Immigration. Whose Job?

Every American is an immigrant either directly or by relation. The only exception are native Americans. This was their land before us. We took it from them. It is as simple as that. That makes the rest of us immigrants.

Legal or illegal, a person residing in America is an American if they live here, work here, build families here, pay taxes and contribute actively to the social order. The legality issue is a technicality that needs processing and adjudication.

Presidents implement laws made by Congress. Presidents do not create law, just administrative adjustments to implement the laws already written.

Congress makes the laws that govern our land. Immigration is their area of duty. They have long ignored it for political reasons. It is as simple as that.

For 80 years or so, Congress has avoided doing the hard work that would give foundation to workable administration of the topic. They have chosen not to do this. The latest opportunity was led by John McCain and Dick Durbin with the explicit support of then President George W. Bush. McCain and Durbin’s carefully planned approach was soundly shut down by the House of Representatives at the time. That was it. They had a golden opportunity to research and address the problems presented by immigration but actively chose to do nothing. This has happened over and over again.

The motivation is purely political. The unresolved issues related to immigration are handy tools to brandish when settling scores with other politicians. This story has thrived for decades. Today, the issue is the handiest of tools for a man to become president and then to attempt to be king. So far, this issue has borne fruit for his work. See where it has got him and our nation today.

Chaos. Great emotion. Manipulation of police power, national guard power, and military power in the person of the Marines. Horrendous manipulation for power to confuse, addle and force public opinion to his own purposes.

As American citizens with the power to vote, we are the ultimate power point to demand workable solutions to the problems associated with immigration. We elect members of Congress and can easily demand they do their jobs regarding immigration. If they do, the power resides with them, not the President of the United States. Absent their work, the issue falls to the administrative needs controlled by the President.

There you have it. The power belongs to the people – that’s us – and the doers are members of Congress. We the People need only demand Congress do its job or lose their jobs. It is that simple.

The work to solve immigration issues is not simple. That is very difficult, indeed. But it can only be successful work if started. That’s the job of Congress.

There are plenty of historians and academic researchers to design the actual work. Deciding how to solve immigration problems without political nonsense embedded, is the job of every representative in the House of Representatives. This is the only certain way to avoid the political manipulation of this or future Presidents.

The road to the future is clear. Just do it. All of us.

June 20, 2025

 

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