Should the government enact a stricter immigration policy?

U.S. States Begin Mass Arrests Of Illegal Immigrants

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law on Wednesday that will make it a state crime for a person to enter Iowa after having been deported or denied entry into the United States.The new law, which is set to take effect July 1 but could face court challenges, joins Iowa with Texas in seeking to enforce immigration limits outside the federal system. Ms. Reynolds, who had said she would sign the legislation, accused federal officials of failing to secure the U.S.-Mexico border and putting Americans at risk.“The Biden administration has failed to enforce our nation’s immigration laws, putting the protection and safety of Iowans at risk,” Ms. Reynolds, a Republican, said in a statement. “Those who come into our country illegally have broken the law, yet Biden refuses to deport them. This bill gives Iowa law enforcement the power to do what he is unwilling to do: enforce immigration laws already on the books.”A White House spokesman, Angelo Fernández Hernández, defended the administration’s approach to the border, saying in a statement that federal officials had “removed or returned” hundreds of thousands of people from the United States this year. He also criticized congressional Republicans for failing to pass a border security bill.State Representative Steven Holt, a Republican who supported the bill, said after it passed in his chamber that “states can and must act.”“Many other states are standing up to protect their sovereignty, and their citizens and Iowa must do the same,” Mr. Holt said.The signing of the law showed that Republicans, even those far from the border, plan to continue focusing on immigration issues in this election year. Ms. Reynolds is one of several governors who have sent National Guard troops and law enforcement officers to Texas to support Gov. Greg Abbott’s increasingly assertive approach to policing the border.But the Iowa law, like one passed in Texas that has been challenged in court, goes beyond securing the border, and seeks to carve out a state role in policing illegal immigration, which has long been the exclusive domain of federal law enforcement. The Biden administration has called the Texas law, which makes it a state crime to cross the border illegally, an unconstitutional infringement on federal authority over immigration.More states could follow in Texas and Iowa’s footsteps. Arizona’s Republican-controlled Legislature passed a measure this year that would have authorized the state police to arrest undocumented immigrants, but te bill was vetoed by the governor, a Democrat.Several other states are weighing similar bills, including Louisiana, where the Senate recently passed a bill that would make it a state crime to be in Louisiana while in the country without authorization.

▲  2

Debunking Myths: The Truth About Immigration Policies and Humanitarian Parole

In recent times, the topic of immigration, particularly in the context of humanitarian parole and the alleged use of taxpayer dollars to fund migrants' flights to the U.S., has been a hotbed of misinformation and controversy. Contrary to claims made by some lawmakers from Tennessee, individuals who receive humanitarian parole are required to pay for their own flights to the United States. This clarification comes amidst a flurry of misleading statements suggesting that American taxpayers are bearing the cost of transporting migrants from countries like Venezuela and Haiti into the U.S. for resettlement.The spread of such misinformation isn't limited to political circles. High-profile individuals, including Elon Musk, have been criticized for perpetuating debunked conspiracy theories regarding President Joe Biden's immigration policies. Musk's focus on illegal immigration, despite his status as a wealthy entrepreneur and a political figure, highlights the broader issue of misinformation within the immigration debate.The situation at the Texas-Tamaulipas border, where kidnappings of migrants and asylum seekers have reached alarming levels, underscores the complex and often perilous journey faced by those seeking refuge in the United States. Kidnappers frequently demand ransoms from the victims' U.S.-based relatives, plunging many into financial despair. The fear of deportation among undocumented individuals further complicates their willingness to seek help from authorities.This climate of misinformation and the real dangers faced by migrants call for a more informed and compassionate approach to immigration policy. Debunking myths and understanding the actual processes and challenges involved are crucial steps toward fostering a more humane and effective immigration system.As discussions around immigration continue to evolve, it is imperative that public discourse is grounded in facts and empathy. Only through a clear understanding of the issues can society work towards solutions that respect the dignity and rights of all individuals, regardless of their origin or status.

Trudeau Says Canada Has A "Massive Spike In. Immigrants"

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada has seen a “massive spike” in temporary immigration that has grown at a rate “far beyond” what the country has “been able to absorb.” The prime minister made the remarks at a housing announcement in Halifax on Tuesday. Trudeau revealed a new $6 billion program on Tuesday called the “Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund” meant to increase new home building, as well as to upgrade existing supports like waste and water infrastructure. A reporter asked if the government would be dialling back temporary immigration to quell the housing crisis, both in terms of affordability and supply. Trudeau responded by acknowledging that existing policies have led to unsustainably high numbers of newcomers. “It’s really important to understand the context around immigration. Every year we bring in about 450,000, now close to 500,000, permanent residents a year, and that is part of the necessary growth of Canada. It benefits our citizens, our communities, it benefits our economy,” said Trudeau.“However, over the past few years we’ve seen a massive spike in temporary immigration, whether it’s temporary foreign workers or whether it’s international students in particular that have grown at a rate far beyond what Canada has been able to absorb.” “Canada’s housing supply has not kept up with growth in our population, and higher rates of immigration are widening the gap,” said Macklem while speaking at Toronto’s Royal York Hotel on Dec. 15.Last month, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation released a report explaining that it would take an additional 4.4 million homes to get the real estate market back to some semblance of affordability.

▲  2