It is difficult to legally migrate to the United States. I have had family and friends denied visas and it can take years for an undocumented person to obtain legal status. The CATO Institute ranks immigration law second only to the income tax code in legal complexity. Improvement to this process is a good starting point for legislators who sincerely want to resolve border problems.
A bipartisan U.S. Senate committee penned a plan to overhaul immigration policy to appease Senate Republicans who insisted border security provisions be part of a foreign aid package. Conservatives in Congress chose not to approve the plan but to follow directives from a convicted sex offender, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, who wants to use immigration woes for political posturing against President Biden.
U.S. immigration policy should not be a political football or used as political leverage. Most of us are descendants of immigrants and should have empathy for the plight of others. People are fleeing economic hardships often created by corrupt leaders, and violence escalated by the influx of illegal weapons from the United States. The southern border is receiving more immigrants than there is staff to process promptly. The recently rejected bipartisan bill (There have been several.) would have added 1500 new Customs and Border personnel. Republicans contribute to the problem by claiming that the U.S. has open borders. Immigrants believe this and show up. The situation is better defined as a humanitarian crisis rather than a highly charged political issue.
The solution is not cruel fearmongering or grandstanding with dehumanizing labels and accusations. Politicians who perpetuate intolerance make all immigrants, including my family, potential targets of violence. The mass shooter at the Cielo Vista Walmart did not question his victims’ immigration status. He was reacting to mean-spirted rhetoric promoted by politicians and the media.
Is there political will to find solutions? Not if we wait on politicians who have malicious contempt and promote fear of immigrants. President Biden agreed with the Senate solution, don’t blame him; blame Trump and the incompetent Republican-led House of Representatives.
Evelyn Gallegos
Brighton
