Trying To Defend Border Separations, Trump Criticizes Immigrants’ IQs

USA Today: 'They Are So Well Taken Care Of': Trump Defends Separating Migrant Children From Parents
President Donald Trump said Thursday only immigrants with the “lowest IQ” attend their immigration hearings. His comment came after moderator Kristen Welker asked during the final presidential debate if his administration had plans to reunite the hundreds of children who remain separated from their parents at the border. A recent court filing revealed that parents of 545 immigrant children separated at the border have not been found. ... On stage Thursday, Trump repeatedly accused Biden of building the steel cages during the Obama administration that act as holding pens for migrants who have crossed into the U.S. without documentation. Photos of children separated from their families and held in the facilities under the Trump administration caused a national uproar two years ago. (Jervis, 10/23)

Business Insider: Trump Falsely Claims Only Migrants With 'Lowest IQ' Appear In Court 
During Thursday's presidential debate, President Donald Trump falsely claimed that, of the migrants arrested by US immigration authorities who are released from custody pending their court proceedings, only those "with the lowest IQ" show up for their immigration hearings. "Less than 1% of the people come back. We have to send ICE out and border patrol out to find them," Trump said. "When you say they come back — they don't come back, Joe, they never come back. Only the really — I hate to say this — but those with the lowest IQ, they might come back," he added. Trump's claims refer to an immigration policy often called "catch and release," where immigration authorities have the discretion to release detained migrants who they deem to be a low safety or flight risk, pending their immigration court proceedings. (Sonnemaker, 10/22)

In the debate over racism and health —

The New York Times: Kristen Welker Asks Candidates About 'The Talk' 
Kristen Welker, the second Black woman to moderate a presidential debate on her own, asked the candidates directly on Thursday about an experience that Black families have every day, but that is rarely discussed on a national debate stage: The Talk, the conversation that Black parents must have with their children, telling them how to behave so police officers will not shoot them. Mr. Biden responded by talking about his daughter, who is a social worker. “I never had to tell my daughter, if she’s pulled over, make sure she puts — for a traffic stop — put both hands on top of the wheel and don’t reach for the glove box, because someone may shoot you,” he said. ... He continued: “The fact of the matter is, there is institutional racism in America.” (Astor, 10/22)

The Wall Street Journal: Donald Trump, Joe Biden Clash Over Covid, Ethics In Calmer Presidential Debate
Mr. Trump was reminded by the moderator of his criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement as a “symbol of hate,” but said he had enacted policies to help minorities, including sentencing reform. He attacked Mr. Biden’s role in crafting tough crime laws in the 1990s. Mr. Biden conceded that the 1994 crime law was a mistake, but sarcastically referred to Mr. Trump as “Abraham Lincoln” and mocked the president’s claim that he was the least racist person in the room. “He pours fuel on every single racist fire, every single one,” Mr. Biden said, citing Mr. Trump’s comments on Mexican immigrants and his restrictions on travel from several Muslim-majority countries. “This guy is a dog whistle about as big as a fog horn.” (McCormick and Leary, 10/23)

The New York Times: Biden Calls Trump ‘One Of The Most Racist Presidents We’ve Had In Modern History’
President Trump came to the debate ready with his regular wrap on race when asked to explain his description of “Black Lives Matter” as a symbol of hate: He claimed he had done more than any president since Abraham Lincoln for African-Americans, and he called himself the “least racist person in this room.” (Never mind that the moderator of the debate, Kristen Welker, is a Black woman.) ... Mr. Biden, however, appeared to take him by surprise by mocking the claims. “Abraham Lincoln here is one of the most racist presidents we’ve had in modern history,” Mr. Biden said. “He pours fuel on every single racist fire.” (Karni, 10/22)

USA Today: Unemployment Benefits: Racial Disparity In Jobless Aid Grows As Congress Stalls On COVID-19 Stimulus
President Donald Trump asserted in Thursday’s final presidential debate that his administration recorded the “best Black unemployment numbers in the history of our country. ”To be sure, the jobless rate for Black workers dropped to a record low of 5.4% in August 2019. The worst global pandemic in a century, however, has undone years of gains. (Menton, 10/22)