Be It Resolved: No One Is Illegal

A wall that stretches 300 miles along the US-Mexico border. The suspension of the Dreamers program that shielded 800,000 children born to undocumented immigrants from deportation. The launch of a zero-tolerance policy that separates unauthorized migrants from their children. These are some of the hallmarks of the immigration policy of President Donald Trump’s administration. Tackling the growing number of unauthorized migrants was central to Trump’s election in 2016 and will be key to a second term. Supporters of Trump’s immigration policies argue that mass illegal migration is destabilizing the border, costing billions in social services, and driving down wages for struggling blue collar workers. Critics of President Trump’s immigration policies take issue with the very concept of a migrant being “illegal.” They argue that a realistic and humane immigration policy needs to recognize that undocumented immigrants are part of the fabric of America, with more than two-thirds having lived in the U.S. for over ten years. In this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast Rev. Sam Rodriguez, who leads the world’s largest Hispanic Christian organization, and Allen Orr, President Elect of the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association debate the essence of these two competing arguments. Sources: KPIX, Financial Times, Fox Business, News Max TV, PBS Newshour, KPRC, Al Jazeera, Bloomber