In The Latino Threat : Constructing Immigrants , Citizens , and the Nation , Chavez describes how the social construction of Latinos in the United States is shaped by irrational fear and racism . Chavez points out that “ Latinos are not like previous immigrant groups , who ultimately became part of the nation ,” but instead are demonized as an “ invading force ” that is “ unwilling or incapable of integrating , of becoming part of the national community ” ( 4 ). Colter ’ s use of the term “ illegal ” represents a dimension of the Latino Threat Narrative , in which Latinos , but particularly Mexicans , are “ represented as the quintessential ‘ illegal aliens ,’ which distinguishes them from other immigrant groups ” ( 5 ). The term “ illegal ” works to recast Latino attempts of integration as acts of moral transgression . Colter believes that “ illegal ” immigrants are bankrupting the U . S . “ both financially and morally ” ( Meltzer ). The repetition of this term , “ illegal ,” throughout public discourse , to paraphrase Chavez , works to continuously reaffirm the social identity of Latinos as criminals who are unfit for citizenship ( 5 ). Colter ’ s performance stages this narrative very accurately — because a promo angle in professional wrestling generally happens more than once , it is repeated several times on many separate occasions , in order to help solidify that wrestler ’ s or manager ’ s character angle . Colter might give a similar version of this promo several times a week , repeating the same rhetoric in the same way that the Latino Threat Narrative uses repetition to continuously reaffirm itself .
Colter reconstructs Latinos as racialized Others not only by performing anti-immigration rhetoric , but by intertwining this rhetoric with symbols of American nationalism and patriotism . Nationalism and patriotism are common tropes in professional wrestling , used to affirm
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