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Every year the United States spends many billions of dollars securing the 2,000-mile border it shares with Mexico. This perpetually growing investment hasmade Customs and Border Protectionwhich is staffed by more than 60,000 federal employeesone of the largest law enforcement organizations in the world.

But you wouldnt know that by tuning in to Fox News, which depicts the US-Mexico border as an unmonitored wasteland where all are free to come and go at will. Since just before the 2020 election, the term open borders has been featured in right-wing media with startling frequency: From November 1, 2020, through March 16, 2023, Fox News pundits used the phrase a whopping 3,282 times, according to data compiled by Americas Voice and Media Matters, while Newsmax clocked 2,727 mentions over the same period. This coverage, according to Americas Voice, aired during time slots collectively valued at nearly $27 million for advertisers.

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While right-wing medias open borders messaging has proven salient for stateside viewers, theres also reason to believe that its impacting perceptions of the border abroad. I met with migrants in Costa Rica that were turned back, and their sense was that they will be able to enter freely, RepresentativeAdriano Espaillat, a New York Democrat, told me, arguing that the confusion stems squarely from right-wing disinformation. The perception from them was that the border is open and they could just walk through.John Modlin, a chief Border Patrol agent,shared a similar insight last month. Testifying before the House Oversight Committee, he relayed how detained migrants often said they were led to believe the border was open.

Just how this misinformation is reaching migrants is not entirely clear. But its well known that human smugglers, who ferry migrants across the border for a fee, have widely promoted the open borders lie as a way of driving business, according toDylan Corbett, executive director of the Hope Border Institute, a nonprofit that works with migrants. Smugglers are constantly peddling that type of misinformation because theyre looking to feed their bottom line, he said, noting that traffickers falsely advertise open crossings to migrants desperate for a way into the US. The open borders myth is alsospread on Facebook and WhatsApp, where it reaches unwitting migrants. We had a group of Venezuelans who approached a bridge because they had seen something online and were under the notion that the border was open, Corbett added.

Still, Corbett noted that while migrants might latch on to any glimmer of hope that can sustain them on their journey, including bogus conservative talking points that end up on social media, policy debates in Washington and on Fox News is hardly whats fueling the crisis. We know whats going on in their countries: hunger, poverty, and social insecurity, he said. Those are the things that drive migration. Not the political situation in the US.

Vanessa Cardenas, the executive director of Americas Voice, said that she, too, has heard accounts of migrants receiving misinformation about the porousness of the border from social media and smugglers. The best open border propaganda machine is, in fact, the GOP, she said in an interview. We know the impact this disinformation has on migrants, who largely get information through online platforms. And we know that smugglers take this information and use it for their own purposesto recruit and encourage irregular migration.

The open borders narrative, while especially prominent now, has been circulating in the US for years. In the mid-2000s, whenLou Dobbs hosted a nightly show on CNN, he aired a recurring segment called Broken Borders, in which he baselesslyportrayed migrants as disease-ridden criminals. That style ofcoverage, viewedat the time as both disturbing and novel, is now par for the course on Fox, the network Dobbs joined when he left CNN.Tucker Carlson regularly smears South and Central American migrants as invaders freely rampaging across the border, evenclaiming they make the US dirtier and arebeing used by Democrats to replace the current electorate.

For Republicans in Congress, Carlsons prime-time show is considered gospel. During the long series of votes for Speaker, a lot of folks on the floor were saying, Well, well see where the votes land after Tucker is on tonight, RepresentativeGreg Casar, a Democrat whose Texas district stretches from San Antonio to Austin, told me. And this interdependence, said Casar, has crippled any hope of immigration reform. So as Republicans feed anti-immigrant fear, its accelerated by right-wing media, he continued, and then you see the Republican Party becoming more and more extreme on issues like immigration."

For a while, fearmongering around migrants proved useful for riling up the Republican base. During the lead-up to the 2018 midterms,Donald Trump, along with his congressional and media allies, aggressively spun narratives about a migrant caravan homing in on the US. A similar spike in open border warnings occurred ahead of the 2020 election. Open borders is one of their favorite things to resort to when they think its politically advantageous, or when they need to pass a certain Trump litmus test, RepresentativeChuy Garca, an Illinois Democrat, told me, noting how many times hes seen his Republican colleagues lean on the buzzword during Fox News interviews, floor speeches, and committee hearings. But its interesting to see that their messages dont land that well among the American electorate, as we saw in November.

