Executive summary

Immigration is a topic that polarizes our population today, especially when it comes to reform. There are many concerns and misconceptions over immigration and how individuals who have immigrated illegally serve as a threat to national security, take jobs of documented citizens, contribute to overpopulation, and undermine our legal system. This brief deconstructs those misconceptions and illustrates what can be done to reform our immigration system. By eliminating detention centers, expanding access to naturalization, and addressing root causes of migration, we can build a more just and functional immigration system that benefits the economy, aligns with American values, and ensures human dignity.

Overview

Immigration from one country to another is not done lightly. Uprooting one’s entire life to start anew is rarely a story of luxury for most immigrants. Their lives are often defined by struggle, as they navigate systemic discrimination and hardship with limited social or legal support. Only 3.3% of the U.S. population are undocumented immigrants (Pew Research), yet this group is often scapegoated and falsely portrayed as criminals.

Despite the contributions immigrants make to American society—economically and culturally—undocumented individuals continue to face threats of deportation, family separation, detention, and public hostility. Local and state policies such as DACA protections and sanctuary designations reflect changing attitudes and efforts toward reform, but the federal system remains deeply flawed.

The political and cultural rhetoric surrounding immigration intensified in 2015 when then-presidential candidate Donald Trump referred to immigrants from Mexico as “criminals, rapists, and drug dealers” (ABC News). His reelection in 2024 renewed immigration crackdowns, including executive orders threatening birthright citizenship and increasing ICE raids in schools and immigrant communities. These policies endanger not only undocumented immigrants but also naturalized citizens and legal residents who are connected to immigrant families.

Immigration policy reform is essential to address long-standing human rights concerns and to reshape how we define citizenship, opportunity, and fairness in American society.

History

The U.S. has long been shaped by immigration, yet anti-immigrant sentiment has remained persistent throughout its history. Today, 71% of undocumented immigrants are from Latin America (Pew Research), many of whom are descended from Indigenous peoples native to the Americas. These ancestral ties challenge the moral authority of immigration restrictions imposed by settler-colonial governments.

Throughout U.S. history, various immigrant groups—such as Germans, Irish, Italians, and Eastern Europeans—faced xenophobia and systemic exclusion. Over time, these groups were assimilated into the dominant culture, while new waves of immigrants became targets of discrimination. Recent years have echoed this cycle, particularly with the criminalization of Latinx and Middle Eastern immigrants.

The American Dream, the notion that anyone can succeed with hard work, has been an aspirational core of the nation’s identity. However, immigrants seeking that dream today are often met with legal and systemic barriers. Detention centers, visa backlogs, and inconsistent policies betray the very ideals the country was built on.

Policy problem

Stakeholders
Immigrants, particularly undocumented individuals, are the primary stakeholders affected by current immigration enforcement. Latino communities are most visibly targeted by policy and public rhetoric. Trump's executive orders have expanded the reach of enforcement agencies like ICE, leading to increased raids, family separations, and detentions.

In many cases, racial profiling affects not only Latino individuals but also other communities of color. Indigenous people, despite being native to the Americas, have been questioned and detained due to perceived affiliation with immigrant populations (Arizona PBS). These policies destabilize families, communities, and entire regions.

Risks of indifference
The consequences of ignoring the need for immigration reform are profound. Anti-immigrant policies reinforce white supremacy by drawing arbitrary lines around citizenship while excluding communities of color. Historically, the U.S. itself was created through colonization—settlers who would be considered illegal immigrants by today’s standards.

A common misconception is that undocumented immigrants drain public resources and take jobs from citizens. In reality, undocumented immigrants pay an estimated $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes annually (ITEP). They contribute to programs like Social Security and Medicaid without being able to access those benefits themselves.

Indifference also increases racial division and fear, undermines social cohesion, and creates long-term humanitarian crises. Failure to act on reform prolongs systemic harm while denying communities the stability and dignity they deserve.

Nonpartisan reasoning
Immigration reform is not solely a liberal or conservative issue. It presents an opportunity to reduce racial tension, create more consistent national policy, and support public safety and economic growth. Legal pathways to citizenship for working and tax-paying immigrants would not only acknowledge their contributions but also allow for better data collection, civic engagement, and long-term planning.

