On Sunday, President Trump sent a letter to Congress detailing his Immigration Principles and Policies.
For any who were concerned that President Trump might have aligned himself with Schumer, Pelosi and the Democrats on Immigration, that fear should be completely removed.
I had earlier said as much in DACA Hysteria & Trump’s Negotiating Leverage.
Now you no longer need to believe me. You can see for yourself.
The Principles are quite detailed and should satisfy most Immigration Hawks.
Including myself.
The Principles and Policies center around a massive rewrite of immigration law that eliminates loopholes used and exploited by illegal immigrants to gain a foothold in the U.S.
The plans include a border wall, more deportation agents, a crackdown on sanctuary cities and, crucially, stricter limits to chain migration along with a Merit-Based immigration policy.
The Principles and Policies comprise a truly fantastic list of immigration policy goals.
You may find President Trump’s full letter – with the Principles and Policies attached – here.
Salient portions from President Trump’s letter are below:
In 2012, after the Congress rejected legislation offering legal status and work permits to illegal immigrants, the previous Administration bypassed the Congress and granted those same benefits unilaterally.
I [ordered] a bottom-up review of all immigration policies to determine what legislative reforms are essential for America’s economic and national security.
Rather than asking what policies are supported by special interests, we asked America’s law enforcement professionals to identify reforms that are vital to protect the national interest.
In response, they identified dangerous loopholes, outdated laws, and easily exploited vulnerabilities in our immigration system current policies that are harming our country and our communities.
I have enclosed the detailed findings of this effort.
These findings outline reforms that must be included as part of any legislation addressing the status of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.
Without these reforms, illegal immigration and chain migration, which severely and unfairly burden American workers and taxpayers, will continue without end.
President Trump’s Policy Proposal contains three primary elements; Border Security, Interior Enforcement and a Merit-Based Immigration System.
Documents were released in sequential order:
Trump Administration Immigration Policy Priorities
President Donald J. Trump’s Letter to House and Senate Leaders & Immigration Principles and Policies – Contains full details
Establish Merit-Based Reforms to Promote Assimilation and Financial Success
Secure the Border by Deterring and Swiftly Removing Illegal Entrants
Enforce Immigration Laws Across the United States
Below, I have highlighted the major items addressed by President Trump’s Immigration Principles and Policies. For a complete and detailed listing of the targeted and specific actions to accomplish each goal, please see this document.
Border Security:
Border Wall – Our porous southern border presents a clear threat to our national security and public safety, and is exploited by drug traffickers and criminal cartels. The Administration therefore proposes completing construction of a wall along the southern border of the United States.
Unaccompanied Alien Children – Loopholes in current law prevent Unaccompanied Alien Children (UACs) that arrive in the country illegally from being removed. Rather than being deported, they are instead sheltered by the Department of Health and Human Services at taxpayer expense, and subsequently released to the custody of a parent or family member who often lack lawful status in the United States themselves. These loopholes in current law create a dramatic pull factor for additional illegal immigration and in recent years, there has been a significant increase in the apprehensions of UACs at our southern border. Therefore, the Administration proposes amending current law to ensure the expeditious return of UACs and family units.
Asylum Reform – The massive asylum backlog has allowed illegal immigrants to enter and stay in the United States by exploiting asylum loopholes. There are more than 270,000 pending cases in the asylum backlog before USCIS, and approximately 250,000 asylum cases before EOIR. Therefore, the Administration proposes correcting the systemic deficiencies that created that backlog.
Ensure Swift Border Returns – Immigration judges and supporting personnel face an enormous case backlog, which cripples our ability to remove illegal immigrants in a timely manner. The Administration therefore proposes providing additional resources to reduce the immigration court backlog and ensure swift return of illegal border crossers.
Inadmissible Aliens – The current statutory grounds for inadmissibility are too narrow, and allow for the admission of individuals who threaten our public safety. Therefore, the Administration proposes expanding the criteria that render aliens inadmissible and ensure that such aliens are maintained in continuous custody until removal.
Discourage Illegal Re-entry – Many Americans are victims of crime committed by individuals who have repeatedly entered the United States illegally, which also undermines the integrity of the entire immigration system. Therefore, the Administration proposes increasing penalties for repeat illegal border crossers and those with prior deportations.
Facilitate the Removal of Illegal Aliens from Partner Nations – Current barriers prevent the Federal Government from providing assistance to partner nations for the purpose of removing aliens from third countries whose ultimate intent is entering the United States. Therefore, the Administration proposes authorizing DHS to provide foreign assistance to partner nations to support migration management efforts conducted by those nations. This will allow DHS to improve the ability of Central and South American countries to curb northbound migration flows and to interrupt ongoing human smuggling, which will also substantially reduce pressures on U.S. taxpayers.