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How the Rights Open Borders Myth Might Be Fueling the Migration Crisis - Vanity Fair

During the 2020 campaign, presidential candidate Joe Biden called for immigration reform and a restoration of basic rights for immigrants, including the right to asylum and family unity. He offered his platform as a clear alternative to then-President Trumps immigration policies, which featured the separation of children from their parents, the prosecution and criminalization of border crossers, and the immediate return of asylum seekers to Mexico. One of his first acts in office was to propose a comprehensive immigration reform bill; he also introduced an aid package to address the root causes of migration, especially from the Northern Triangle of Central America.

More than halfway into his term, however, President Biden has switched course on his campaign promises and has returned to some of the enforcement and deterrence policies that characterized the Trump administration.

In January, the Biden administration announced the application of Title 42the obscure health regulation first deployed by Mr. Trump in order to turn back asylum seekers at the border during the Covid-19 pandemicto vulnerable and persecuted populations such as Venezuelans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Cubans.

The use of Title 42 had its intended effect: It decreased the number of asylum seekers from those four countries arriving at the southern border by 97 percent. More recently, the administration doubled down on the denial of asylum at our southern border by proposing to rewrite and reinstate another policy that had been approved by Mr. Trump before being struck down by the courts. On Feb. 21, the Department of Homeland Security proposed a rule that would deny asylum, with few exceptions, to any individual who did not attempt to garner legal protection in a country through which they traveled en route to the United States. This rule ignores the reality that transit countries such as Mexico have very limited asylum systems, so many immigration advocates have labeled the proposed rule as a de facto asylum ban.

Finally, recent media reports have revealed that the Biden administration is considering the detention of families, a practice Mr. Biden promised to end during the campaign. Many Americans should still remember the disturbing images of children being held in tiny cells, with little to eat and nowhere to sleep.

Why has Mr. Biden changed course in such a dramatic fashion, even garnering strong opposition from within his own party? In a word, politics. Polls show that the American public, while supporting positive reform of the immigration system, also wants better control of the borders. As we have seen with past Democratic administrations, the ability of mostly conservative Republicans to demagogue the immigration issue has forced Democrats to abandon our nations history as a safe haven for the persecuted. President Obama, for example, was known as the deporter-in-chief, while in 1996 President Clinton signed legislation that eviscerated due process rights for immigrants.

Still, there is no moral equivalency between Democrats and most Republicans on immigration. In fact, the Biden administration has implemented a lot of positive immigration policies, including the liberal use of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to protect displaced nationalities and new rules safeguarding the rights of migrants in the workplace. And should he be re-elected, Mr. Biden likely will make another attempt to pass immigration reform legislation.

In contrast, since the last immigration compromise bill died in 2014, the Grand Old Party has used immigrationand, specifically, the borderas a cudgel to bludgeon the Democrats politically. Instead of coming to the table to find a bipartisan solution to the problem, many (though not all) Republicans would rather use it as a battle cry to pander to their right-wing constituencies. Instead of standing up to the Republicans, past and current Democratic administrations have failed to adequately respond to their anti-immigrant rhetoric.

What is most disappointing is that Mr. Biden, a Catholic, should know better. As an admirer of Pope Francis, he should know that the pontiff opposes such policies. While the church supports the right of a sovereign nation to control its border, it equally supports an individuals right to migrate and seek protection from persecution. Pope Francis has been powerfully clear on this pointand so have his predecessors.

Instead of ignoring the pope and other Catholic voices on this issuenot to mention many in his partyMr. Biden should work with the church to come up with lasting solutions. His recent meeting with Bishop Mark Seitz, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Migration, in El Paso, Tex., was a good start.

It is well known that President Biden and the U.S. bishops have disagreements over several moral issues, particularly abortion. It should not prevent them from working on another one in which they can find common ground.

