Trump's xenophobia effects, large and small [View all]

[COLGATE4]

Trump's patented xenophobia was no secret, nor was his penchant for following wannabe SS Officer Steven Miller's anti-immigrant hot flashes. But I just got a glimpse at how far down the pecking order that attitude has gone and is affecting routine government functions.

A little over 5 years ago TSA began offering the "Pre-Check" program, which meant that upon completing an application, having a personal interview with TSA and paying an $85 fee you could get a Pre-Check number which would permit you to skip some of the more burdensome requirements in the Security Line at the airport. Since my wife and I travel extensively both for business and pleasure we decided to apply for it. It has proven to be worth every dime.

Fast forward to now. We both received e-mails informing us that the original 5-year period for our Pre-Check status would soon expire, inviting us to renew for another 5 years. I completed a very short application. Since my application and my wifes' were different by a few days I sent mine in first. It was approved within a day.

I now went to renew my wife's status . She was born overseas but has been a U.S. citizen since 1988 and, like me has travelled extensively on her US Passport. Neither of us have ever had any kind of issue with TSA (or for that matter with anyone else). I began her renewal process expecting it to be identical to mine. Not so. For her to renew she is first expected to complete an extremely detailed application (almost identical to that required for applying for a first time US passport) and then must go with both US Passport and State Drivers License in hand for a personal interview with the TSA to see if they'll grant her renewal. No explanation is given for the difference between her renewal and mine nor is there any possibility of getting an explanation much less seeking an exception. The only difference between her renewal application and mine is because she was born somewhere else.

The Trump acolytes have managed to insert pure xenophobic hurdles into some of the most mundane interactions with the Federal government. It's sickening to see how our system has been infected with this virulence. God only knows in how many other routine activities anyone not born here will be expected to jump though meaningless and degrading hoops.