In February, immigration expert Mark Kerkorian told us immigration would be a top issue in 2020. So, in the interest of fairness, and in this age of choosing news sources based on confirmation bias, our members might benefit from comparing and contrasting the president’s immigration policy as stated on his campaign site to those stated on websites for the top Democrat candidates.
President Trump’s policies are easy to picture and implement - provided his opponents give support. He wants a wall to secure the southern border, as well as “to close legal loopholes that enable illegal immigration, to end chain migration, and to eliminate the visa lottery program.” He “pulled the United States out of negotiations for a ‘Global Compact on Migration,’ a plan for global governance of immigration and a refugee policy that may have compromised U.S. sovereignty.” (Though he doesn’t say how the plan would compromise the US, that such a plan existed proves open borders is code one world order.) “In his first days in office, President Trump signed an executive order disqualifying sanctuary city from receiving federal grants.” He seeks a “transition to a merit-based immigration plan.” He got Mexico to “deploy 6,000 national guard troops … to stop the immigration crisis, dismantle human-smuggling networks, and work more closely with the U.S. to share information about migrants.” In 2017/18, Trump’s administration arrested 14,000 gang members (6,000 of which were MS-13.)
In short, Trump favors legal immigration and workers who would benefit the country’s future, as opposed to family members or lottery winners. His law and order approach asks the country to pass laws that make sense and then uphold them.
The immigration policy of current front runner Bernie Sanders is so full of adjectives, passive verbs and insults, it’s hard to picture specific goals. He calls President Trump “a racist, a xenophobe, and a demagogue.” Among Bernie’s many ideas, he wants to: 1. “Put a moratorium on deportations until a thorough audit of current and past practices and policies is complete.” (How long will that take?); 2.“Stop all construction of the racist and ineffective wall (Are walls racist?) on the U.S.-Mexico Border and instead rely on cost-effective and innovative methods (Such as?) to counter the real threats of drug importation and human trafficking, not manufactured ones targeting the most vulnerable (Hmmm. Do real threats target those who are less vulnerable?); 3. Instruct DOJ to drop any litigation or funding restrictions relating to sanctuary cities; 4. Reverse President Trump’s attempts to end Temporary Protected Status agreements and extend TPS designations until a permanent solution is reached (When?); 5. Ensure all children who were separated from their families by the United States government are reunited swiftly (By whom? With whom?); 6. Convene a hemispheric summit with the leaders of Latin American countries who are experiencing migration crises and develop actionable steps to stabilize the region.
Bernie’s last two points, plus the expansion of DACA and DAPA, are shared by all Democrat hopefuls. They want to paint Trump as a child abuser. And bizarrely, they want asylum seekers to site climate change as their reason for fleeing their homeland.
Second place Mayor Pete’s 4 point system is phrased more politely than Bernie’s. He wants to: 1. "Promote belonging and democracy.” ( “Belonging” does not mean citizenship, it appears.); 2. “Modernize our immigration system.” (He provides a lengthy, wonky to-do list. Big government benefits big time); 3. “Protect the border and the people who arrive there.” (He seems to think the illegals need more protection from the US than our laws need upholding.); 4. “Engage with the global community.” This last point is also detailed at length: one world order equals no accountability.
In Pete’s favor, he explains why immigration is necessary: "The United States has a population growth problem. In 2018, births hit a three-decade low. Our population is rapidly aging, and between now and 2027 we face a shortfall of eight million workers. Absent increases in immigration, GDP growth will decrease by 1.4 percent a year over the next decade.” He adds, “Our undocumented population has grown because of an outdated immigration system and ill-conceived border enforcement policies. The gap between visa supply and demand is so large that we are, in effect, manufacturing and perpetuating the crisis.”
Third place Amy Klobuchar’s policy appears non-existent. Her points focus on Dreamers, ICE and children put in cages.
Joe Biden’s plan, like Pete’s, is specific and detailed but hard to picture. It expands bureaucracies large and small, at home and abroad. However, in his favor, it’s comprehensive, and he’s the only candidate who tackles root migration. So his policy reflects what appears to be more moderate leanings and reflects his experience as VP.
Trump’s common sense plan will appeal to those who value borders, law and merit based immigration. But decide for yourself - take a look at the sites below.