Yes. Here is a perfect opportunity for the Dems to take the initiative and promote a strong immigration policy that reflects what the American voter really wants and needs. Clear out the back log, apply quotas, clarify the paths to citizenship. Build a systematic but empathetic policy. Then you'll start winning elections.
Yes, I wrote that in too many words. I wish there was a way to edit before posting. This is done from an iPad that doesn’t allow for the kind of posts that can be made from a computer.
Thank you, Adrian Carrasquillo, for this breath of fresh air regarding a practical way forward for those of us who realize that this gang of murderous, traitors who follow the nincompoop in our White House must be stopped immediately!
You have kept us focused on the real issues. The need is not a kinder and gentler ICE. The real need is a comprehensive immigration policy that is based onn the philosophy of Manny Cellers and LBJ's 1965 recognition that this country is built on and by its immigrants, and we should deal with them on the basis that they are we and them is us.
Louis - for any legacy Republicans in the audience, let’s even cite Reagan’s recognition of the contributions and value of immigrants (he’d be RINO-ld Reagan these days)
This Bulwark report gums the realities, leaving us angry, frustrated, frothing at the kneecaps.
The U.S. was created by millions of immigrants from scores of countries. They have made the nation what it is today. Attempting to reverse history is to defy and deny the future. In reality, we need immigrants. Congress has for more than three decades refused to address the realities of immigration with sensible laws, and left enduring chaos.
"We need immigrants." Why? Because the nation, like many others (China, Japan, Italy, Spain, Russia, and others) faces demographic ruin, fewer working-age citizens supporting more aging, retiring workers predicted to die as we all must. China alone is predicted reliably to lose 200 million of its population by real-world demographic measurement. Russia is in a death spiral, with its death rate far surpassing its replacement need.
"""It is essential going forward that Democrats convince voters they have a plan to recalibrate a system that has been twisted and abused by this administration and made to punish everyone—from undocumented immigrants to people with visas and legal status (such as torture victims), to even U.S. citizens who have been targeted, beaten, and detained, often because of their language or presumed racial identity."""
Reading and rereading this whole piece. Slowly. With gratitude.
A ton of great proposals and discussion - but without funding to quadruple (at least) the number of immigration judges and advocates for applicants, the system will remain broken. And absent the installation of a conscience in a third of the population, we may still be screwed. Also a clever campaign to convince aging fools that they’re gonna need a half million people willing to wipe their asses, or they’ll spend the remaining years of their miserable existence literally wallowing in their own shit. Thanks Adrian.
Timothy - the moneys already there in last year’s OBBB (oligarch & billionaire budget boondoggle). Just reallocate some billions from the needlessly bloated ICE/CBP lines
I think that’s right. One would think there will be a significant amount of funding available in 2029 to be repurposed for immigration processing and enforcement. But think and suppose is all we can do until a non-criminal govt. is installed. But then, without significant reform, you need to convince people that you want to come and serve their country to do so, you need to find a way to convince them they won’t be purged in four years. This will be in and of itself a daunting task. One of many.
Remember that Dems had an immigration plan that they worked out with R's, but Trump threatened his party not to move forward with it. That's what Dems need to keep saying very loudly.
But it only came together once it became obvoius that immigration issues were imperiling Biden's re-election chances. And at that point, once Trump was the nominee, anyone with 3 functioning brain cells knew it would be declared DOA. Trump would not allow Biden a "win" on his biggest issue.
The proper time to "fix" immigration was 2022 when we had a border crisis.
Immigration has been the major theme of MAGA since Trump road down the escalator. In 2018, the RNC decided in mid-August that immigration would be their theme for the mid-terms; then in the last two weeks a "Migrant Invasion" caravan materialized, ballooning from little more than a hundred people to about 7,000. Coincidence? I don't think so. In the run-up to 2020, rule of law, national sovereignty--as opposed to "open borders"--were major themes. "The Wall" became a potent symbol for them. Prior to the 2022 mid-terms, those themes were continued as Biden was portrayed as running a Welcome Wagon for immigrants for purposes of registering voters and replacing Americans with alien invaders. In 2024, it was Haitians eating pets and Venezuelans who somehow managed to seize control of a whole city in Colorado.
