I have been reading and listening to a lot of stuff about immigration lately. It is striking to me how if you read or listen to someone who is an immigration expert and/or has been doing a lot of reporting from the border, how ill-informed too many Americans seem to be on this subject.

Some of this is driven by media coverage that is rather hysterical, and misrepresents the situation as some sort of full invasion of hostiles. First off, the border crisis is mainly a humanitarian crisis. And to see this clearly, one needs to look at what is driving this influx of humanity to our southern border.

There are three main categories of drivers of immigration. First, the world is experiencing increased mass migration, with people fleeing diverse challenges such as collapsing totalitarian regimes, economic fallout from events like the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and repressive governments in countries like Venezuela (especially since 2015) and Cuba. Second, Central America has been witnessing a mass exodus for decades, fueled by factors like rampant crime, gang violence (in part a consequence of U.S. deportation policies in the 1990s), and corrupt regimes supported by the U.S. And finally, climate change is beginning to show its hand as a people mover, with folks being forced out of their homes by extreme temperatures, major hurricanes, and drought. This will only get worse as climate change continues to evolve.

Then there is the asylum system, designed to provide protection to those seeking refuge. Instead, it is marred by backlogs and inefficiencies, exacerbating the challenges faced by migrants. This is because there have not been any significant upgrades to the system since 1990. While there is a genuine need for immigration judges, asylum officers, and resources at the border, the broader immigration system has not kept pace with the changing dynamics. The backlog of millions of asylum cases, coupled with an outdated immigration framework, creates a situation where desperate individuals have little choice but to present themselves at the southern border, exacerbating the crisis.

We all know that the Republican Party views this situation as a political club to try to use against Biden. They could have had a not-so-great bill passed that gave them almost everything they claimed to want, and instead they rejected it.

The GOP is somehow are getting away with one of the most deeply cruel and cynical political theater moves in our history, the busing of migrants to cities such as Denver, New York, and Chicago. This is creating a crisis in those cities because there is no coordination among federal, state, and local governments and agencies to help the cities handle the sudden influx. This is because it’s nothing but trolling by Bastard Governors Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott, a deeply monstrous move designed to create panic and demonize immigrants. Say it with me: the GOP is not interested in solutions, just cruelty (which is the point).

The Trump “solution” of shutting down the border and mass deportations is not the answer, and in fact would make things much worse here. This is because we need immigrants. Yes, we do.

The recent surge in immigration has positively impacted the economy, as evidenced by the Congressional Budget Office’s revised forecasts. The unexpected increase in immigration has led to a larger labor force, countering the effects of an aging native-born population. With immigrants being predominantly of working age and actively participating in the workforce, they become a major driving force for economic expansion.

Immigrants, particularly those on skilled visas like H-1B, exhibit higher entrepreneurship rates and contribute significantly to innovation and research and development. This influx of talent and energy has positioned the United States favorably compared to other developed nations that have been less dynamic in attracting immigrants. For example, Brexit’s harsh immigration policies have hamstrung the British economy.

Immigration writers like Catherine Rampell point out that immigrants in the U.S. have actually helped to keep Social Security solvent and away from the crisis point because they pay into the system and get nothing out of it. This is in direct contrast to the lie told by GOPers that immigrants here take all our stuff. Beyond Britain, Rampell underscores the challenges an aging population poses to economies, citing examples such as Italy and Japan. She clarifies that while she does not advocate forcing older individuals to work, sustaining the economy requires a sufficient working-age population. The need for workers extends beyond tax revenue for social safety nets to maintaining essential services and driving technological advancements. She often references a report from the Department of Health and Human Services, revealing that refugees, often viewed skeptically, become net fiscal contributors over the long term. Even those coming in penniless contribute significantly through tax payments, challenging the notion that immigrants strain the economy.

These essential services provided by immigrants include end-of-life care. Japan, for example, has a serious problem with finding workers to care for their elderly due to xenophobic thinking. It’s hard not to see how “Keep Britain British” and “Keep Japan Japanese” and “Keep Italy Italian” are hurting these nations, and MAGA policies proposed by Trump will only result in their proponents spending their last days dying in a puddle of their own drool in an understaffed nursing home.

What solutions does the right offer for these worker shortages? Rants about how Nobody Wants to Work Anymore, apparently, which solve nothing and are not based on anything concrete. Instead, Nobody Wants to Work Anymore is a disingenuous cudgel used against anything from fair wages to “kids today” nonsense. It is nothing new, in fact, historian Paul Fairie pulled together some examples going back to 1894 in a Twitter thread.

Another idea is apparently going back to the days of Mother Jones and bringing back child labor. Having 13-year-olds working in meatpacking plants is a great idea. Our own Cassandra gave an example of such awfulness in her home state, and it is every bit as awful as you can imagine.

The human brain on xenophobia is truly something to behold.

What is happening right now underscores the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform, addressing the shortcomings of the asylum system, and updating the broader immigration framework to align with contemporary realities. The economic necessity of immigration, juxtaposed with political gridlock created by MAGA Republicans, creates a paradox that demands thoughtful and decisive action from policymakers. The stories of the migrants affected by these policies humanize the issue and serve as a poignant reminder that behind the political rhetoric, there are real people seeking refuge and opportunity.

It is a situation that demands much better solutions than closing borders and whining about the horrifying specter of taco trucks.

Note: Two interviews from Molly Jong-Fast’s excellent podcast Fast Politcs that helped inform this piece can be found here (Catherine Rampell) and here (Jonathan Blitzer). 

The last word goes to Las Cafeteras, an example of the cultural benefits of immigration.