A conservative think tank is outlining a plan to help the incoming Republican Congress overhaul the U.S. immigration system, aiming to rebuild it from the challenges left by the Biden administration.
In a new report, the Heritage Foundation offers a roadmap for Congress to go beyond just border security and address broader issues within the immigration system. The paper, authored by Lora Ries, the director of Heritage’s Border Security and Immigration Center, argues that the U.S. immigration system has been dysfunctional for decades. Ries claims that legal immigration is slow and complicated, while illegal immigration has often gone unpunished.
A Broken System
According to the report, the system has made it difficult for people to legally immigrate to the U.S. at a time when illegal immigration is seen as a quicker, cheaper alternative. This has led many individuals to choose illegal immigration, while others have been discouraged from coming to the U.S. altogether.
Ries also criticizes the Biden administration, claiming it has further worsened the system by blurring the lines between legal and illegal immigration. She accuses the administration of misusing humanitarian parole, undermining asylum policies, and supporting what she describes as an “open borders” approach.
“In short, America’s immigration system has gone from broken to a pile of ashes,” Ries says.
Opportunity for Reform
With the incoming Republican-led Congress, including a Republican House and Senate, Ries sees a chance to completely reshape the immigration system. She believes this presents an opportunity to create a new, simpler, and fairer system that prioritizes the needs of American citizens while supporting legal immigration.
1. Heritage outlines five core principles for reform:
2. Uphold the rule of law.
3. Ensure the immigration system serves the American people.
4. Secure the U.S. borders.
5. Simplify the system to make it more manageable.
6. Remove incentives for illegal immigration.
Key Recommendations for Reform
The report lays out specific recommendations for Congress. For legal immigration, it calls for:
Revoking visas for those who violate terms, including individuals supporting terrorist groups.
Requiring proof of citizenship to vote.
Counting only U.S. citizens in the census for congressional apportionment.
Protecting American wages by ensuring the visa system does not drive down salaries.
Heritage also proposes eliminating the green card lottery system, prioritizing U.S. citizens over foreign workers in hiring, and stressing the importance of immigrant assimilation for national unity. Additionally, the paper advocates for the use of E-Verify to check workers’ legal status and limiting due process in immigration cases.
Border Security and Enforcement
In terms of border security, the report recommends granting Border Patrol greater authority to expel individuals during national emergencies. It also stresses the need for immigration detention to ensure public safety and facilitate deportations. The paper calls for increased resources for border security and argues that the government should not collaborate with non-governmental organizations to promote illegal immigration.
The Heritage Foundation further suggests simplifying the Immigration and Nationality Act to reduce complexity and eliminating unnecessary waivers and exemptions. The report calls for greater transparency on immigration costs and recommends pausing new immigration intake during periods of significant backlog.
Finally, the report advises Congress to ensure that illegal immigrants are excluded from accessing benefits such as bank accounts and urges lawmakers to reject any form of amnesty or rewards for illegal behavior.
A Top Priority for the Incoming Administration
Immigration and border security are expected to be key priorities for President-elect Donald Trump’s administration. Trump has appointed former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director Tom Homan as the “border czar” and nominated South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security.
Many Republican lawmakers focused their campaigns on addressing illegal immigration, particularly at the southern border, and criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the ongoing crisis.
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