One debate dominated the 2024 election news cycle: immigration. Story after story detailed the nuances and complexities of our system, sparking debate and speculation about how each presidential candidate would solve the immigration crisis. The election is long over, but the dust has yet to settle.
After President Donald Trump’s executive orders, another narrative is taking over, one full of deception and misinformation that clouds the truth. But here’s the fact: Trump is offering a balanced and just approach to immigration.
I want to be clear: I completely and entirely support Trump’s immigration policies, including his executive orders. They are bold and fair, characteristics that have been glaringly lacking in recent policies on this issue. They are also incomplete, and he knows this.
Once our country addresses the border crisis, a crisis that became an engine for human trafficking, we must get to the long-term work of fixing the system once and for all. Because the system is broken, the Biden administration could easily abuse it for profane, political purposes.
The truth is that under the previous administration, there were at least 9.5 million “border encounters” in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security defines these encounters as “any encounter of a removable noncitizen.” Put simply, these are interactions with illegal immigrants.
Given such numbers, it’s clear a new approach is needed. And it needs to start by addressing the crisis at our southern border. There are different ways to approach this, but the goal is the same: Stop the flow of illegal immigrants entering the country.
This is where many across America get lousy information. The operative word is “illegal.” Trump is in favor of legal immigration, which follows the procedures established by this country. The problem is not immigration. It’s illegal immigration.
Legality introduces a crucial concept: the rule of law. This principle is the foundation of our country and one of the pillars of our legislative system. Laws must be respected and upheld, or they lose their power.
Regarding immigration and deportation, Trump is not proposing anything new. He is only calling for a return to the rule of law, which demands deporting, without exception, individuals engaged in nefarious activities.
The Trump administration is primarily concerned with immigrants who are harming our country and taking advantage of the freedoms it offers. That is why sanctuary cities are and will continue to be a problem for our nation. The lack of cooperation from state and local governments requires action from the federal government.
And by protecting some illegal immigrants who are involved in nefarious activities, these cities and governments jeopardize the safety and security of the immigrants who are not. These people, who have built lives and raised families in this great country, will become collateral damage.
This is heartbreaking. And completely avoidable.
If state governments across our nation band together to address immigration, I am confident we can arrive at a balanced solution that protects Americans and punishes those who are violating our laws and values.
But first, cooperation is needed, not the fearmongering coming from far-left activists trying to scare patriotic members of our Latino communities. What justice is there in their “social justice” that enables cartels, fuels human trafficking, and defies the rule of law?
For cooperation to be possible, we need to embrace accurate information. Misinformation can only lead to misunderstanding. That’s what is happening surrounding immigration, and it is holding our country back from moving forward in a way that is both compassionate and upholds the rule of law.
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In the last four years, we have seen compassion without respect for the rule of law. Thanks to the rampant misinformation, many nationwide fear the new administration lacks all compassion. I can personally attest that this is not the case. Trump and his team want a permanent, holistic solution to immigration that protects and furthers this nation’s best interests. That’s not the story being told, but it is the truth.
Trump has an opportunity to leave a profound and lasting legacy by addressing these critical issues with boldness and wisdom. By reforming immigration, combating human trafficking, defending parental rights, and codifying policies that reflect a culture of life and unity, this administration can lead America toward healing and hope. Together, let us stand for truth, justice, and the God-given dignity of every individual.
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez is the lead pastor of New Season, one of America’s most influential megachurches, and president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, which represents millions of Christians worldwide.