Work with Congress on immigration, not around it

President Barack Obama announced yesterday that he would issue an executive order on immigration tonight, halting deportations for up to 5 million undocumented persons who have illegally entered the country. This announcement has been widely anticipated since September when Obama decided to postpone unilateral action on immigration until after the November midterm elections. After suffering electoral defeat in both chambers of Congress and seeing the 2013 Senate immigration bill languish in the GOP-controlled House of Representatives, it is understandable that the President wishes to take unilateral action on immigration. However, we strongly believe that the only durable solution to the nation’s immigration problems is through collaboration with Congress rather than circumvention.

We are of firm conviction that immigration must be reformed. There are two distinct problems that must be addressed: the illogical, economically inefficient and outdated legal immigration system and the roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S. Reforming the immigration system is of paramount importance for multiple reasons. First, comprehensive immigration reform would generate almost a whole percentage point of annual GDP growth just by itself. Liberalizing immigration would have little to no fiscal impact because immigrants actually underutilize welfare compared to native citizens. But, perhaps more importantly, we believe there is a moral imperative to overhaul our uncompetitive immigration system. Immigrants have always been the lifeblood of the U.S., coming here in search of the American dream whether to escape poverty, political oppression or otherwise. The Statue of Liberty, a beacon of welcoming, proudly proclaims, “give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses.” We, as a nation, must not forget this. People who happen to be born elsewhere deserve a shot at experiencing the liberty and prosperity that makes America great.

While we fully agree with the sentiments behind the President’s decision, we are convinced that an executive order is the wrong course of action. First, it lacks any durability. Any future president can summarily reverse the order. Unilateral action may also be legally questionable. Real, lasting reform can only come from legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President. However, if Obama moves forward with his executive order, he destroys any hope of improving immigration. Congress has made it clear that unilateral action will “poison the well”, making cooperation on this issue impossible. Instead of one massive, all-encompassing bill, Congress has indicated its willingness to pass individualized bills tailored to specific issues like high-skilled visas, border security and unaccompanied minors. The President should take them up on that offer if he truly wants to change immigration policy.

We must keep in mind that there is an everyday human cost to this political gridlock. Undocumented immigrants live among us in our communities, languishing in legal limbo while Washington bickers. The millions of families here already as well as all future immigrants hang in the balance. There must be urgency for legislative reform. We beseech the President to work with Congress the way our government is intended to operate to solve this pressing problem.