Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Top Stories

Put a pause on immigration while working out problems in the system

Put a pause on immigration while working out problems in the system

Migrants surrender to a Border Patrol agent after navigating barbed wire on the southern border. There have been more than 8 million encounters at the border since 2021.

David Peinado/Anadolu via Getty Images

Butler is a husband, father, grandfather, business executive, entrepreneur, and political observer.

Immigration and the economy have been two important American political issues not just in recent polls around the 2024 elections but for over 150 years. Immigration affects our society, all of humanity and each of us as individuals in many ways.

Before addressing some of those issues and impacts, perhaps we should acknowledge that we are all either immigrants or descendants of immigrants. Even those we think of as indigenous are the descendants of those who arrived here from distant lands, with current theories putting the first humans in the Americas somewhere between 13,000 and 30,000 years ago.

The Norse first visited North America in the 10th century but significant migration of Europeans to the Americas arguably began with the first exploratory voyage by Columbus in 1492. From there we were off to the races and we all know that it was a constant stream of immigrants who formed the basis of the society that developed into what is now the United States. And not just white Europeans but also Asians and enslaved Africans. Immigration was not just important, but integral and necessary to the early British, French and Spanish colonies, and to the formation and early development of the United States. In fact, without immigration, there would be no United States as we know it.


Through the 1860s the United States essentially had open borders and limited naturalization restrictions. But over the next 25 years or so a series of laws were passed to restrict “undesirables” from arriving. In the 1920s a national origins quota system was established. Immigration from each country was limited by the proportion of each nationality in the U.S. from the 1890 census. These laws reflected the fear of those already here that the continued influx of immigrants would threaten their economic, social, and political interests.

These same arguments exist today, as does the judgment of some that such views are nativist and xenophobic. Those restrictions were replaced in 1965 by the Immigration and Naturalization Act, which remains the core of our system today. While this law did have caps on immigration, it focused on certain preferences including family reunification, professionals and skilled labor, and refugees from certain communist and other countries. It also allowed immigrants to seek asylum from persecution based on race, religion, nationality or political opinion.

When the United States was young and undeveloped and we were adding large swaths of sparsely populated land and bringing states under the auspices of the Constitution, immigration was not a concern (unless you were indigenous) and aided in the development of our modern nation. But it is not the 1770s anymore. Nor the 1870s or even the 1970s. So, while immigration historically has been a net positive, we have to think more holistically about what it means now.

Consider the following immigration impacts and issues:

The desire of millions to immigrate to the United States belies the argument that we are a racist society that does not provide equal opportunity to succeed regardless of background. Those immigrating to the U.S. legally and illegally are seeking a better life. We continue to be the shining city on the hill, recognized as such throughout the world.

Our open society, rooted in freedom and equal opportunity, though mature, can still accommodate, manage, and benefit from immigration in a limited, controlled, and legal framework. Nearly all those who oppose the current situation as an untenable emergency understand and agree with this.

Despite the richness of our nation, not all our citizens nor others who reside here legally have adequate housing, nutrition, educational opportunities, jobs and medical services (including mental health services). And yet many of our cities now find themselves spending vast amounts of money they do not have to provide such services to people living here illegally. Many poor citizens naturally wonder why such funds were not available to alleviate their conditions and suspect this activity reduces the already limited resources available to them.

The longer-term resource issues will negatively affect those on the lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum. While politicians are elected to improve the economic conditions of their constituents and ensure their opportunity to advance, some will insist that immigration at these levels is good for our nation and we must fully accept these immigrants into society, including the right to work and eventually full citizenship. Most of these immigrants are likely to be unskilled or low-skilled and will hold down wages for a generation or more. Businesses and the rich will be happy to benefit from the lower labor costs and the lower cost of maintaining their lifestyle.

Professionals are also affected by immigration. The H1-B visa program allows 65,000 (but often more) immigrants with specialized skills into the country each year specifically to work. They can work for three years, extend for three more, and often end up as permanent residents and even citizens. The program is not supposed to negatively affect American professionals but as a government incursion into the marketplace, it inevitably does. At any given moment there are over half a million active H1-B workers in the United States. It is also somewhat outdated given that most of these professionals could be accessed remotely or by global corporations without the need for immigration. The beneficiaries again are corporate America and not Americans themselves. And we should ask what the impact is on the home countries of these visa holders. Are we not stealing, at least temporarily, the best and brightest resources of countries that could benefit from their productivity more directly than just sending money back home?

The asylum and refugee system as currently operated is broken. Essentially every immigrant crossing illegally expresses a fear for their lives and is released into the country for years until their cases are adjudicated. If they show up for their court appearance in the distant future, and if history continues, the overwhelming majority of cases will be rejected and they will be deported. Of course, in the meantime, they may have given birth to a child who, under current legal interpretations, is a citizen. But again, let’s consider the impact on the asylum seekers’ home countries. Yes, we assume a huge majority are seeking a better life for themselves and their family. But whether it is mere economic challenges or a brutal political environment, how will things improve if those with the desire, motivation, and dedication to do something about it choose to leave? How do things get better if the ones who could fix the problems abandon them instead?