By normalizing immigration and ensuring fairness in the legal system, the U.S. would reduce the fear and misinformation surrounding immigrant communities. More inclusive policies would reflect the multicultural identity of the nation and promote unity across political and cultural lines.

Tried policy

The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986, signed by President Ronald Reagan, offered legal status to undocumented immigrants who had entered the U.S. before 1982. It was one of the first major efforts to legalize undocumented immigrants while also tightening enforcement.

The policy had mixed results. It allowed many immigrants to begin the process of naturalization, but simultaneously penalized employers for hiring undocumented individuals, reducing job opportunities for others. Those who did not meet the 1982 cutoff remained undocumented and vulnerable.

While IRCA acknowledged the need for pathways to legal status, its restrictive structure and lack of future planning left millions behind. Reform today must learn from IRCA by offering broader, more equitable access and minimizing unintended consequences.

Policy options

Abolish detention centers
Detention centers resemble jails, yet detainees often lack access to legal counsel and can be held for years. These centers separate families, cause psychological harm, and contribute to the criminalization of immigrants. Eliminating detention centers and replacing them with immigration courts and supervised release programs would ensure due process without unnecessary harm.

Programs could include court-date accountability systems, family-based sponsorships, and halfway houses providing shelter, legal support, and resources. These solutions balance public safety with humanitarian standards.

Provide amnesty and naturalization for tax-paying immigrants
Undocumented immigrants who have consistently paid taxes should be offered a path to citizenship. A policy offering legal status to those who have paid taxes for five years would reward civic responsibility and economic contribution. This approach mirrors aspects of IRCA but avoids arbitrary entry-date cutoffs.

Recognizing economic participation as a qualifier for citizenship provides a clear and fair pathway while easing concerns about undocumented individuals benefiting from public services without contributing.

Increase foreign aid to reduce root causes of migration
Many Latin American countries face poverty, political instability, and environmental disasters. Providing targeted foreign aid to these regions can reduce the need for migration by addressing its root causes. Stability in home countries lessens pressure on the U.S. border and supports global development.

Investments in infrastructure, public health, and economic opportunity abroad promote mutual prosperity while aligning with international humanitarian goals.

Conclusion

This brief has examined the urgent need for immigration reform in the United States. From systemic racial profiling to economic injustice, the current system fails to provide consistent, humane, or effective outcomes. Immigrants have long contributed to the foundation and growth of the U.S., and denying them access to the American Dream is both hypocritical and harmful.

By eliminating detention centers, providing paths to legal status for contributing immigrants, and addressing root causes through foreign aid, we can build a more just and functional immigration system. Reform is necessary not only to correct past wrongs but to ensure a more sustainable and inclusive future.

References

[1] Pew Research Center. What We Know About Unauthorized Immigrants Living in the U.S. (2024). https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/07/22/what-we-know-about-unauthorized-immigrants-living-in-the-us/

[2] ABC News. Donald Trump: ‘Mexico is sending people that have lots of problems.’ https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trump-mexico-vice-versa/story?id=41767704

[3] Brookings Institution. Trump and Racism: What Do the Data Say? https://www.brookings.edu/articles/trump-and-racism-what-do-the-data-say/

[4] Arizona PBS. Indigenous People, Including Navajos, Detained by Federal Agents. https://azpbs.org/horizon/2025/02/indigenous-people-navajos-detained-by-federal-agents/

[5] Washington Post. Trump’s Xenophobia Is an American Tradition. It Doesn’t Have to Be. https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/11/26/trumps-xenophobia-is-an-american-tradition-it-doesnt-have-be/

[6] Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP). Undocumented Immigrants and Taxes: 2024 Report. https://itep.org/undocumented-immigrants-taxes-2024/

[7] Library of Congress. Latinx Civil Rights: Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. https://guides.loc.gov/latinx-civil-rights/irca

[8] Smithsonian Latino Center. Latino Immigration: History and Culture. https://latino.si.edu/learn/latino-history-and-culture/latino-history/latino-immigration