Fox Nation host Tomi Lahren has become yet another commentator for the network to fear monger about migrants and asylum seekers south of the border based on the supposed threat of communicable diseases.
“Do you want [tuberculosis], HIV/AIDS, chickenpox and hepatitis in your communities? At your children’s schools? Because I have a feeling the warm and fuzzy spirit of compassion doesn’t treat or prevent diseases like those,” Lahren said on Fox Nation, the new streaming platform “for Fox News’ most passionate and loyal fans.”
For the most part, Lahren read from a script copied nearly word-for-word from a Fox News article, which itself cited Tijuana’s health department.
Waiting by the thousands for the ability to request asylum in the United States — delays at ports of entry can last weeks or months, leading some to attempt to cross illegally into the United States — migrants and asylum seekers in the so-called “caravan” from Central America have camped out in Tijuana.
Mexican and international officials have expressed concern about sanitation and disease. Respiratory infections, lice and other issues are widespread, especially troubling given the many children traveling with the caravan.
Lahren is not alone in fear mongering about asylum seekers’ medical conditions.
On Oct. 29, former ICE agent David Ward warned of “diseases such as smallpox and leprosy” — even though smallpox was eradicated decades ago.
“Fox & Friends” co-host Brian Kilmeade said the same day: “What about diseases? There is a reason you can’t bring a kid to school unless he is inoculated.”
Later on that evening, former prosecutor and filmmaker Sidney Powell asserted on Fox Business host Lou Dobbs’ show: “We cannot tolerate the continued invasion of this country when Americans are suffering every day.”
“We have diseases spreading across the country that are causing polio-like paralysis of our children,” she said, implying a connection to migrants and asylum seekers.
Watch below via Media Matters’ Gabby Miller:
Fox Nation is going all in on characterizing the caravan as a nat'l health crisis & portraying LatinX migrants as "diseased"
Tammy Lauren: What happens if we usher them into the US? Do you want TB, HIV/AIDs, chicken pox, or hepatitis in your communities and your kids schools? pic.twitter.com/PQwROUtliw
— Gabby Miller (@__gabbymiller) December 4, 2018