[Related: Bishop Seitz on Bidens new asylum policy: Death cannot be the cost of our immigration laws]

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Joe Biden's immigration policy shift is against Catholic teaching - America: The Jesuit Review

NEW YORK, March 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Committee for Economic Development, the public policy center of The Conference Board (CED), issued a new Solutions Brief, Immigration Reform: An Essential Key to Growth.

As detailed in the report, widespread workforce shortages are playing a significant role in both elevating and perpetuating inflation. Across the country there are almost 11 million jobs waiting to be filleda near-historic high. Even if all currently unemployed workers could fill those job openings, the nation would still have a shortfall of more than five million workersa scenario that underscores why comprehensive immigration reform is imperative.

Left unaddressed, the current labor shortage problem risks jeopardizing long-term economic growth and prosperity. Making the challenge all the more difficult are troubling demographic trends: As the US population ages and birth rates decline, labor shortages will only intensify without immigration being part of the solution.

"Increasing the nation's quantity of labor will require a two-pillar approach. To preempt a shrinking workforce, expanding US labor force participation through steps including reskilling, diversifying talent pools, and supporting older workers and caretakers is a first-order priority," said Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, President of CED. "But, it is not the panacea. Also essential is comprehensive immigration reform that expands legal pathways and encourages immigrants' immediate contribution to the workforce. Further delays in reform will continue to put severe pressures on the US workforce, which will hinder overall innovation, productivity, and growth."

The Solutions Briefwhich can be accessed here and is the latest in CED's Sustaining Capitalism seriesexamines both the short- and long-term economic impacts of the nation's current workforce shortages. It also provides a series of recommendations, consisting of a two-pillar approach, for both policy and business leaders.

Key Recommendations from the Solutions Brief

Rebuilding the US labor force will require policy and business leaders to collaborate on a two-pillar approach: increasing American workers' participation rate and comprehensive immigration reform. CED recommendations include:

The new Solutions Brief, Immigration Reform: An Essential Key to Growth,can be accessed here.

About CED The Committee for Economic Development (CED) is the public policy center of The Conference Board. The nonprofit, nonpartisan, business-led organization delivers well-researched analysis and reasoned solutions in the nation's interest. CED Trustees are chief executive officers and key executives of leading US companies who bring their unique experience to address today's pressing policy issues. Collectively they represent 30+ industries, over a trillion dollars in revenue, and over 4 million employees. http://www.ced.org

About The Conference BoardThe Conference Board is the member-driven think tank that delivers trusted insights for what's ahead. Founded in 1916, we are a non-partisan, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States. http://www.conference-board.org

SOURCE Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board (CED)

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Report: As US Economy Grapples with Nearly 11 Million Unfilled ... - PR Newswire

The results of a new survey reveal strong Republican and evangelical support for meaningful immigration reforms and may suggest that harsh anti-immigrant rhetoric does not resonate with most conservative voters, a leading U.S. immigration advocate said.

We found really high numbers of self-identified evangelicals and Republicans who support reforms and say that welcoming newcomers is an American value, said Jennie Murray, president of the National Immigration Forum.

She spoke about a new survey her organization conducted in February with The Bullfinch Group.

Jennie Murray

We found that there is incredible support among conservatives, Republicans and evangelicals for immigration reforms that are humane and sensible. I think that shows that the moment were in right now is not a policy debate, but a cultural conversation.

The poll found 79% of white evangelical Protestants favor measures to increase border security, provide pathways to citizenship for immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, and ensure a reliable workforce for the nations farmers and ranchers. Support among Republicans was 74%, with 16% opposed and the rest unsure.

Among all registered voters, 76% agreed that Democrats and Republicans in Congress should cooperate on boosting border security, helping Dreamers become citizens and provide a legal migrant workforce for farmers and ranchers, compared to 14% who were opposed.

The research also uncovered significant support for migrants seeking asylum in the United States.

Strong majorities also said they would support the U.S. providing refuge for individuals and families fleeing serious persecution and torture (68%-20% overall, 55%-35% among Republicans) and would agree that welcoming newcomers to our communities is an American value (71%-20% overall, 58%-33% among Republicans), the report said.

