Richard Gere Critiques U.S. Immigration Policies in Germany
Richard Gere recently traveled to Germany, where he expressed his disapproval of America’s approach to illegal immigration. Speaking to an international audience, he posed a provocative question: “Did you ever imagine that someone this crazy could become president of the United States?”
During the launch of a migration initiative in Berlin, organized by the Hertie School Center for Fundamental Rights and the Gere Foundation, he remarked, “I think that’s the word that was actually given to me today. Apparently the U.S. government calls them aliens.” He highlighted a concerning shift in language regarding individuals regarded as undocumented.
“Aliens, that’s the latest thing,” he added, reflecting on how terminology has evolved. The use of “alien” as a legal term for non-citizens has been part of U.S. policy for a long time, first appearing in the Naturalization Act of 1790 and established in 1798.
In his address, Gere expressed feeling “deeply ashamed” of the word “alien,” particularly as used by the Trump administration, though he seemed to imply it was a new development. “For some reason, in today’s discussions, we often talk about immigrants and refugees as if they are different from us,” he stated.
He continued, “I am deeply embarrassed by this and I want you to know,” pointing out that such language suggests that the feelings and aspirations of these individuals might be less valid than those of others.
Weirdly, Gere compared the current immigration debate to his family’s own history of migration before the United States even existed. He mentioned a personal connection, noting that “four out of five” members of his family were on the Mayflower, the ship that carried pilgrims to America in the early 1600s.
“So we all left our parents and grandparents to go on a journey in search of safety, opportunity, dignity, or simply to find a better future,” he reflected. “Human history is in many ways a history of immigration, a history of movement.”
At the event, he also questioned, “Did you ever imagine that someone this crazy would become president of the United States and work to destroy America?” Gere has been critical of Trump for some time, recently labeling him a “lunatic” during remarks in Norway.
In Oslo, while speaking at the Human Rights Forum, the 76-year-old actor drew attention to his visit to the Nazi concentration camp in Dachau, making a stark historical reference. “We have to see clues as to how quickly this monstrous dictatorship will occur,” he urged, linking his concerns about current leadership to historical precedents.