Immigration is the closest thing to the soul of MAGA there is. What worries me is that, amidst all of their lawlessness, it is where they have the rule of law on their side--if not common sense. I agree with the idea that Democrats must have a program that pays heed to the law while also paying heed to common sense, decency, and humanity. I would suggest 1) passing something very close to the Lankford bill; 2) deporting convicted felons; 3) issuing work permits to everyone else who has been here and working for some minimum period of time; 4) dropping the red flag phrase "a path to citizenship" completely--those working under visas or permits may apply for citizenship, or not, like everyone else. 5) Taking a hard look at the Unattended Child segment of the law. It was meant originally for Southeast Asian war orphans, but now some parents are bringing their minor children to the border and pointing to where they should cross.
Immigration is the major theme for MAGA because today’s immigrants are not white, and that is the dirty secret that they won’t say out loud. South Africans - white people get special treatment to come here. The first batch had a Nazi odor with the first person to be interviewed. Previous immigrants could be assimilated because while they were Irish, Italian, or Greek, they were white.
No question. I can only hope that the Democrats can get it as near to right as possible. I liked Ted Kennedy’s comment that even if the bill is flawed, it could be improved after it is signed until it works.
I could envision a migration policy that works, but that is only after every immigration agent who has worn a mask on American streets is arrested, tried, and prosecuted for both treason and torture.
What I am wondering is what organization is consolidating this, and other gaping holes in the law that made all the horrors possible into a project 2029? The need is obvious, but the organization behind making it happen doesn't seem to exist.
Adrian you said it well. Republicans need to go away. At least the MAGA people, but it’s on the Democrats to actually make real progress with immigration. Democrats, with their big tent forget that they are not the going to solve every problem with a one size fits all. Now is the time for change; accountability, transparency, and stop relying on big money. Will they do it? I hope so, because if they throw this chance away, it will take longer than 16 years to get it back.
This is extremely important. Immigrants need a path to citizenship. It has to be reasonable, not a multiyear process. The AIC message needs to reach every Democratic candidate. The policy needs to be comprehensive. The border has to be secured, but immigrants need to be able to enter the country and begin application on entering for a well defined temporary status while they go through the steps to become citizens. This has to be done at every legal entry point. The border patrol has to remain strong. We have technology that can monitor the border on illegal crossings. Coyotes need to be foiled. They prey on desperate people who can enter or apply for asylum or entry if they know that coyotes are predators. If detention centers are used, they have to be monitored to prevent abuse of detainees common in contracted centers. They are businesses and profit by providing no access to medical care,lousy food, no opportunity for detainees for fresh outside air and exercise, and screening and monitoring guards to prevent the cruelty endemic to the current camps. Under this administration the conditions inside are hidden. Red Cross workers are volunteers could make unannounced visits to monitor what’s going on inside. People need access to legal services instead of being moved around so any lawyer they retained can find them. What’s in place now borders on concentration camps. Smarter people than me need to define humane policies for immigration. For?decades, Congress has failed to provide for immigration reform. My rant of the day.
Democrats are terrified to talk about immigration reform, seemingly out of fear of upsetting the super far left.
95% of Americans want some form of immigration enforcement. But we don’t want the father of 2 US marines to be detained, we don’t want people to be racially profiled and harassed, and we don’t want American citizens to be executed in the street.
I personally want better control of the border than we saw under Biden, but I also want to give people a legitimate, streamlined path to citizenship.
There’s SO MANY common sense positions democrats could coalesce around. Immigration is one of them.
So why haven't the Dems done anything/ They could introduce bills - they may all fail but do something!! The old immigration bill was good - the old Floyd bill was good - the old SCOTUS ethics bill was good. How's about some new Epstein bills. How's about trying to change committee membership - the 140 Insurrectionists need to be exposed as the problem - and the pedophiles. How about talking to the GOP newbies in Congress to get them to support committee change and the removal of Mikey? Are they all pedophiles, greedy, lazy? And someone should be shaming McConnell and Grassley.
Yes. Here is a perfect opportunity for the Dems to take the initiative and promote a strong immigration policy that reflects what the American voter really wants and needs. Clear out the back log, apply quotas, clarify the paths to citizenship. Build a systematic but empathetic policy. Then you'll start winning elections.
Yes, I wrote that in too many words. I wish there was a way to edit before posting. This is done from an iPad that doesn’t allow for the kind of posts that can be made from a computer.
