Top conservative group reveals roadmap to rebuild new US immigration system ‘from the ashes’

Conservative think tank, the Heritage Foundation, has released a new paper outlining a plan for the incoming Republican Congress to overhaul the American immigration system. The paper, authored by Lora Ries, director of the Heritage’s Border Security and Immigration Center, argues that the current immigration system is dysfunctional and in need of reform.

Ries points out that legal immigration to the U.S. is complicated and slow, while illegal immigration is often unpunished. She criticizes the Biden administration for blurring the line between legal and illegal immigration, accusing them of abusing humanitarian parole and making asylum meaningless.

With the upcoming Trump administration and a Republican-controlled Congress, Ries and Heritage offer five principles for reforming the immigration system. These include upholding the rule of law, prioritizing American interests, ensuring national security, creating a simpler and sustainable system, and eliminating incentives for breaking immigration laws.

Specific recommendations outlined in the paper include revoking visas for those who violate terms, requiring proof of citizenship to vote, abolishing the lottery system for green cards, implementing E-Verify, and limiting due process in immigration cases. The paper also calls for increased border security measures, such as granting Border Patrol expulsion authority during national crises and resourcing security efforts.

Overall, the Heritage Foundation’s plan aims to simplify the Immigration and Nationality Act, decrease backlogs in the immigration system, and exclude illegal immigrants from benefits. The paper emphasizes the importance of assimilation and opposes all forms of amnesty for illegal immigrants.

President-elect Trump has made immigration and border security top priorities for his administration, appointing former ICE director Tom Homan as “border czar” and nominating South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Republican lawmakers have also focused on immigration issues in their recent election campaigns.

The Heritage Foundation’s roadmap provides a comprehensive guide for Congress to overhaul the American immigration system and prioritize the interests of the American people. With the support of the incoming Republican administration, these reforms could lead to a more secure and efficient immigration process for the United States.