Cracks are appearing in the coalition of Trump Republicans and tech bros that brought Donald Trump back to the White House. The former anticipates mass deportations, while the latter wants to protect legal immigration. What Trump does after he remains in office could define his legacy.
Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump have a lot in common. They are all bold leaders, high-profile politicians and right-wing outsiders who have challenged the status quo. Both men understood what the American people cared about. (“It’s the economy, you idiot.”) In the first condition, both men passed significant tax cuts. Now Trump can be as bold as Reagan and pass immigration reform for a path to citizenship.
In 1986, Ronald Reagan signed the Immigration Reform and Control Act, which strengthened border security while giving nearly 2.7 million immigrants a path to citizenship. The result was a 3-5% decrease in crime, increased labor income and productivity, increased tax revenues, and growth in consumer spending and entrepreneurship. Most importantly, there is a new appreciation for the opportunity to return to America’s “shining city on a hill.”
Congress has failed to enact immigration legislation in 30 years. Americans are tired of stagflation and inaction. Trump must work with Congress to bring America’s immigration system into the technological age while maintaining the balance of power between the state and federal governments that unite our republic.
The immigration system must be designed to serve the national interest of the United States, the national interest, and the interests of the American people. A layered approach is needed that includes individual state mandates. This allows us to manage immigration requests from each state and standards for accepting applicants to suit local needs.
Immigration reform must provide a clear, structured path to citizenship for individuals already residing in the United States. To qualify, these “career immigrants” must meet several criteria, including securing a job, paying an administrative fee, passing a citizenship test and completing an extensive background check. , prove your English proficiency. This prepares applicants to integrate into the workforce and contribute to the economy.
This approach is designed to address labor market needs by distinguishing between low-skilled and high-skilled workers. For example, one state may request 25,000 low-skilled workers and 17,500 high-skilled workers annually through compliance with basic federal standards, while another state may require 35,000 low-skilled workers and 5,500 high-skilled workers through additional state-specific requirements. can be accepted.
Prospective immigrants will apply through an online portal that links them to job postings from state and local companies at a minimum fee set by local authorities to cover administrative costs. Applicants select a job on the portal and commit to that job before entering the country.
Pathway immigrants must reside in the state sponsoring their entry for at least three years and maintain an approved job until the citizenship process is complete. After this period, you are free to move to another state if you wish. This residency requirement promotes economic stability and discourages excessive concentration in certain areas.
In addition to a simpler and fairer application process, reform should fund increased border security and create a task force to work with communities and authorities to deport illegal immigrants who do not apply or do not meet the criteria.
Allowing millions to “come out of the shadows” and participate in the formal economy, as Reagan said, would spur growth and create new jobs. It would also increase tax revenues by about $40.2 billion per year, potentially generating “$1.5 trillion to the country’s GDP over 10 years.”
Passing a successful reform agreement means bringing together different factions and showing them that passing legislation is in the interests of the American people. Here, new technical institutions gain simpler and more sustainable investments in legal immigration. The populist base is funded and strengthened border security to remove illegal residents who do not meet citizenship requirements. Progressives will deliver civil rights and rights to millions of people hiding in sanctuary cities.
American citizens gain additional partners to grow their small businesses and communities and pay off our national debt.
Americans want an immigration policy that lets good, hard-working people in and keeps bad people with evil intentions out. Simpler but more focused and updated immigration reform would create a stronger, more competitive labor market. It will also expand the tax base and stimulate economic opportunity, setting the stage for future deficit reduction.
Trump and Reagan have much in common, but their public personas differ dramatically. While Reagan exuded optimism and professionalism, Trump was brash and combative. They may take different paths to leadership, but both seek reasonable solutions for the American working class.
Trump’s first term embodied the dysfunction of the ’60s and ’70s. He fell into the trap of dirty tricks and crazy behavior that toppled Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon. So while DOGE works with Congress to cut wasteful spending and cut bureaucracy, Trump could take a more statesmanlike approach and embrace Reagan-style reforms that would renew the economy and the optimism of the American people.
Jeff Mayhugh is the founding editor of Politics and Parenting and vice president of No Cap Fund.
