Diego Luna, who stepped in for Jimmy Kimmel as visitor host of Monday night time’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, took a while out of his opening monologue to slam Trump and his aggressive Immigration insurance policies.
“Tonight, I wish to deal with an vital subject that’s taking place right here in Los Angeles and throughout the US,” he started, talking passionately in regards to the matter. “With every part happening 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 vital present. It’s a giant deal and I actually hope to not fuck it up.”
Luna opened up in regards to the group he in-built L.A. after first coming to the U.S. at 20 years previous, 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 folks that lifted me up had been principally folks that had left their international locations to discover a new life, or the little children of immigrants that had come right here to be able to work and construct a wholesome, pleasant and dignified life, away from their native land,” the Mexican actor-director mentioned. “A motion of that scale, that’s not pure, not except one thing could be very, very mistaken within the place you might be coming from. No one leaves their land if it’s not as a result of their survival depends upon it. No one leaves their previous behind, only for enjoyable. However you understand what? All of the folks that 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 trade, because of the generosity and the openness that surged from it, all as a result of folks from completely different cultures and realities agreed to offer one another an opportunity and construct one thing outstanding collectively. This place is a robust instance of what’s attainable, of what could be achieved after we put empathy first.”
The Andor star continued, “I’ve by no means been in a position to totally perceive how it’s that somebody like Donald Trump is ready to purchase this stage of energy. I all the time battle to know how his hate speech can take root in a rustic whose nature has all the time been a welcoming one.”
Luna emphasised that “too many individuals stay in worry” and “are feeling persecuted” proper now amid the president’s Immigration insurance policies. Since Trump returned to the White Home earlier this 12 months, 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. Nevertheless, 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 best to activate the guard, Newsom’s courtroom battle towards Trump continues.
“That is very unfair and let me let you know why: the a number of occasions that this nation has needed to rebuild itself, immigrants had been all the time there to choose up the slack,” Luna mentioned in his opening monologue. “Earlier this 12 months, 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 look after 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 price 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. Discuss it, share it. That helps. Immediately, they should know that they’re not alone,” Luna mentioned. “These have been a darkish few weeks. It’s not acceptable neither is it regular to separate households. Violence and terror will not be OK. Immigrants have to know that their battle is yours as nicely.”