On 9/11 a small handful of terrorists killed nearly 3,000 Americans, and twice that many have been killed in the decades-long wars that have followed. Given that certain groups have a continued intent to attack America, it is likely they have taken advantage of our relatively open borders since 2021. There have been 8 million encounters at the border; most people involved have been caught, processed, and released, with 1.7 million known “gotaways.” It only takes a tiny portion of these individuals to conduct one or more terror attacks in the U.S. that potentially far exceed what we experienced in 2001.

While this is an incomplete list, it seems obvious that an open border policy is inappropriate to our times, degrading to many citizens and dangerous to us all. I believe there is bipartisan agreement on this with only a small fringe supporting open borders. It is obvious that immigration has been a net positive for America historically, and we should all appreciate the desire of most immigrants, including those coming illegally, to seek a better life for themselves and their families.

However, were I a politician, I would be arguing not just for stricter controls. We should implement a 10-year moratorium on all immigration. We can use this time to fully process the migrants who are here, assimilate those that qualify to stay, send the others back home, and have a full debate on what kind of immigration policy we should implement in the future.

Read More

Defend Democracy Against Bombardments on the Elections Front –A Three-Part Series
low angle photography of beige building

Defend Democracy Against Bombardments on the Elections Front –A Three-Part Series

In Part One of this three-part series, Pat Merloe explored the impact of the political environment, the need for constitutional defense against power-grabbing, and the malign effects of proof of citizenship on voting.

In Part Two, Merloe explored the harmful effects of Executive Orders, the reversal of the Justice Department on voting rights, and the effects of political retribution.

Part Three: Attacks on the Courts, and the Need to Defend Universal and Equal Suffrage

As noted in Parts One and Two of this series, multipoint attacks against trustworthy elections are underway with just 16 months until 2026’s voting and less time before off-year elections this November. Awareness of the attacks – and those fortifying trustworthy processes – is crucial for defending democracy.

Keep ReadingShow less
Americans rally for Ukraine
People draped in an American flag and a Ukrainian flag join a march toward the United Nations.
Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images

How a ‘Bad’ Ceasefire Deal With Russia Could Jeopardize Ukraine, American Interests

WASHINGTON — As the Trump administration resumes sending weapons to Ukraine and continues urging a ceasefire with Russia, international actors have voiced warnings against a deal that could leave Ukraine vulnerable, jeopardize nearby countries, and threaten American interests.

President Donald Trump has vowed to end the war, but a United States-brokered deal would need to balance Ukraine's independence and European security, experts have said.

Keep ReadingShow less
Millions at Risk: How Trump’s Insurance Cuts Threaten Latino Communities in California

Two people converse at CHIRLA's office in Los Angeles.

Credit: Alex Segura

Millions at Risk: How Trump’s Insurance Cuts Threaten Latino Communities in California

When President Donald Trump signed his sweeping tax and spending bill into law last week, much of the attention focused on corporate tax breaks and the repeal of key climate protections. But buried deep within the legislation, hailed by its allies as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” are provisions that could radically reshape the country’s healthcare system. And for millions of Latino families, the consequences could be devastating.

At the heart of the reform is a fundamental restructuring of Medicaid, the public health insurance program that covers more than 80 million low-income Americans. The new law introduces work requirements, tightens eligibility rules, and slashes federal funding to states. Policy experts say these changes will disproportionately affect the Latino population, particularly in states like California, Texas, Florida, and Arizona.

Keep ReadingShow less
Food market, fresh produce

As federal nutrition aid is stalled by red tape and grocery deserts persist, local civic-minded organizations are responding with inventive, community-centered approaches.

Getty Images, Kvach Hanna

Prescribing Produce, Powering Markets: How D.C. Is Rethinking Food Access As Health Policy

In Washington, D.C., where neighborhood lines often map onto life expectancies, food insecurity has become a pressing public health issue. Wards 7 and 8, with only three full-service grocery stores, sharply contrast with affluent Ward 3’s 15 outlets. That access disparity correlates with a staggering 15-year life expectancy gap between some ZIP codes east of the Anacostia River and wealthier areas to the northwest. This inequality reflects what public health experts refer to as the social determinants of health – non-medical factors, such as access to nutritious food, that influence physical well-being.

A recent survey by the Capital Area Food Bank found that food insecurity impacts 37% of D.C. Metro Area households, disproportionately affecting Black residents in D.C., where four in 10 residents have struggled to access adequate food. “Where you live in the city profoundly determines your food insecurity and, in turn, your health outcomes,” said Luisa Furstenberg-Beckman, manager for the Produce Rx program at the nonprofit DC Greens.

Keep ReadingShow less