This morning, on my drive home from downtown Tulsa, I was listening to The Erick Erickson Show on KRMG. The conversation had turned to immigration — specifically a video Cory Booker posted, showing migrant workers picking asparagus. Erickson compared it to previous Democratic messaging, such as picking cotton, but in doing so, both he and Booker missed a key point.
The majority of illegal immigrants in the United States today are not picking food — and many aren’t even from Mexico, Central, or South America. That image, while politically convenient, is outdated and misleading.
Booker’s video caption reads: “The hands that feed us. We see you. We will fight to protect you.” While the intent may have been to highlight the contributions of agricultural workers, the message unintentionally reinforces an oversimplified — and in many ways inaccurate — narrative about illegal immigration.
A user on X responded bluntly:
“Mannnn you’re really embracing your party’s forefathers who launched a Civil War because they were worried about who would pick their cotton, wash their bedsheets, and cook their meals.”
That response reflects the intense emotional and historical baggage tied to the imagery Booker chose. But more importantly, it reflects how tone-deaf Washington’s messaging can be when it comes to the reality on the ground.
During the Biden administration, sources like Monkeywerx.us tracked migrant flights entering the U.S. Many were not arriving by foot or bus — they were flying in. A large proportion appeared to be single, military-aged men from countries including China and parts of the Middle East. These individuals were not here to harvest crops. Many were placed into housing and, according to some reports, were receiving financial assistance — all funded by American taxpayers.
So why does Cory Booker continue to focus on families picking asparagus? The answer may lie in the legacy media’s portrayal of the border issue — an image of vulnerable families seeking work and safety. But the modern reality is far more complex, and in many ways, more troubling.
There are growing concerns about national security, cartel-driven trafficking operations, and the exploitation of immigration loopholes. These topics rarely receive airtime on mainstream outlets, and unfortunately, even hosts like Erick Erickson — who should know better — seem content to repeat the same narratives.
If we want an honest conversation about immigration, we need to start with facts, not old political talking points.
~tundra
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