PROGRESSIVE VIEWS
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20) Immigration and border security enforcement have gone haywire.
The current government is building concentration camps and sending innocent people, along with criminals, to these camps and to countries that they don’t hail from, all without due process.
The Secretary of Homeland Security doesn’t even know the definition of habeas corpus.
Immigration must not be a partisan issue. It is complex and needs solutions, not hateful tweets and masked enforcers raiding carwashes.
In 2023, the U. S. House passed HR 2, a bill focused on border security that was viewed as too harsh by many Democrats. Republican Sen. James Lankford (R-Oklahoma) led a bipartisan effort to construct a realistic immigration package that could hopefully lead to compromise between the House and Senate.
This comprehensive immigration bill, co- authored by independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Arizona) and Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut), was strangled to death twice during 2024. Trump killed this bill so that he could impose his own draconian approach that we are now witnessing.
In 2014, I worked on State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte’s lieutenant governor campaign. She was adamant that the border must be secure but supported protecting children, and a way forward for those mostly Mexican undocumented folks who had been in the country for 10, 20 or even 30 years.
During Barack Obama’s presidency, the U. S. deported more than 5 million immigrants who posed a national security, border security or public safety risk. Unfortunately, President Joe Biden did not promote an effective border security plan. His administration did bring an old, bureaucratic, paper-based system into the 21st century through innovative use of technology. He also promoted humanitarian protection and refugee resettlement.
Afghan and Haitian resettlement are positive examples of this effort; unfortunately, we lost control of the border and way too many individuals entered. A majority of Americans were very uncomfortable seeing this on the nightly news, just like they are uncomfortable seeing the inhumane efforts the Trump regime is employing now.
The Biden administration confronted an unprecedented challenge at the border and failed to satisfy both border hardliners and those who saw the influx of folks as a humanitarian crisis.
Only Congress can provide the resources and infrastructure to meet the need. In our polarized political landscape, lawmakers did not rise to the occasion.
The American people want a secure border so only folks vetted and approved can come and stay. They do see the value in a consistent immigration policy that allows a flow responsible and needy folks to gain entry. With our declining birthrate, this will actually help our economy to grow.
They also want the undocumented folks who have been here working, paying taxes and raising families to be allowed to stay.
The business community promoted the influx of undocumented foreign workers by hiring them. Undocumented workers are easily fired, work for less pay, and do jobs that many in our country don’t want. Business interests rely on undocumented immigrant workers, while pro-immigrant activists fight to protect the labor rights of those facing abuse and exploitation.
According to the Texas Tribune, Texas leaders will continue going easy on those who use low-cost undocumented immigrant labor most often in agriculture, construction, janitorial services, and the leisure and hospitality industry.
“We know what an important part immigrant labor plays in Texas, and to suddenly wipe out large sectors ... would have a devastating impact on the Texas economy,” said Bill Hammond, head of the Texas Association of Business. “We need immigrant labor to do those tasks where not enough Americans will.”
The only solution that a vast majority of the American public want is complete control of the border, deportation of undocumented criminals, a vibrant and consistent immigration program to keep our economy growing and, most of all, a pathway to stay and work here for the vast majority of undocumented folks with long-term ties and no criminal record It’s time for Congress to rise to the occasion.
To save democracy, join the Kendall County Democratic party website: kcdems.us.
Kevin Henning is a local Democrat.
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