The Daily

Bankrolling the Anti-Immigration Movement

Aug 19, 2019
Nicholas Kulish, an immigration reporter for The New York Times, teams up with Natalie Kitroeff, a business reporter, to uncover the intriguing story of Cordelia Scaife May. They discuss how this wealthy heiress funded the anti-immigration movement, shaping policies that influenced the Trump administration. The conversation dives into May's complex background, her radical transformation, and the powerful networks supporting anti-immigration efforts. They reveal the profound societal fears driving these ideologies and their lasting impacts on immigration reform.
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ANECDOTE

Penguin Court Heiress

  • Cordelia Scaife May, heiress to the Mellon fortune, grew up in a mansion called Penguin Court.
  • Her mother, an alcoholic, bred penguins, reflecting May's early interest in animals and nature.
ANECDOTE

Sanger's Influence

  • May's interest in immigration stemmed from an unlikely admiration for Margaret Sanger.
  • Initially drawn to Sanger's rebelliousness, May later embraced Planned Parenthood and population control.
INSIGHT

Overpopulation Concerns

  • May linked environmentalism with population control, viewing overpopulation as a threat to natural habitats.
  • She championed family planning and women's rights.
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