The Blueprint polling initiative is crediting President-elect Donald Trump with his victory. 3 major issues: Inflation, immigration, cultural liberalism and voter alienation from the Democratic Party brand. Blueprint concluded that Vice President Harris failed to outperform her past on all three issues. And perhaps no issue illustrates that headwind more clearly than immigration.
America's failed border policies have allowed millions of illegal aliens to enter the United States over the past few years without a plan to integrate into American culture or life. We have allowed illegal immigrants to flood into our country without a budget to provide education or housing. There is no mechanism for working-class Americans to ensure that their wages are not reduced by working behind the scenes. There is no reliable way to address and combat the violent crime and human trafficking embedded in massive waves of uncontrolled illegal immigration.
On November 5th, Harris was punished by voters for all of these reasons, and Trump was reelected to fix these problems.
Trump aggressively campaigned on the Biden-Harris administration's failed border policies. He also conveyed a clear and simple solution to this problem. The answer to mass illegal immigration is mass deportation. Trump appears ready to fulfill his promises once he takes office.
I wish Mr. Trump success in his second term, and I hope he considers the wisdom of economist Thomas Sowell as he moves from campaigning to the realities of governing and presidential leadership. “There is no solution,” Sowell famously warned. “There are only trade-offs.”
President Trump should follow these three pillars and consider ways to deal with illegal immigration with more favorable tradeoffs than draconian mass deportations.
First, President Trump should continue to embrace his message of mass deportation, as it will have an important deterrent effect on immigrants who may consider entering the country illegally in the future. Anyone who violates the law when entering our country should know that they are subject to immediate deportation.
Second, President Trump should apply mass deportation policies proactively and selectively to illegal immigrants already in the country. Americans know that immigrants did not cause this mess, but our own bad policies. President Trump should show leniency in his deportation requests to prevent a public backlash that could harm everything he wants to accomplish over the next four years.
Third, Trump needs to think carefully about solutions (and trade-offs) to the illegal immigration problem. America is blessed to be a country that attracts ambitious risk-takers from around the world. Today's illegal immigration problem hides opportunities that most countries could only dream of.
Along these pillars, President Trump could take steps to deport all known criminals, terrorists, drug traffickers, and lawbreakers who entered the country in the past few years. No American wants these people here — they need to go home.
But for all the others who believed in our country's promise and traveled the world, and who assessed (accurately) that the Biden administration would let them in, Trump gave them the chance to earn the privilege of remaining in the United States. you will be able to create it. The Trump administration could launch a new national service project that would give undocumented immigrants a chance to contribute to the ongoing effort to build a more perfect union.
Immigrants who say yes to national service before becoming citizens can begin by voluntarily identifying themselves and applying to the national service program. This would cut down on the costly and politically toxic “round-up” process in mass deportation programs and immediately expose illegal immigrants who want to stay here the right way.
If accepted into a national service project, immigrants will be taught English and will be able to learn the language while working for the nation. Learning English is also an important preparation for immigrants to communicate with Americans once their mission is complete. This is a prerequisite for all citizens in a self-governing democracy.
The project could also train and educate immigrants about the constitutional values that are the source of America's strength. We can ensure that immigrants understand the norms, expectations, and responsibilities that define American life after they complete national service and before they are given the privilege of participating in it with us. Masu.
Ambitious national service projects like this can also bring new opportunities. Vice President-elect J.D. Vance has frequently spoken in deeply personal ways about the millions of Americans suffering from drug abuse and chronic unemployment. President Trump could invite such people to the project and elevate them as America's “leaders.” Their participation will foster project success and public buy-in and enable these Americans to develop and use valuable skills in a systematic and meaningful way. Their success with this project will prove to us the power of second chances.
Trump is a great architect. Imagine what he could build with $88 billion a year. Estimated cost About mass deportation. Americans are creative, ambitious, and visionary people. Imagine the incredible ideas Americans would come up with if Trump unleashed our creativity and called on the public to submit ideas and proposals for this national service project. The workforce is here and motivated.
In exchange for their contributions, each immigrant would be able to take a citizenship test at the end of their national service, and those who passed would receive the opportunity to become full American citizens, which the nation had previously given them. is given.
The greatest presidents find ways to unite and inspire Americans in the face of national challenges. Large-scale national service projects may still have that potential today.
I encourage President Trump to seriously consider the issue of illegal immigration. Because in the problem of illegal immigration lies an opportunity to not only make America great again, but greater than ever.
Will Harwood is a public relations consultant and civic entrepreneur based in Northern Virginia.