Expedited Removal – Limited categories of aliens are currently subject to expedited removal, which erodes border integrity and control by impeding the ability of the Federal Government to efficiently and quickly remove inadmissible and deportable aliens from the United States. The Administration seeks to expand the grounds of removability and the categories of aliens subject to expedited removal and by ensuring that only aliens with meritorious valid claims of persecution can circumvent expedited removal.
Interior Enforcement:
Sanctuary Cities – Hundreds of sanctuary jurisdictions release dangerous criminals and empower violent cartels like MS-13 by refusing to turn over incarcerated criminal aliens to Federal authorities. Therefore, the Administration proposes blocking sanctuary cities from receiving certain grants or cooperative agreements administered or awarded by the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security.
Immigration Authority for States and Localities – The prior Administration suppressed cooperative partnerships between the Federal Government and State or local governments that wanted to help with immigration enforcement, undermining the security of our communities. Therefore, the Administration proposes enhancing State and local cooperation with Federal immigration law enforcement in order to ensure national security and public safety.
Visa Overstays – Visa overstays account for roughly 40 percent of illegal immigration. The Administration therefore proposes strengthening the removal processes for those who overstay or otherwise violate the terms of their visas, and implementing measures to prevent future visa overstays which may account for a growing percentage of illegal immigration.
Necessary Resources – The relatively small number of ICE officers is grossly inadequate to serve a nation of 320 million people with tens of millions of tourists and visitors crossing U.S. ports of entry every year. Therefore, the Administration proposes providing more resources that are vitally needed to enforce visa laws, restore immigration enforcement, and dismantle criminal gangs, networks and cartels.
Detention Authority – Various laws and judicial rulings have eroded ICEs ability to detain illegal immigrants (including criminal aliens), such that criminal aliens are released from ICE custody into our communities. Therefore, the Administration proposes terminating outdated catch-and-release laws that make it difficult to remove illegal immigrants.
Legal Workforce – Immigrants who come here illegally and enter the workforce undermine job opportunities and reduce wages for American workers, as does the abuse of visa programs. Therefore, the Administration increasing employment verification and other protections for U.S. workers.
Deportable Aliens – The categories of aliens that currently qualify for deportation are insufficiently broad to remove aliens who pose a threat to the security of the American public. Therefore, the Administration proposes expanding and clarifying the type of aliens who present a danger to Americans and should therefore be removable on an expedited basis.
Gang Members – Today, known gang members are still able to win immigration benefits despite the dangers they pose to American society. As such, the Administration proposes implementing measures that would deny gang members and those associated with criminal gangs from receiving immigration benefits.
Visa Security Improvements – Without sufficient resources, the State Department is hindered from adequately vetting visa applicants. As such, the Administration proposes enhancing State Department visa and traveler security resources and authorities.
Merit-Based Immigration System:
Merit-Based Immigration – The current immigration system prioritizes extended family-based chain migration over skills-based immigration and does not serve the national interest. Decades of low-skilled immigration has suppressed wages, fueled unemployment and strained federal resources. Therefore, the Administration proposes establishing a merit-based immigration system that protects U.S. workers and taxpayers, and ending chain migration, to promote financial success and assimilation for newcomers.
This entire document is extremely well written, highly detailed and well thought out.
It represents true and much-needed immigration reform measures.
It has Stephen Miller’s fingerprints all over it.
On March 6, 2018, the current DACA recipients start becoming illegal on a rolling basis. In two years time, all DACA recipients are subject to deportation. The clock is ticking and President Trump has explicitly noted the need for these reforms in exchange for a deal on DACA.
These findings outline reforms that must be included as part of any legislation addressing the status of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.
Tick, tick, tick…
Meanwhile, the MSM continues to pursue its ongoing agenda – while ignoring actual events.
CNN Editor-at-Large Chris Cillizza allowed himself to become utterly distracted (“Squirrel”) with President Trump’s Sunday tweets regarding Bob Corker. This led Cillizza to pen an article titled, President Trump is Playing Zero-Dimensional Chess. From the article:
Take the Corker attack as yet another example of Trump’s lack of strategic vision.
Based on all of the evidence of Trump’s first nine months in office, it’s impossible to conclude that he has any sort of comprehensive strategy or theory of the case. He acts (or reacts) and sees what happens. There’s no bigger plan that we’re not privy to. There’s really no plan at all.
Cillizza’s article came out this morning at 6:52 am EST.
I guess Cillizza missed the Sunday night release of President Trump’s Immigration Plan.
Democrats have become so caught up in their hysterical hatred for President Trump that most are missing the extraordinary changes that are sweeping this nation.
I fervently hope they continue their agenda-driven attacks.
It’s going to cost them everything in 2018 and 2020.
If you want more information on DACA, see here.
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