To have 79% of evangelicals who support versus 9% of evangelicals who are opposed to immigration reform thats huge.

Murray said she was astonished by the findings: To have 79% of evangelicals who support versus 9% of evangelicals who are opposed to immigration reform thats huge.

The polling results represent a rejection of the harsh anti-immigrant language that marked Donald Trumps presidency, she said. The kind of anti-immigrant rhetoric that used to have so much power doesnt seem to hold water anymore. It may have been a political moment that played itself out. But its going away and now you have people saying, Thats not who we are.

The forum and Bullfinch Group survey, which polled 1,200 U.S. adults Feb. 17-22, also showed Americans want solutions to immigration challenges, not just rhetoric.

That begins to show the power of the polling we have been doing, which shows the majority of our country is moderate (on immigration). Thats an important trend to highlight because it allows legislators to see they can get away from the politics of this because they have the support of the voters.

Murray noted the results of the new survey are similar to those of a poll released last month by Fox News.

Fox reported Feb. 26 that 74% of voters want the U.S. to increase federal agents at the southern border and 73% favor boosting the number of immigration judges to speed up the asylum process.

They also favor making it easier to immigrate(73%), which would presumably incentivize people to choose legal pathways to the U.S., Fox News said. Slightly more voters favor allowing illegal immigrants with jobs in the U.S. to stay and apply for legal status (66% favor) than support deporting them back to their home countries (58%).

Taken together, the two surveys should influence conservative politicians to consider supporting immigration reforms that strengthen the border, welcome asylum seekers and lift up the workforce and economy, Murray said. Its really interesting that there was strong alignment between the two polls.

To make maximum use of the forums study, it will be disseminated to the organizations national security, law enforcement, business and faith community partners to lobby the White House and members of Congress.

Were lifting up the voices of our constituencies who support immigrants and to help them say, Look, this political playbook for immigration that is polarizing is just not accurate anymore. Americans are clearly agreed that they want a strengthened border, a humane response to Dreamers and support for American farmers and ranchers.

Related articles:

70% of conservatives still want immigration reforms this year, but its not likely to happen

Majorities of all Americans want something Congress refuses to do: Meaningful immigration reform now

165 religious leaders plead with White House to abandon immigrant travel ban

New survey: Republicans and white evangelicals are outliers in fear of immigrants invading U.S.

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Polling is shifting on conservatives' attitudes on immigration ... - Baptist News Global

WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) - Boosting immigration and public spending on childcare could help cover a large shortfall in the U.S. labor supply that threatens to curtail economic growth in coming years, a new report by President Joe Biden's top economic advisers concludes.

The annual report by the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) said the aging U.S. workforce, slowing population growth and declining labor force participation by both women and men have created "significant headwinds" for U.S. labor supply, which could depress economic growth and living standards for years.

Necessity is the mother of invention," CEA Chair Cecilia Rouse told Reuters, warning that failure to enact comprehensive immigration reform and steps that allowed workers to balance home and work responsibilities would harm the U.S. economy.

The report comes amid strong resistance in Congress to Biden's efforts to enact immigration reform, guarantee paid leave for all workers, and boost childcare options, with Republican control of the House of Representatives further narrowing the odds for action.

Rouse said changes were imperative to ensure U.S. growth: These are not political issues; these are economic issues. If we want to continue the kinds of economic prosperity that we count on ... we have to have all hands on deck."

Labor force participation has begun to recover after an abrupt shock caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but remains lower than it was in the 2000s, the report noted. COVID accelerated the trend, with more older workers retiring, while declining U.S. life expectancy was removing other workers.

That means the "vast majority" of the growth in working age people will come from immigrants and their descendants, it said.

Allowing more immigrants to enter the United States, and legalizing the status of 11 million people already in the country without authorization to work, would offset the aging demographics and boost innovation, without a big impact on the wages and employment of the existing population, it said.

Funding childcare, removing barriers to employment for previously incarcerated people, and expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, while supporting regional development and encouraging higher rates of unionization would also draw more adults in the workforce and boost labor supply, the report said.

Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Andrea Ricci

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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More immigrants, paid childcare key to economic growth, White ... - Reuters