You can edit your I pad comments. Unfortunately I have to do it often because I am my own editor, and the editor is not always available.
Thank you, Adrian Carrasquillo, for this breath of fresh air regarding a practical way forward for those of us who realize that this gang of murderous, traitors who follow the nincompoop in our White House must be stopped immediately!
You have kept us focused on the real issues. The need is not a kinder and gentler ICE. The real need is a comprehensive immigration policy that is based onn the philosophy of Manny Cellers and LBJ's 1965 recognition that this country is built on and by its immigrants, and we should deal with them on the basis that they are we and them is us.
Louis - for any legacy Republicans in the audience, let’s even cite Reagan’s recognition of the contributions and value of immigrants (he’d be RINO-ld Reagan these days)
Thank you for reminding us that both parties used to believe the statue if liberty represents our greatest values as a nation
This Bulwark report gums the realities, leaving us angry, frustrated, frothing at the kneecaps.
The U.S. was created by millions of immigrants from scores of countries. They have made the nation what it is today. Attempting to reverse history is to defy and deny the future. In reality, we need immigrants. Congress has for more than three decades refused to address the realities of immigration with sensible laws, and left enduring chaos.
"We need immigrants." Why? Because the nation, like many others (China, Japan, Italy, Spain, Russia, and others) faces demographic ruin, fewer working-age citizens supporting more aging, retiring workers predicted to die as we all must. China alone is predicted reliably to lose 200 million of its population by real-world demographic measurement. Russia is in a death spiral, with its death rate far surpassing its replacement need.
You had me at:
"""It is essential going forward that Democrats convince voters they have a plan to recalibrate a system that has been twisted and abused by this administration and made to punish everyone—from undocumented immigrants to people with visas and legal status (such as torture victims), to even U.S. citizens who have been targeted, beaten, and detained, often because of their language or presumed racial identity."""
Reading and rereading this whole piece. Slowly. With gratitude.
A ton of great proposals and discussion - but without funding to quadruple (at least) the number of immigration judges and advocates for applicants, the system will remain broken. And absent the installation of a conscience in a third of the population, we may still be screwed. Also a clever campaign to convince aging fools that they’re gonna need a half million people willing to wipe their asses, or they’ll spend the remaining years of their miserable existence literally wallowing in their own shit. Thanks Adrian.
Timothy - the moneys already there in last year’s OBBB (oligarch & billionaire budget boondoggle). Just reallocate some billions from the needlessly bloated ICE/CBP lines
I think that’s right. One would think there will be a significant amount of funding available in 2029 to be repurposed for immigration processing and enforcement. But think and suppose is all we can do until a non-criminal govt. is installed. But then, without significant reform, you need to convince people that you want to come and serve their country to do so, you need to find a way to convince them they won’t be purged in four years. This will be in and of itself a daunting task. One of many.
Remember that Dems had an immigration plan that they worked out with R's, but Trump threatened his party not to move forward with it. That's what Dems need to keep saying very loudly.
But it only came together once it became obvoius that immigration issues were imperiling Biden's re-election chances. And at that point, once Trump was the nominee, anyone with 3 functioning brain cells knew it would be declared DOA. Trump would not allow Biden a "win" on his biggest issue.
The proper time to "fix" immigration was 2022 when we had a border crisis.
Good point. I'm just tired of all the Dem navel gazing, when they need to fight back without apology.
Immigration has been the major theme of MAGA since Trump road down the escalator. In 2018, the RNC decided in mid-August that immigration would be their theme for the mid-terms; then in the last two weeks a "Migrant Invasion" caravan materialized, ballooning from little more than a hundred people to about 7,000. Coincidence? I don't think so. In the run-up to 2020, rule of law, national sovereignty--as opposed to "open borders"--were major themes. "The Wall" became a potent symbol for them. Prior to the 2022 mid-terms, those themes were continued as Biden was portrayed as running a Welcome Wagon for immigrants for purposes of registering voters and replacing Americans with alien invaders. In 2024, it was Haitians eating pets and Venezuelans who somehow managed to seize control of a whole city in Colorado.
