Washington, DC – House Democrats are gathered at a retreat this week, focused on policy priorities and messaging ahead of the midterms, including on immigration and border issues.
While old Democratic thinking may have counseled to avoid immigration or only emphasizing Republican-light talking points on enforcement, that would be exactly wrong for this moment on both policy and political grounds. Instead of avoiding immigration, Democrats need to confront the issue head-on and forcefully articulate their values and their vision to modernize an outdated and broken immigration system. They also need to deliver on meaningful policy promises, including through President Biden’s continued use of executive actions to ensure breakthroughs when legislative progress is not feasible.
Thankfully, leading House Democrats are thinking along similar lines. As Punchbowl News reports this morning, “More and more House Democrats are talking about pressing President Joe Biden to use his executive authority to enact big chunks of the party’s agenda.” Support for executive orders and actions in the story included House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC), Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) lead Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) chair Raúl Ruiz, who specifically mentioned lifting the refugee cap, reevaluating Title 42 and MPP, and using executive orders to forge a “professional, humane immigration system.” Meanwhile, Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), noted that “she wants to see executive action on two key immigration issues — expanding the DACA and Temporary Protected Status programs.”
Here are a few reminders why this approach – to address the issue head-on and deliver policy breakthroughs – is the right one:
- Energize disillusioned Democratic base voters: As NBC News recapped of recent polling from the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund, ‘In the NILC-commissioned survey, Trump notched much higher marks with his base on how he handled immigration issues (86 percent positive) than Biden did with his (54 percent approval).’
- Draw sharp contrasts with Republicans: The American public supports the Democratic vision on immigration and the border over the Republican vision and Americans overwhelmingly support a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Yet as we’ve seen in recent months, Democrats lose ground when they avoid the issue and let the right wing define the debate. Republicans want to block undocumented immigrants from becoming American citizens. They want to spend billions more on the $15 billion border wall that can be cut through with a $15 dollar hand saw. Some in the GOP are mainstreaming conspiracy theories such as the ‘great replacement theory.’ Democrats have a different vision of America and the essential role that immigrants play in our economy and society. Their stances are more popular with the American public than the GOP’s. But to make this distinction clear, they need to lean in politically and make progress on policy.
- Delivering policy breakthroughs that change lives and strengthen the country is always good politics: While legislation including a pathway to citizenship remains the preferred route to reform, President Biden should not wait. Last week the Biden administration issued welcome TPS announcements for Ukrainians, Sudanese and South Sudanese. They should keep the momentum going and build on those welcome TPS designations by delivering similar protections to Cameroonians next, with other countries to follow. TPS and other executive actions are an important tool for delivering meaningful progress and advancing America’s interests and values.
According to Vanessa Cardenas, Deputy Director of America’s Voice:
It’s gratifying to hear Democratic leaders such as Rep. Clyburn, Rep. Jayapal, and Rep. Ruiz, and others forcefully articulate the need for action. Democrats need to demonstrate confidence in America’s desire to remain an inclusive democracy, where immigrants and refugees have a place at the table building a stronger nation and stronger economy where opportunity flourishes. This means addressing these issues head on and delivering meaningful progress, including through executive action.
