America’s Love/Hate Relationship with Immigration

N. Peter Antone,
Special to the
Chaldean News

Having worked as an immigration attorney for over 30 years, it seems to me that America has a love/hate relationship with illegal immigration, creating many conflicts. We need immigration reform to resolve this matter.

For much of the history of our republic, seasonal undocumented immigrants traveled annually through the southern border to perform jobs in the United States and then returned back through that same border. They provided labor in areas where local workers were not very interested, such as agriculture, construction, landscaping, and other skilled and unskilled jobs.

The arrangement seemed to work well: labor was provided in occupations needed for a reasonable wage, the economy benefited, and some of the money earned by these workers was sent to families living in poor conditions, improving their standard of living—a great outcome for all involved.

Many powerful anti-immigrant groups were unhappy with that situation and in 1996, convinced Congress to pass amendments to the immigration laws that were intended to discourage undocumented entry, but had the opposite effect.

One provision imposed a permanent bar for those who had more than one illegal entry, based on the assumption that individuals would not attempt to reenter. In reality, those who entered once were incentivized to remain in the United States rather than leave and risk being barred from ever having legal status if they re-entered again.

Another provision imposed a ten-year bar on individuals who entered illegally and remained for more than one year before leaving. The intent was to discourage long stays, but the result was that many chose to remain hidden within the population to avoid triggering the penalty.

These developments did not occur in a vacuum. The primary reason we have so many undocumented immigrants is that our economy relies to a large extent on their labor. Many come from difficult circumstances but are motivated to work, support their families, and improve their children’s futures. They often develop strong work ethics and quickly become valuable employees.

Instead of facilitating lawful temporary labor, our government reduced available pathways and introduced lottery-based systems for many work visas including for the unskilled. This approach is based on the assumption that, in the absence of foreign labor, employers will simply hire local workers.

In reality, labor is not always interchangeable. Denying a visa to a foreign worker does not mean a suitable local replacement is readily available.

The government has also implemented verification systems requiring employers to confirm that workers are legally authorized to work. While well-intentioned, these systems have added bureaucratic burdens without addressing the underlying issue—the ongoing need for foreign labor. Employers who rely on such workers understand that they are not easily replaceable.

Compounding the problem, immigration has become highly susceptible to political goals, making meaningful reform difficult to achieve. Over the years, several thoughtful reform proposals have been introduced, but most have failed. Policymakers on both sides often prioritize satisfying their political base, favoring hardline positions over practical solutions.

Recently, the administration has tried a mass-deportation approach that has proven impractical. Individuals who have lived in the United States for years are being uprooted, and families—including those with children who are U.S. citizens—are being torn apart and relying on welfare when their breadwinner is deported.

As a result, the nation is experiencing increased polarization, and a workable solution might appear more distant than ever.

I believe President Trump is now uniquely positioned to lead meaningful immigration reform. While the country benefits from both skilled and unskilled labor, an open-border approach is not sustainable. Despite his firm stance against illegal immigration, he has shown support for practical legal immigration solutions. Having curbed undocumented entries at the border, he can now tackle immigration reform in a more positive way.

The president’s life experience suggests an understanding of the nation’s labor needs in industries such as landscaping, construction, and hospitality, as well as the critical role of highly skilled immigrants in driving the U.S. economy. Because he has the trust of conservatives, he is in a rare position to advance a fair and balanced solution, one that liberals are also likely to support.

I hope this presidency delivers long-overdue, lasting immigration reform.