by Rohan Kapur ’20, Staff Writer

Democrats and Republicans agree that something must be done about illegal immigration. With an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants living in the US, and a president cracking down on illegal immigrants, this topic has been the center of debate within congress. In September, President Trump shut down DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), a former Obama-era program that was designed to protect illegal immigrants that came to the United States as children. President Trump gave Congress six months to find a solution for the 800,000 “Dreamers” that were under the DACA program. But debate over immigration and what to do with the “Dreamers” has gotten nowhere, leading to two government shutdowns. Democrats insisted that DACA and its funding be discussed in the funding bill, but Republicans refused and it failed to pass. People are starting to get impatient with lawmakers as illegal immigration has become a huge problem in this country, with no real solutions being produced.

Democrats and Republicans have very different views on what to do with illegal immigration. These 11 million illegal immigrants in question get to the United States by illegally crossing the border or overstaying their visas. Republicans argue that the problem of illegal immigration must be addressed by securing borders and addressing chain immigration. Chain immigration is the process of getting into the United States through a relative who is a US citizen. Illegal immigrants abuse this policy by having children in the United States (who automatically become US citizens) and then gain legal status through their children. The most important issue to Republicans is securing the border, but there is some disagreement within the party over the best way to do so. Some Republicans believe that a wall will be the best solution, which is backed by President Trump. Other believe that more fencing, border patrol agents, drones and other resources will curb illegal immigration at a much smaller price. In terms of a path to citizenship, Republicans are only willing to negotiate a path to legal status for illegal immigrants with strings attached, such as increased border security and to slash family sponsorship of immigrants. Democrats believe that border security is definitely necessary, but are against spending too much money on security, and are highly against a proposed border wall and are focused on a solution in order to fund DACA. 

Of recently, there have been a couple of bipartisan deals proposed that have addressed DACA by granting opportunities for legal status while also proposing major funding into border security and ensuring chain immigration does not occur. The Democrats are looking for an easier to allow illegal immigrants, specifically “Dreamers,” to gain legal status and specifically citizenship. A Newark Academy student who does not wished to be named said the Democrat’s point of view best: “The current process in the United States makes gaining citizenship far too difficult. DACA gives those who had no say in their decision to be born in this country a chance to stay in the only home they’ve ever known. It would be unfair to force someone who was born and raised in the US to return to a country that their family is from solely because their parents weren’t US citizens.” Democrats believe that DACA participants deserve to be in this country, as this is their home and this is all they have ever known. Republicans somewhat agree to this point, but don’t believe citizenship should be granted easily, and are more focused on border security in order to stop additional illegal immigration. Republicans are focused on border security due to the huge amount of drug trafficking around the border, the amount of crimes committed by illegal immigrants, and the sheer fact that they are “illegal”. Another student said, “Border security is essential to maintaining a country, it is not fair on American citizens to keep illegal immigrants, as they don’t pay taxes and hurt the American economy by taking jobs. Although it seems humane to grant these Dreamers a path to citizenship, they are in this country illegally; if someone robbed your home, you wouldn’t let them stay. Unfortunately, since these Dreamers are here, we should offer them a path to legal status, but not to citizenship.” Both parties seem ready to negotiate a deal with each other, but have heavy demands have been very unwilling to budge on their positions.

With both sides holding their ground and unable to negotiate to a solution, the deadline for DACA is approaching. Republicans want border security, Democrats want paths to citizenship for Dreamers, and no progress has really been made in terms of negotiation. While America is a country built on immigrants and illegal immigrants are no different from other immigrants, in search of opportunity in the US, the Republicans believe it is unacceptable for them to come here illegally and hurt the US economy. It is not fair on people who came here legally and needs to be stopped with additional border security. On the other hand though, the Democrats are arguing dreamers should be given paths to legal status, as this was the life they were born into and they didn’t have an option.