Playing Politics with Immigration Policy
Why Politicians Won’t Solve Problems, and What We Can Do About It
Welcome to the Civic Way journal, our quick take on the relevance of current events to America’s future governance. The author, Bob Melville, is the founder of Civic Way, a nonprofit dedicated to good government, and a management consultant with over 45 years of experience improving public agencies.
The Border Crisis
There can be little doubt that America’s immigration system is broken. While we can differ about policy, the wave of migrants at our southern border is troubling. Over 1.7 million migrant encounters in 2021, 2.7 million in 2022, and 2.8 million in 2023. Crowded, unhealthy detention facilities. Besieged border communities. Separated families and traumatized children. An undeniable humanitarian crisis.
The immigration issue has roiled our politics for years. In this presidential election year, it has become an even more inflammatory issue. Right-wing politicians are jostling to make the border the top campaign issue, above all others—more than inflation, debt and crime. And their appeals are getting the attention of many voters, even those who do not reside in border states.
Pro-immigration advocates have long speculated that border mania is too often about winning elections not solving problems. They fear that the border hue and cry is far more about seizing political power than securing the border, protecting border communities and treating migrants humanely. The recent political machinations, especially among GOP politicians, confirm these fears.
Bipartisan Immigration Reform
The irony is that the immigration problem, like so many others facing the US, is eminently solvable.
Some politicians on both sides of the aisle recognize the potential for bipartisan immigration reform. Over the years, politicians who take their jobs seriously—who recognize their duty as public servants—have made a good faith effort to find common ground. The 1965 Immigration Act. The 1986 Immigration and Control Act.
In 2007, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, had it passed, would have strengthened border enforcement, updated visa criteria and given undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship. It also included funding for more border agents, barriers and technology.
The bill was truly bipartisan. Senators Kennedy, McCain, Kyl and Graham led its drafting. Senate Majority Leader Reid sponsored it, and President Bush enthusiastically supported it. It also reflected the work of other senators such as Cornyn, Hagel and Specter. However, intense opposition from the left and right ultimately killed the bill.
More recently, the Biden Administration has shown considerable flexibility on the border issue. It has requested more money to enhance border patrol resources, including patrol agents, security technology and detention facilities. It has publicly supported bipartisan compromise measures like tougher, faster asylum processes for returning migrants with dubious asylum claims.
And, since last October, a small group of US Senators has been working hard behind the scenes to forge a bipartisan deal linking border measures and Ukraine and Israel aid packages. Republicans and Democrats, with the support of their leaders, closed in on a bipartisan immigration deal, a compromise Senator Graham of South Carolina called a “historic moment to reform the border.”
Political Stunts Trump Good Faith Solutions
However, the pressures of partisan politics keep derailing immigration reform efforts.
The GOP-controlled House has played politics with the immigration issue. It has linked funding for Ukraine and Israel to wholesale capitulation to its vague demands. It has refused to provide the administration’s requested funds. It has initiated impeachment proceedings against the Secretary of Homeland Security for trying to do his job without the requested funds.
Some GOP governors have shown far more interest in stunts—like shipping migrants to liberal cities—than solutions. For example, Texas’ Republican Governor has bused over 92,000 migrants to Democrat-run cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City and Washington DC.
The latest evidence of political hypocrisy? Republican senators, under pressure from the likely GOP presidential candidate, killed the bipartisan immigration deal. Their rationale? Solving the border problem would deprive them of a promising 2024 campaign issue. As Republican Senator Hawley said on Fox News, “There is absolutely no reason to agree to policies that would further enable Joe Biden.”
The Public Service Imperative
There is at least one reason that Senator Hawley evidently overlooked—the public interest.
Public service is a noble calling. The opportunity to hold public office is—or at least should be—a sacred duty. Not to the party that nominated you or the donors that funded your campaign, but to the citizens you represent, including those who voted for your opponent.
After the immigration negotiations were interrupted, many GOP senators vented their frustration with the blatant partisanship that poisoned the Senate’s momentary well of compromise.
Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) – “This [the immigration issue] is not about Trump. This is about our country … [and] democracy”
Mitt Romney (Utah) – “That Donald Trump…doesn’t want us to solve the border problem because he wants to blame Biden for it is … really appalling”
Tom Tillis (North Carolina) – “It [perpetuating the border crisis] is all about politics and not having the courage to respectfully disagree with [former] President Trump.” [And] “It is immoral.”
Todd Young (Indiana) – [Efforts to disrupt the negotiations] are “tragic.”
Sadly, it appears that, before Trump interruptus, the immigration deal enjoyed overwhelming support within the Republican conference. It would be understandable to reflexively blame Trump for the deal’s collapse. However, the main culprits are those who lost their nerve—the Senators who betrayed their obligation to their constituents and pursued political power at the expense of public service.
Why Civility Matters
The border crisis has become the poster child for everything that is wrong about American politics. Inspiring fear instead of trust. Acquiescing to political donors instead of listening to voters. Vilifying political opponents instead of building bridges. Winning elections instead of solving problems.
But immigration is not the only problem that confounds our political system. For many reasons, most of them systemic, our deepening political divide discourages long-term solutions to all other problems that jeopardize our future. The border crisis is most certainly a serious threat, but our seeming inability or unwillingness to solve any problems—that is, to govern—is the biggest threat of all.
The US cannot survive as a viable democracy until its politicians and citizens learn how to disagree more civilly. This does not mean banishing disagreement, but rather seeking and heeding contrasting views. Democracy demands curiosity, a willingness to listen to other views and learn. It also requires humility, an awareness that our views might be imperfect. And it requires civic virtue, an unwavering commitment to improving our nation and community.
Our best leaders have always understood that no one political party or ideology has a monopoly on the best ideas. That no matter how strong their conviction on any one issue, there is a chance they might be wrong (or less right than someone else). That is one reason why—as evidenced by the recent child tax credit extension—compromise may one day reign in American politics.
What Can We Do?
What can we do as mere individuals? We can continue to whine that “all politicians are the same” or “there is nothing we can do.” We can allow others to distract us with political sideshows or manipulate us with fearmongering. But these are the ways of sloths and sheep.
Instead, we can start thinking for ourselves. We can:
Instead of limiting ourselves to media sources that confirm our biases, seek information from diverse sources that challenge those biases.
Learn more about our civic institutions, the challenges and choices they face, and the factors that drive them to make the decisions they make.
Seek out, actively listen to, respect and even learn from different views.
Reject politicians who appeal to our worst instincts, offer platitudes instead of thoughtful solutions, and refuse to work across the aisle to solve problems.
Vote for politicians who listen to all sides, try to build consensus around enduring solutions, and do their jobs and govern like public servants.
Most of us lack the time or interest to think deeply or frequently about public policies. However, for those with a passion for public policy—policy analysts, political strategists, public administrators, think tank employees, academicians and activists—there is something else to be done.
We can launch a bold new civic project to simplify and democratize public policy ideas and shape those ideas into a blueprint for the next generation.
What will this project produce? An open digital town hall for sharing, debating and refining strategies for addressing every issue from healthcare to infrastructure. A dynamic public platform with a comprehensive action agenda for the next generation. A team of volunteers with the expertise to read and synthesize lengthy think tank reports. A free online Wiki-type site for distilling dense research papers into accessible, compelling public policies.
We can no longer count on our politicians to discover civic virtue or become the public servants we elected them to be. If we want a more perfect union, we must start building it ourselves.