Immigration is the closest thing to the soul of MAGA there is. What worries me is that, amidst all of their lawlessness, it is where they have the rule of law on their side--if not common sense. I agree with the idea that Democrats must have a program that pays heed to the law while also paying heed to common sense, decency, and humanity. I would suggest 1) passing something very close to the Lankford bill; 2) deporting convicted felons; 3) issuing work permits to everyone else who has been here and working for some minimum period of time; 4) dropping the red flag phrase "a path to citizenship" completely--those working under visas or permits may apply for citizenship, or not, like everyone else. 5) Taking a hard look at the Unattended Child segment of the law. It was meant originally for Southeast Asian war orphans, but now some parents are bringing their minor children to the border and pointing to where they should cross.
Immigration is the major theme for MAGA because today’s immigrants are not white, and that is the dirty secret that they won’t say out loud. South Africans - white people get special treatment to come here. The first batch had a Nazi odor with the first person to be interviewed. Previous immigrants could be assimilated because while they were Irish, Italian, or Greek, they were white.
I agree that racism is what fuels MAGA, but it is still true that our immigration system is broken and in need of repair.
No question. I can only hope that the Democrats can get it as near to right as possible. I liked Ted Kennedy’s comment that even if the bill is flawed, it could be improved after it is signed until it works.
That's true of a lot of pieces of legislation.
Tom - grievance, jealousy, rage. With some sides of racism, anti-any-but-nationalist-christian religion…
For some of them, immigration is just one leg of that stool. They would like to deport non-whites, non-Christians, and Democrats.
I could envision a migration policy that works, but that is only after every immigration agent who has worn a mask on American streets is arrested, tried, and prosecuted for both treason and torture.
What I am wondering is what organization is consolidating this, and other gaping holes in the law that made all the horrors possible into a project 2029? The need is obvious, but the organization behind making it happen doesn't seem to exist.
Such great reporting! Thank you Adrian! I’d love to see a weekly Huddled Masses on the Bulwark Takes feed like Command Post & False Flag.
Adrian you said it well. Republicans need to go away. At least the MAGA people, but it’s on the Democrats to actually make real progress with immigration. Democrats, with their big tent forget that they are not the going to solve every problem with a one size fits all. Now is the time for change; accountability, transparency, and stop relying on big money. Will they do it? I hope so, because if they throw this chance away, it will take longer than 16 years to get it back.
Don't forget, Dems had a plan for immigration reform that they worked out with R's, but Trump tanked it. That's what we need to remind voters about.
This is extremely important. Immigrants need a path to citizenship. It has to be reasonable, not a multiyear process. The AIC message needs to reach every Democratic candidate. The policy needs to be comprehensive. The border has to be secured, but immigrants need to be able to enter the country and begin application on entering for a well defined temporary status while they go through the steps to become citizens. This has to be done at every legal entry point. The border patrol has to remain strong. We have technology that can monitor the border on illegal crossings. Coyotes need to be foiled. They prey on desperate people who can enter or apply for asylum or entry if they know that coyotes are predators. If detention centers are used, they have to be monitored to prevent abuse of detainees common in contracted centers. They are businesses and profit by providing no access to medical care,lousy food, no opportunity for detainees for fresh outside air and exercise, and screening and monitoring guards to prevent the cruelty endemic to the current camps. Under this administration the conditions inside are hidden. Red Cross workers are volunteers could make unannounced visits to monitor what’s going on inside. People need access to legal services instead of being moved around so any lawyer they retained can find them. What’s in place now borders on concentration camps. Smarter people than me need to define humane policies for immigration. For?decades, Congress has failed to provide for immigration reform. My rant of the day.
Democrats are terrified to talk about immigration reform, seemingly out of fear of upsetting the super far left.
95% of Americans want some form of immigration enforcement. But we don’t want the father of 2 US marines to be detained, we don’t want people to be racially profiled and harassed, and we don’t want American citizens to be executed in the street.
I personally want better control of the border than we saw under Biden, but I also want to give people a legitimate, streamlined path to citizenship.
There’s SO MANY common sense positions democrats could coalesce around. Immigration is one of them.
So why haven't the Dems done anything/ They could introduce bills - they may all fail but do something!! The old immigration bill was good - the old Floyd bill was good - the old SCOTUS ethics bill was good. How's about some new Epstein bills. How's about trying to change committee membership - the 140 Insurrectionists need to be exposed as the problem - and the pedophiles. How about talking to the GOP newbies in Congress to get them to support committee change and the removal of Mikey? Are they all pedophiles, greedy, lazy? And someone should be shaming McConnell and Grassley.