With the rise of ICE and migrant detention facilities under President Donald Trump, immigration and border security are key issues in the coming election.
While Republicans are largely running on stricter immigration policies, the two top Democrats vying to unseat incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn are taking a slightly different approach.
For state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, that means making the U.S.-Mexico border more like a “front porch.”
“Most of us agree on what should happen,” Talarico wrote on his website. “Our border should be like a front porch — it should have a welcome mat out front and a lock on the door. We can both welcome the stranger — refugees, asylum seekers, and folks who want to contribute to our economy and pursue the American dream — and we can keep people out who mean to do us harm.”
Key in that pursuit for Talarico is comprehensive immigration reform, something that has evaded Congress for decades.
“Texans should be the ones to lead our country in finally pursuing comprehensive immigration reforms that keep us safe, live up to our values and shared humanity, and supercharge our economy,” he wrote. “Imagine having a U.S. Senator from Texas who will take the charge to get that done.”
Following is a breakdown of some of Talarico’s other policy ideas related to immigration and border security:
Focus ICE resources on improving public safety and national security;Hold ICE accountable for abuses;Create pathways to legalization for certain undocumented immigrants;Modernize ports of entry to better detect threats before they enter the country;Reform the asylum system;Create an employer sponsorship program focused specifically on lowering costs for Americans;Improve standards on guest worker visas.Crockett lays out immigration, border security priorities
Unlike Talarico, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, has seen firsthand the fights over immigration taking place in Washington.
Key to her platform is reforming the immigration system to make it more effective and efficient.
“We have not reformed immigration to meet our needs nor modern realities,” Crockett wrote on her website. “It is an outdated and inefficient system that doesn’t serve our national interests. Immigrants are part of Texas’ strength, contributing over $400 billion in economic activity, taxes, and Social Security.”
“It shouldn’t cost $100,000 and take 30 years for someone who has played by the rules to earn their citizenship,” she continued. “Our values and civil rights don’t stop at the Rio Grande River. We need real solutions that meet this moment, not more division and fearmongering.”
Along with comprehensive immigration reform, here is a breakdown of some of Crockett’s other priorities related to immigration and border security:
Focus USCIS’s attention and resources on rapidly clearing the backlog of immigrants who are waiting for decisions on their citizenship applications, waiting for their visas to be renewed, or their green cards to be issued.Support streamlining these processes for those who arrived through legal means, have lived here a set number of years without any criminal convictions, and have not been flagged by the intelligence community for national security concerns in order to clear the backlog.Create a pathway to citizenship that is secure, timely, and easy to navigate and includes DACA recipients.Increase the availability of work visas to address workforce demands and attracting immigrants with academic talent or specialized knowledge.Increase the number of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and asylum case workers, intake counselors, and wraparound medical services needed to process migrants at the port of entry and make timely decisions on their cases.Support resources and timely legal status for refugees, including many who risked their lives to assist our military service members. Oppose all efforts to separate families and lock kids in cages. Codify the protections in Plyler vs. Doe to protect access to public schools for children of migrantsInvest in smart technologies like UAVs, drones, and anti-drone, thermal, and infrared to be efficient in stopping human traffickers, drug dealers, and gun smugglers.
Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@elpasotimes.com.