Election 2024 Your View by Ryan Mackenzie: My experience in Harrisburg will help me address illegal immigration … – The Morning Call
Editors Note: The Morning Call solicited Your Views from candidates in contested primaries in the Lehigh Valley region. The three Republican candidates running for the nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Susan Wild in November were asked to discuss what they see as they biggest issue(s) facing the 7th Congressional District and how they would approach solving the issue(s). Their responses are running this week, in alphabetical order by last name. Your Views from state House races will run next week.
I am running for Congress because we are losing our country.
The disastrous policies coming out of Washington are making us less safe and creating conditions where Americas next generation may not be better off. Its a serious concern for me personally. My wife and I are expecting our first child a son who is due any day now.
Like any new parent, I find myself reflecting on the conditions my child will be born into. With that in mind, I am extremely worried about the direction of our country.
I have had the honor and pleasure of serving as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing portions of western and northern Lehigh County, working every day to help make our community better.
But its getting harder and harder to have a positive outlook on Americas future. We have a wide-open border that allows migrants to enter the country illegally in record numbers hundreds of thousands of people each month. That adds up to millions over the last few years. That situation is leading to an increase in drugs, crime and human trafficking. Its diverting resources that should be spent to help struggling Americans and rebuild crumbling communities.
We also have an economy where inflation and high prices continue to spiral out of control. With wages not keeping pace, the increased cost of food, energy, housing and other necessities have made life unaffordable and upward mobility unattainable. The biggest driver of inflation has been massive overspending in Washington funded by debt that must be paid by future generations.
In spite of all of this, we continue to hear from members of both parties that they want to continue their reckless spending. They want to send more of our money overseas and hand out Americans hard-earned tax dollars to people in our country illegally. This fiscally irresponsible approach is unsustainable and must be stopped. And I know how.
As a state representative, I have experience authoring and passing legislation that directly addresses illegal immigration and improves our states economic climate.
Currently, I serve as Republican chair of the House Labor & Industry Committee. A number of years ago, both union and nonunion construction industry stakeholders approached me about the increase of illegal labor in their field and how it harmed American workers. So, I acted fast and authored and passed legislation making E-Verify mandatory for all employers in the construction industry.
E-Verify is a Department of Homeland Security program that allows employers to rapidly check the legal working status of individuals before they are hired. It is available for employers to use voluntarily, but my legislation made it mandatory to address the problem of illegal labor in Pennsylvanias construction industry. The bill also makes clear that failure to use E-Verify could lead to fines and other penalties for offending businesses. Ultimately, it passed both the House and Senate in 2019 with veto-proof majorities and become law without Gov. Tom Wolfs signature.
More recently, I introduced a package of legislation to crack down on illegal immigration. It includes bills to further expand the mandatory use of E-Verify, protect vulnerable children from labor exploitation, end sanctuary cities, increase cross-checks to clean up voter rolls, and add language to our state constitution to make it clear that people in the country illegally are not eligible to vote in state or local elections even if officials try to allow for that practice.
On an economic front, I have built a proven record of putting taxpayers first. I never voted for a tax increase, opposed the gas tax increase, voted to reform the broken pension system to save billions of dollars, and I supported property tax elimination for homeowners. I have also led by example when it comes to fiscal responsibility, refusing taxpayer-paid per diems and a state car, supporting legislation to do away with those perks, and also voting to reduce the size of the Legislature.
Another law I authored eliminated the inheritance tax for small family businesses in 2013, streamlined excessive regulations in 2012 and 16, and protected local tax dollars from fraud in 2017. I was also part of a group that scoured state funds to stave off a massive tax increase proposal by Wolf.This effort helped pass a balanced budget without an additional burden on taxpayers.
As a dedicated public servant with a history of reforming government, protecting taxpayers and securing our communities, I am raising my hand to serve in Congress because Im uniquely suited to address illegal immigration and massive overspending in Washington.
We must finish building the wall on our Southern border and end the forever wars overseas. We must stop the wasteful overspending and protect programs like Medicare and Social Security. We must elect candidates who are willing to tackle these issues and I hope you will join me in this fight to get our country back on the right track. For my family and for yours.
State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie of Emmaus is a Republican candidate for the 7th Congressional District.
