Diego Luna, who stepped in for Jimmy Kimmel as visitor host of Monday night time’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Stay!, took a while out of his opening monologue to slam Trump and his aggressive Immigration insurance policies.
“Tonight, I wish to deal with an essential situation that’s occurring right here in Los Angeles and throughout the USA,” he started, talking passionately concerning the matter. “With every little thing occurring on this nation round immigration and authoritarian insurance policies of Donald Trump, it’s no small factor {that a} Mexican is internet hosting such an essential present. It’s an enormous deal and I actually hope to not fuck it up.”
Luna opened up concerning the neighborhood he inbuilt L.A. after first coming to the U.S. at 20 years outdated, following the success of the 2001 movie Y tu mamá también, sharing private tales from his time in Metropolis of Angels through the years.
“The those who lifted me up have been largely those who had left their international locations to discover a new life, or the little kids of immigrants that had come right here to be able to work and construct a wholesome, fulfilling and dignified life, away from their homeland,” the Mexican actor-director stated. “A motion of that scale, that’s not pure, not except one thing could be very, very incorrect within the place you might be coming from. No one leaves their land if it’s not as a result of their survival relies on it. No one leaves their previous behind, only for enjoyable. However you recognize what? All of the those who I met shared an unstated gratitude to this nation, a rustic that opened its doorways to them.”
Luna then highlighted how “attention-grabbing and admirable” Los Angeles is “due to the cultural alternate, because of the generosity and the openness that surged from it, all as a result of individuals from completely different cultures and realities agreed to offer one another an opportunity and construct one thing exceptional collectively. This place is a robust instance of what’s attainable, of what may be achieved once we put empathy first.”
The Andor star continued, “I’ve by no means been capable of totally perceive how it’s that somebody like Donald Trump is ready to purchase this degree of energy. I at all times wrestle to grasp how his hate speech can take root in a rustic whose nature has at all times been a welcoming one.”
Luna emphasised that “too many individuals reside in worry” and “are feeling persecuted” proper now amid the president’s Immigration insurance policies. Since Trump returned to the White Home earlier this yr, his administration has prioritized cracking down on alleged immigration violations, growing ICE raids throughout the nation, together with in L.A. This has led to nationwide protests.
In response to the demonstrations, particularly in L.A., Trump deployed California’s Nationwide Guard to the town. Nonetheless, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has pushed again on his administration’s “illegal deployment of troops.” Although a federal appeals courtroom dominated in Trump’s favor, saying he “probably” did have the correct to activate the guard, Newsom’s courtroom battle in opposition to Trump continues.
“That is very unfair and let me let you know why: the a number of instances that this nation has needed to rebuild itself, immigrants have been at all times there to choose up the slack,” Luna stated in his opening monologue. “Earlier this yr, when L.A. burned, immigrant employees risked their lives to cease the flames. They’re those who construct this nation, they feed it, they nurture and train its youngsters, they take care of the aged, they work in development, hospitality, they run kitchens. They’re technicians, retailers, athletes, drivers, farmers.”
“They pay a number of taxes, a LOT of them, with their jobs, papers or no papers,” he added. “In 2022, undocumented immigrants contributed round $96.7 billion value of taxes. However that’s one thing that the Trump administration doesn’t need you to know.”
“There are a number of lies flying round about immigrants, however I’m certain you could have a couple of story that may attest on the contrary. Speak about it, share it. That helps. At this time, they should know that they’re not alone,” Luna stated. “These have been a darkish few weeks. It’s not acceptable neither is it regular to separate households. Violence and terror should not OK. Immigrants must know that their wrestle is yours as properly.”