on discredited figures from organizations like FAIR not only undermines its credibility but also perpetuates a cycle of division and animosity towards immigrants—groups that are essential to the fabric of American society.
“It’s time for candidates like Curtis Bashaw to abandon the false narratives and embrace the complexities of immigration policy with honesty and integrity,” said Lisa McCormick, the progressive New Jerseyan who challenged corrupt US Senator Bob Menendez in the 2018 Democratic primary. “Rebuilding the U.S. immigration system requires more than fear-mongering; it demands a commitment to truth and a recognition of the value that immigrants bring to our communities.”
As New Jerseyans struggle with rising costs and economic uncertainty, McCormick said they deserve leaders who prioritize facts over fear and seek solutions rather than scapegoats.