opinion

Heartless Right-Wingers: 'Let Them Eat Border Control'

We must protect our borders—and our values. Strong border security is possible without abandoning our humanity, but it requires congressional action, not authoritarian decrees. Let's get it done, with compassion and collaboration.

Published June 24, 2024 at 6:02am by

GOP Obstructionism Forces Biden's Hand, Executive Action Necessary to Fix the Border Crisis

The U.S. is facing a humanitarian crisis at its southern border, with 2.5 million migrant encounters in 2023, and Republicans are to blame. Instead of working with Democrats to find a solution, they've chosen to obstruct and play politics with people's lives. This has forced President Biden to take executive action to block asylum requests at the border, a move on questionable legal ground but necessary given the circumstances.

Americans are concerned about immigration, and rightly so. But we need to remember that migrants are often fleeing desperate situations and seeking a better life. The real issue is the insecure, inefficient, and inhumane border system that puts vulnerable people in danger and allows cartels and smugglers to thrive.

There is a strong blueprint for legislative reform, supported by organizations and industry leaders, that would modernize border and asylum policies. It would expedite asylum determinations, increase technology and personnel to manage migration, and invest in tech to stop illicit fentanyl.

This plan would also relieve pressure on Mexico, our friend and ally, which has been struggling to cope with the number of people transiting through their country. Let's not forget that border security and migrant dignity are not mutually exclusive.

Polling shows that an overwhelming majority of Americans, including conservatives, support a collaborative, humane approach to border security. It's time for Congress to listen to the people and take action, giving Border Patrol the resources they need to fight human trafficking and drug smuggling, and providing quick answers to migrants to reduce pressure on both sides of the border.

A functional legal migration system is essential for America's growth, allowing bright and hard-working people to contribute safely and legally. We cannot allow inaction to continue, leaving our border vulnerable and incentivizing illegal entry.

It's time to do right by our border communities, agents, migrants, and our economy. Congress must put pragmatism over partisanship and work together to turn these solutions into law, preventing the need for further executive actions.

Heartless Right-Wingers: 'Let Them Eat Border Control'

GOP Obstructionism Forces Biden's Hand, Executive Action Necessary to Fix the Border Crisis

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