Jon Stewart deftly shames Republicans itching to deport the Central American immigrant kids

(Image credit: Daily Show)

last updated 8 January 2015

On Tuesday night's Daily Show, Jon Stewart recapped the situation with the 52,000 kids — most of them escaping poverty and violence in Central America — who have been picked up trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border since October. Then he addressed the Americans wondering why we can't just deport these children: "Well, first of all, what the f--k is wrong with you? These are children, why would you even ask that? And second of all, good question."

The answer, it seems, is that President George W. Bush signed a law in 2008 that prevented the immediate deportation of children not from Canada or Mexico. But Stewart wasn't done shaming those agitating for a quick send-off for a bunch of kids who didn't complete the complicated immigration paperwork. He saved special scorn for the protesters gathering near the detention facilities to confront busloads of scared children to "yell at them in a language they don't understand," and for Texas GOP Reps. Louie Gohmert and Blake Farenthold. He also mocked a long string of Republicans who publicly promote America as the "greatest country ever" then wonder why would-be immigrants believe them.

But Stewart actually ended with a gentler, more sweeping view of the latest immigration crisis: "We have always been a nation of immigrants who hate the newer immigrants," he concluded. Lady Liberty may look like a beacon of hope and freedom, "but the truth is, she's actually a bouncer." --Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.