Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Top Stories

Bipartisan cooperation needed to navigate immigration's troubled waters

People wading into a river

Migrants cross the border between Mexico and the United States, near Ciudad Juarez, with the intention of seeking humanitarian asylum.

Christian Torres/Anadolu via Getty Images

Blockwood is executive vice president of the Partnership for Public Service, adjunct professor at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.

We are seeing increasing debate, court rulings and newly introduced legislation regarding the federal government’s responsibility to enforce immigration law. It is clear that to resolve swelling immigration issues, the White House, Congress and the states need to provide bipartisan commitment and leadership.


“Do not come.” Those are the words Vice President Kamala Harris said three years ago – clear, direct and delivered with underlying compassion to many would-be illegal immigrants along the southern border. Yet, these words have not been heeded, as if not said at all, with migrant arrivals and violent encounters with our border protection authorities rising to all-time highs. For many, this is not their maiden voyage, seriously signaling we are in deep water.

Migration, the movement of people from one country to another, shouldn’t be controversial. And, if managed appropriately it shouldn’t lead to a national crisis. In fact, immigration has long been a cherished part of shaping who we are as a nation. We are a nation founded on, and advanced by, a society of immigrants, who make up approximately 13 percent of the United States — home to more immigrants than any other country in the world.

Sign up for The Fulcrum newsletter

The United States welcomes over a million people a year and naturalized almost 8 million in the last decade. But, roughly 10.5 million immigrants are unauthorized, and there is growing concern that this group doesn’t respect American traditions and customs, drains resources and services intended for citizens, takes jobs away from hard-working Americans, commits more crime and atrocities than those who were born here, present intelligence threats to our national security, and is part of a larger, sinister replacement theory.

Though not without flaws and hardship, by all accounts, we are a blessed nation with a strong-held belief to care for those unable to care for themselves. America represents a bastion of freedom and opportunity, but how can we sustain the American allure of promise, protect our people, and combat an open border, so we don’t lose the country we love?

Recognize our reach

The U.S. doesn’t receive nearly enough credit for the work it does overseas. We obligated more than $70 billion in foreign aid to more than 150 countries to primarily support economic development, humanitarian assistance, peace related activities and health. This is a substantial sum to spend abroad while nearly 40 million Americans struggle with poverty and our southern border has us over a barrel.

No, it’s not a competition to measure which country is the most generous, but recognition of our assistance to other nations would surely help alleviate the concern that America may not be living up to its humanitarian ethos or meeting its moral obligation.

Run a tight ship

Laws exist for a reason. The Department of Homeland Security, through component organizations — such as Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services — plays an important role in keeping us safe and securing our border. We have an established visa application process, though perhaps in need of reform, to legally enter the United States, and we should reward those who use it rather than help those who undermine it.

We’re not a lawless nation. We must enforce our laws and hold accountable our government leaders who are failing or unwilling to do so. Our president and federal entities must address the rising immigration tsunami or expect that individual states or citizens will — potentially leading to infighting over federal and state rights and power.

Use an ‘all hands on deck’ approach

President Joe Biden said he would sign into law the “toughest and fairest” border reforms, recognizing we have an overwhelmed border amidst a crisis. Despite this pronouncement, the number of migrants illegally crossing continues to grow — in some cases by the thousands — every day. More (a whole of government approach) must be done to secure our border.

Let’s champion bipartisan efforts without fear of being labeled xenophobic or appearing to cede ground to one’s political base. Let’s unbundle unrelated issues in legislative proposals. Let’s not miss the opportunity for actual, meaningful reform because of bitterness, a partisan grudge or chance to show one side has been wrong on this issue all along.

It’s time to take a different tack and make way. Congress and the White House must work constructively to fund border security and immigration activities. We must lift any legislative or executive order restrictions, whether rationalized or real, regarding immigration enforcement. Limit and increase scrutiny for asylum seekers to thwart abuse of the system. Stop the antics of moving migrants around our country, which only shifts the problem elsewhere. Fund and equip law enforcement officials who are on board and ready to safeguard our national boundaries. Reinforce the border using traditional barriers coupled with advanced technology. Position the right leadership at agency, administration and state levels — leaders committed to solving the immigration issues battering our border.

Our country can and should offer legal pathways to citizenship, we can and should enforce our laws and impose consequences to those who try to circumvent them, and we can and should reinforce our commitment to keep U.S. citizens and communities safe. We must also safeguard our traditions while embracing our diversity as a nation — which together are what makes us strongest.

To help stem the tidal wave, let’s call for other nations to meet their responsibilities while we continue to be a role model by offering aid and technical assistance — but not at an unfair expense to Americans. Let’s use currently existing authorities to secure our border and pass additional bipartisan immigration legislation. We would be serving ourselves and our neighbors (adjacent and afar) well — providing the ballast we need, honoring America’s founding spirit, and protecting the American dream and the futures of our fellow countrymen.

Read More

Man stepping on ripped poster

A man treads on a picture of Syria's ousted president, Bashar al-Assad, as people enter his residence in Damascus on Dec. 8.

Omar Haj Kadour/AFP via Getty Images

With Assad out, this is what we must do to help save Syria

This was a long day coming, and frankly one I never thought I’d see.

Thirteen years ago, Syria’s Bashar Assad unleashed a reign of unmitigated terror on his own people, in response to protests of his inhumane Ba’athist government.

Keep ReadingShow less
Men and a boy walking through a hallway

Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk, with his son X, depart the Capitol on Dec. 5.

Craig Hudson for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Will DOGE promote efficiency for its own sake?

This is the first entry in a series on the Department of Government Efficiency, an advisory board created by President-elect Donald Trump to recommend cuts in government spending and regulations. DOGE, which is spearheaded by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, has generated quite a bit of discussion in recent weeks.

The goal of making government efficient is certainly an enviable one indeed. However, the potential for personal biases or political agendas to interfere with the process must be monitored.

As DOGE suggests cuts to wasteful spending and ways to streamline government operations, potentially saving billions of dollars, The Fulcrum will focus on the pros and cons.

We will not shy away from DOGE’s most controversial proposals and will call attention to dangerous thinking that threatens our democracy when we see it. However, in doing so, we are committing to not employing accusations, innuendos or misinformation. We will advocate for intellectual honesty to inform and persuade effectively.

The new Department of Government Efficiency, an advisory board to be headed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, is designed to cut resources and avoid waste — indeed to save money. Few can argue this isn't a laudable goal as most Americans have experienced the inefficiencies and waste of various government agencies.

Sign up for The Fulcrum newsletter

Keep ReadingShow less
From left: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Emmanuel Macron, Donald Trump

President-elect Donald Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron on Dec. 7. No one will be able to restrain Trump's foreign policy efforts.

The true Trump threat

Many Americans fear what Donald Trump will do after assuming the presidency in January — and understandably so. Trump's pathological self-absorption has no place in American government, let alone at its very top.

But the specific type of threat Trump poses is often misunderstood. Like all presidents, his domestic powers are limited. He will face stiff resistance at the federal, state and local levels of government.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump and Tulsi Gabbard on stage

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to be the director of national intelligence.

Adam J. Dewey/Anadolu via Getty Images

How a director of national intelligence helps a president stay on top of threats from around the world

In all the arguments over whether President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for director of national intelligence is fit for the job, it’s easy to lose sight of why it matters.

It matters a lot. To speak of telling truth to power seems terribly old-fashioned these days, but as a veteran of White House intelligence operations, I know that is the essence of the job.

Keep ReadingShow less