Immigration Policy

A broken immigration system hurts every American. But there’s a clear, practical path to fix it, one that strengthens our economy, honors our values, and protects our future.

Contrary to how it may seem in today’s political debate, immigration does have a clear solution. For decades, we’ve been stuck in a system that is not only unsustainable but also deeply harmful. The way forward is not through the political extremes, but through the practical, principled middle ground. While we may differ on the causes or ideal outcomes, there is broad agreement that the current system fails all of us and needs to be fixed.

At its core, this is an economic issue. Our economy needs the labor, and there are people eager to fill those jobs. By failing to acknowledge the economic roots of this problem, our current policies do more than just fall short. They also weaken respect for the rule of law and create unnecessary human suffering by forcing millions into the shadows. We don’t need to choose between a secure nation and a compassionate one. We can, and must, have both.

This crisis touches employers, workers, families, and communities alike. Current policies often drive illegal hiring, which in turn incentivizes more undocumented immigration. Without a viable legal framework that reflects our labor needs, the system invites abuse and breeds instability. The reality is simple: so long as the only way to fill critical jobs is to break the rules. Many will take that route out of necessity or survival.

The irony is that we need this labor force, and they want to contribute. But rather than design a lawful, workable system, we spend billions on policies that chase symptoms rather than fix the cause.

Immigrants are vital to our economy. In 2022 alone, undocumented immigrants paid $76 billion in taxes. Legalizing the status of those already contributing could boost GDP by over $1.7 trillion and create hundreds of thousands of additional legal jobs while stabilizing our labor market and tax base.

At the same time, nearly $400 billion has been spent on border enforcement since 2003 without solving the problem. Mass deportation would cost billions more and shrink the economy. While we must enforce our laws, we also need to recognize what compels people to come here in the first place: the pursuit of work. Many walk hundreds of miles, endure hardship, and risk death just for a chance to earn a living. Their willingness to endure such hardship speaks to the depth of their need, not a disregard for the law.

This doesn’t excuse unlawful entry. But it makes one thing clear: enforcement alone cannot fix a system that invites the very behavior it seeks to punish.

At the heart of our 40-year failure is this: while billions have been poured into border security, very little has been invested in ending illegal hiring or building legal pathways to match our labor needs. That imbalance fuels both undocumented migration and unfair competition.

“If we don’t address this imbalance, we will never achieve true border security, no matter how much we spend, how high we build a wall, or how aggressively we patrol”

We rarely talk about illegal hiring. Crossing the border without authorization is a federal misdemeanor. But under U.S. law, a pattern or practice of knowingly hiring undocumented workers is a felony. Yet enforcement overwhelmingly targets workers, not the employers who drive demand.

This is not a call to round up employers as we’ve tried to do with immigrants. It is a call to finally confront the root cause: an immigration policy failure that focuses on symptoms while ignoring the underlying system breakdown.

When following the law puts businesses at a disadvantage, it should come as no surprise that some break the rules to survive. If there are no legal pathways to hire needed workers, both employers and workers are pushed outside the system.

We should not criminalize honest employers trying to fill essential jobs, or desperate people trying to earn a living. Instead, we must build a system that reflects our values, supports lawful opportunity, and levels the playing field for everyone.

“These are not demands from the extremes. They are practical solutions from the middle.”

• Based on clear labor market data that defines how many workers we need and where
• Backed by secure, orderly, and humane border and visa enforcement
• Reinforced by fair labor standards and strong penalties for illegal hiring
• Guided by our humanitarian responsibilities and rule-of-law traditions

The United States seeks to be a light to the world, and has a moral obligation to lead with both strength and compassion. That means prioritizing vulnerable refugees and those seeking asylum from the abuse of dictators. But that also means careful vetting, and ensuring that those who arrive can contribute meaningfully to our future as well as theirs.

New immigrants should receive support such as language training and community programs for successful integration—which also strengthens our national identity and provides shared opportunities for the immigrants and the businesses which need them.

Real progress demands an approach that balances enforcement of our immigration laws, a recognition of our economic need for workers, and a respect for human dignity. This path requires all groups to lead with their values, not surrender them. We must enforce the laws, honor the workers, and restore trust in each other. A successful path recognizes the potential for undocumented immigrants to become contributing members of the American story through legal pathways. Moreover, it recognizes that employers are vital players in rebuilding a fair system.

• Recognize the shared accountability between immigrants and employers
• Create pathways that match labor supply with demand
• Maintain secure and humane border enforcement
• Put an end to illegal hiring
• Make a renewed commitment to our humanitarian principles