Hillary Clinton says Europe needs to stop taking in migrants - and people aren't happy about it
- Hillary Clinton is facing a backlash after arguing that European leaders should stop offering "refuge and support" to migrants in order to assuage the concerns of a growing right-wing populism across the continent.
- "Europe has done its part, and must send a very clear message - 'we are not going to be able to continue to provide refuge and support,'" Clinton said in an interview published Thursday.
- The former secretary of state's comments were met with widespread condemnation from pro-immigration advocates and progressive politicians around the world.
Hillary Clinton is facing backlash after arguing that European leaders should stop offering "refuge and support" to migrants in order to assuage the concerns of a growing right-wing populism across the continent.
"I think Europe needs to get a handle on migration because that is what lit the flame," Clinton said in an interview with The Guardian that was conducted before the midterm elections and published on Thursday.
The former secretary of state said that while she admired the generosity of leaders like German chancellor Angela Merkel, who opened up the country's borders in 2015 as migrants fled war and political crises in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
"I admire the very generous and compassionate approaches that were taken particularly by leaders like Angela Merkel, but I think it is fair to say Europe has done its part, and must send a very clear message - 'we are not going to be able to continue to provide refuge and support' - because if we don't deal with the migration issue it will continue to roil the body politic," she said.
But many - on both sides of the Atlantic - viewed Clinton's comments as a capitulation to right-wing populism. A wide array of immigration activists and scholars, pundits, and politicians expressed shock and concern with Clinton's comments, which some pointed out appear to contradict her 2016 campaign position on welcoming immigrants and refugees.
"The moment we give in to right populism is the moment we lose," tweeted David Lammy, a Labour party politician. "Let us stand not against migrants, but in unapologetic solidarity with them. They give so much to our economy, culture and way of life."
Clinton's position also highlights the Democratic Party's lack of clarity and consensus on the issue of immigration.
"Deeply misguided and unfortunate comment from someone who must know better," Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a liberal Washington State lawmaker, tweeted.
More than one million migrants arrived in the EU in 2015, but migration to the continent has dropped sharply since then - less than 100,000 people have made it to Europe's shores this year - in part because of the policies of deterrence that Clinton is now promoting.
Clinton argued that Trump's exploitation of both racist, anti-immigrant sentiment, and legitimate grievances about border security was key in his 2016 victory and continues to buoy his popularity.
"The use of immigrants as a political device and as a symbol of government gone wrong, of attacks on one's heritage, one's identity, one's national unity has been very much exploited by the current administration here," she said.
Right-wing populist parties have seen a resurgence in Europe in the last few years - with anti-immigrant candidates taking power in Poland, Hungary, Italy, and Austria - while a right-wing party has seen a surge in popularity in Germany.