If you read my previous manifesto of this title, you will know that I am attempting to overcome my fears, frustration and anger by sharing my views on various topics. I know that some folks won’t agree with me; but God and the Constitution grant us all the freedom of speech and the right to disagree, provided that we do so in a manner that does not harm another. So, I will share my opinions and pray that those who disagree can do so in a kindly manner that allows for debate and discussion.

You might recall in my previous blog on this subject that I focused on three points:

1. I believe that all things should come in moderation. Very little is “black and white” with almost everything falling into some shade of gray. If you look at history, extreme policies / actions (whether to the right or the left) ultimately boomerang as the current policy becomes unpopular and we swing back toward the other extreme (can you say DEI, climate change, immigration, vaccinations, woke, nationalism, populism, taxes, etc?).

2. I am totally opposed to demonizing those who are already marginalized, or who don’t coincide with a specific individual’s, or policy’s, positions. I believe we should be focused on fully understanding an issue and then address it in a thoughtful manner. The use of extreme references and unsupported accusations only hurts the situation by increasing animosity and divisions.

3. I support Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs, that are intended to give every American an equal shot at the American Dream, provided they are willing to work for it. In paraphrasing Maria Cassano’s position on the matter, I believe that anyone who applies for a a position gets a fair shot, regardless of their age, skin color, sex, race, religion or who’s in their bed. DEI does not mean that standards should be lowered to include people who can’t meet the requirements of the position..

So, let’s jump back into the opinionated mind of Dave.  I sincerely believe that the U.S. needs to reduce illegal immigration as much as possible. However, I also believe that this cannot be accomplished until the U.S. fixes the country’s antiquated and broken immigration system. Again, my position is based on moderation. Extreme positions of “open borders” or virtually no immigrants at all, do not meet the U.S.’ needs. Consider these points:

• The U.S. Congress has failed to enact any substantive immigration reform since 1986 (Reagan Administration). As a result, the existing policies are woefully inadequate and inappropriate.
• The U.S. must take some of the responsibility for destabilizing nations that now produce some of the largest numbers of individuals seeking to immigrate to the U.S. If we want to reduce immigration from these countries, we need to figure out ways for individuals to feel safe and sound where they are. Reducing, or eliminating, support for such countries will only result in a greater demand by their populations to immigrate to the U.S.
• The U.S. has the largest percentage of foreign-born residents of any other country in the world (approximately 14% of U.S. legal residents were foreign born). In addition, immigrants make up almost 19% of the U.S. workforce, with a considerable share working in service and construction fields. Even Mr. Trump has noted the considerable need for immigrants in specific industries like agriculture and hotels / leisure.
• Based on current U.S. immigration policies, and the infrastructure established to manage it, it can take years to immigrate legally to the U.S. and cost thousands of dollars. Bottom line, some folks cannot afford the time or cost, especially if we are talking about life and death situations.
• Current policies for traditional immigration (family and / or employment based) state that no more than 7% of the total immigrants entering the U.S. in a fiscal year can come from one country. In other words, if the U.S. allow in a total of 600,000 for a given year, then only 42,000 could come from any one country. Taken literally this means that the entire population of Liechtenstein, Monaco, or Bermuda could immigrant to the U.S. in a single year. In contrast, individuals from the top four nations pursuing immigration (Mexico, India, China, and the Philippines) may for wait years if not decades. Duh…
• There are exceptions to the traditional immigration program for “refugees” and those seeking “asylum”, but this is a long process that does not reflect the immediate threats being experienced by an individual. In addition, on January 20, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) “until such time as the further entry into the United States of refugees aligns with the interest of the U.S.” The only exception to this suspension, that I am aware of, is Mr. Trump’s Executive Order promoting “resettlement of Afrikaner (white South African) refugees escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination, including racially discriminatory property confiscation.” Hum…

Bottom line, our country needs safe and secure borders. Our country needs to ensure that those individuals entering the U.S. do not pose a threat. However, the U.S. also needs migrants and immigrants to sustain itself, grow and thrive. We need to reform our existing immigration policies to reflect our current needs and the world in the 21st century. This must include, but not be limited to, an infrastructure to manage the system that is fair, efficient and timely. If it were up to me, these would be the points I would focus on right now:

• Secure the borders utilizing technology, surveillance and people. Walls take too long and aren’t effective over time.
• Immediately increase resources to manage legal immigration (enforcements, courts, facilities, etc.) to produce a timeframe for immigration that is reasonable.
• Stop allowing ICE agents to wear masks unless credible evidence can be produced that proves there has been an increase in violence against ICE agents. The Department of Homeland Security has argued that there has been an uptick in such violence but I am unaware of any evidence to support this assertion (nor could I find any). The negatives associated with wearing masks far exceeds justifications unless you can prove that ICE agents are under greater threat for violence.
• Focus efforts on identifying, locating and deporting those illegal immigrants that have clear evidence indicating they pose a threat.
• Do not actively target peaceful, law abiding, hardworking illegal immigrants at this time. We need to develop and implement permanent fixes to our immigration system first. In addition, we have an existing need for these individuals in various industries (it is in our national interest).
• Stop removing protections previously established for various legal refugees and asylum seekers, just so they can be targeted for deportation.
• Stop the political games and fix the system!

I’m Dave and this is what I believe…