We are living in a post-truth era. When politicians and news outlets repeat lies, propaganda, and conspiracy theories those opinions become normalized and are eventually perceived as fact by the public. The incremental shift by politicians and their allies to alter the public’s perception of the truth is a classic political tactic and it has worked for decades. In 2019, to continue the construction of his beloved wall, the president circumvented our elected officials in congress to reallocate defense funds under the fraudulent claim of a national border emergency.

All countries have problems at their borders, but this action wasn’t made for our security, rather it works to satisfy a campaign promise to the president’s base, and stokes fear, hate, and racial division in our country. We must all work together to oppose and contain the rise of xenophobia, because those who build borders will eventually become prisoners of the walls they erect.