Spreading false fears

To disagree over the contentious issue of immigration is to be expected. To spread falsehoods about a particular policy or bill — and to spread fear is morally reprehensible. And for elected officials to capitalize on those false fears is pandering of the worst kind.

“Governor Baker’s Detention Bill is racist at its core and it will impact hard working immigrant families who have been living, working and paying taxes here for decades and who are part of the fabric of our society,” Natalicia Tracy, executive director of the Brazilian Worker Center, said in a statement issued last week in conjunction with a State House rally against the bill.

Others at the rally held signs that said, “Do Not Bring Hate & the KKK Into our State.”

Rarely have advocates for immigrant rights engaged in such appalling falsehoods.

What the bill filed by Gov. Charlie Baker earlier his month — in the wake of a Supreme Judicial Court decision prohibiting state officials from holding defendants on federal immigration detainers — seeks to do is quite simple and exceedingly modest. It would allow — but not require — authorities to honor a written request from ICE to hold an individual for up to 12 hours, if that person is engaged in or suspected of terrorism, has been convicted of a crime involving a street gang, has been convicted of a violent felony or certain state crimes, including domestic violence, sexual abuse or human trafficking.

What it wouldn’t do is allow detention of anyone simply for immigration offenses. Nor would it increase racial profiling — as some at the rally alleged. That’s just false.

But it didn’t stop panderers like Democratic Reps. Denise Provost of Somerville and Mike Connolly of Cambridge, who appeared at the rally, from promising to kill Baker’s proposal.

We’re talking about violent criminals, gang members and terrorists. Really, is there no limit to this kind of mindless opposition? Apparently not in some quarters.