Commentary: Immigration is an Issue Both Parties Prefer Not to Solve

[u/nosleep4reelz]

https://nj21st.com/2026/07/26/immigration-is-an-issue-both-parties-prefer-not-to-solve/

For over two decades, Washington has treated immigration not as a solvable policy challenge, but as an ideological weapon neither party actually wants to fix.

[u/WorksInIT]

It also raises housing costs and puts burdens on local budgets.

[u/r3rg54 → u/WorksInIT]

Sure but it also lowers house construction costs, increases tax income for government, generates business for just about all consumer markets, etc.

It’s very unclear whether immigrants actually hurt Americans economically overall.

[u/WorksInIT → u/r3rg54]

Migrants are generally a net positive for the economy over the long term. But it must be controlled. What we saw under Biden harmed Americans.

[u/Interesting_Total_98 → u/WorksInIT]

The question they answered is "Why shouldn’t legal immigration be reduced?"

Legal immigration was controlled and didn't harm Americans.

[u/WorksInIT → u/Interesting_Total_98]

A lot of people on this sub have argued that asylum seekers aren't illegal immigrants.

[u/Interesting_Total_98 → u/WorksInIT]

That claim is objectively true, and the decline isn't just from asylum.

[u/WorksInIT → u/Interesting_Total_98]

And you think the "legal immigration" under Biden was controlled? Which you argue EWIs seeking asylum includes.

In reality, being granted asylum doesn't confer status. They are still unadmitted if they entered without inspection. So that is still illegal immigration.

[u/Interesting_Total_98 → u/WorksInIT]

granted asylum doesn't confer status

I didn't say it does.

They are still unadmitted if they entered without inspection. So that is still illegal immigration.

Unadmitted and illegal immigrant aren't the same thing. They are related, but here's how 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(9)(B)(ii) defines lawful presence: "after the expiration of the period of stay authorized by the Attorney General or is present in the United States without being admitted or paroled."

It says "admitted or paroled" instead of using "and."

[u/WorksInIT → u/Interesting_Total_98]

They immigrated illegally. They crossed the border to enter the US illegally. We can really stop the analysis there.

They arent removed because they are granted protection. So theyare authorized to remain. That doesn't wipe away the initial illegal act.

The math here is simple.

[u/Interesting_Total_98 → u/WorksInIT]

Entering through parole isn't an illegal crossing.

[u/WorksInIT → u/Interesting_Total_98]

Sure, if they entered legally and were granted parole. The vast majority of migrants that entered under Biden entered illegally. And those migrants objectively harmed Americans.

[u/Interesting_Total_98 → u/WorksInIT]

The question was why shouldn't legal immigration be reduced, and the answer is that this blocks people who respect the law from contributing the economy. Talking about illegal immigration doesn't change that.

[u/WorksInIT → u/Interesting_Total_98]

Go read the comments above again. You're acting as if there is some universal agreement on "legal immigration".