Tuesday: Kevin Dellicker: Ill apply experience in military, business to solve nations problems
Coming Thursday: Maria Montero: I want to restore faith in the American dream
- Trump's work on illegal immigration has been 'nothing short of phenomenal': Rep. Brandon Gill - Fox News - October 23rd, 2025 [October 23rd, 2025]
- Florida's CFO talks illegal immigration and funding for NE Florida sheriff's offices - The Florida Times-Union - October 23rd, 2025 [October 23rd, 2025]
- Illegal Alien Police Officer Arrested in Illinois - Federation for American Immigration Reform - October 23rd, 2025 [October 23rd, 2025]
- Trump's work on illegal immigration has been 'nothing short of phenomenal': Rep. Brandon Gill - Yahoo - October 23rd, 2025 [October 23rd, 2025]
- The Strange Case of the Illegal Alien Cop - Center for Immigration Studies - October 19th, 2025 [October 19th, 2025]
- ICE, federal partners arrest more than 1,400 illegal aliens in Massachusetts during Patriot 2.0, including murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, child... - October 17th, 2025 [October 17th, 2025]
- ICE arrests illegal alien serving as a local police officer in Suburban Chicago - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - October 17th, 2025 [October 17th, 2025]
- Federal immigration agents arrested an illegal immigrant who was working as a police officer in the sanctuary state of Illinois. Radule Bojovic, an... - October 17th, 2025 [October 17th, 2025]
- Democrats Fight for Illegal Alien Healthcare Benefits as Government Shutdown Continues - Federation for American Immigration Reform - October 17th, 2025 [October 17th, 2025]
- The UK government will pay you $120K to convince the public that it's successfully tackling illegal immigration - Fortune - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- Chief Deputy Lowes attends panel on illegal immigration - ReadTheReporter.com - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- Headlines and Heartlines: State Rep. Janis Holt discusses education, property tax relief, illegal immigration and district concerns - - Bluebonnet... - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- Rafe Fletcher: Accountability, not technocracy, is the answer to illegal immigration - Conservative Home - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- The Disturbing Connection Between U.N.s Green Energy Push and Illegal Immigration - The Heritage Foundation - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- Of Course Illegal Immigrants Access Public Health Benefits - Center for Immigration Studies - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- An illegal immigrant gang member on the run for allegedly killing a man in California went on to kill a woman in Texas before Immigration and Customs... - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- ICE Issues Government Shutdown Warning on Illegal Immigration - Newsweek - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Digital ID cards: what are they and how will they help the UK deal with illegal immigration? - The Conversation - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- ICE arrests illegal alien from Haiti connected to criminal terrorist organizations - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]
- ICE, law enforcement partners searching for 2 illegal aliens who escaped after choking Border Patrol agent - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs... - September 23rd, 2025 [September 23rd, 2025]
- Venezuelan man responsible for sex trafficking female illegal aliens sentenced to 10 years in prison - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement... - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- UK minister dismisses Trump's call for military intervention to control illegal immigration | Hindustan Times - Hindustan Times - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- ICE lodges detainer against illegal alien who murdered a teenage girl after she rejected his sexual advances - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs... - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- ICE receives more than 150K job applications as Trumps crackdown on illegal immigration continues - New York Post - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- ICE receives more than 150,000 job applications as Trump crackdown on illegal immigration intensifies - UNILAD - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- Richard Brant and Lauren Butler: Reform UKs Plans for Getting Tough on Illegal Immigration: From Legal Reset to Sunset - UK Constitutional Law... - September 15th, 2025 [September 15th, 2025]
- ICE launches new initiative to arrest illegal aliens at immigration hearings amid DHS deportation battle - The Economic Times - September 15th, 2025 [September 15th, 2025]
- Suspected illegal aliens arrested by immigration authorities while on way to Franklin County poultry plant - 1819 News - September 13th, 2025 [September 13th, 2025]
- Twin Monster Illegal Immigration and Drug Trafficking - AMAC - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- What is the government doing to tackle illegal immigration? - GOV.UK - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- How many illegal migrants are in Britain? The key numbers driving the immigration debate - Sky News - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- ICE Launches Operation Midway Blitz in Honor of Katie Abraham to Target Criminal Illegal Aliens Terrorizing Americans in Sanctuary Illinois - Homeland... - September 9th, 2025 [September 9th, 2025]
- Feds cite current crisis of illegal immigration in push against NJ sanctuary city orders - New Jersey Monitor - September 9th, 2025 [September 9th, 2025]
- A Bold Political Decision: The New Strict Bill Against Illegal Immigration OpEd - Eurasia Review - September 6th, 2025 [September 6th, 2025]
- ICE Boston removes illegal fugitive wanted for child rape in Jamaica - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - September 6th, 2025 [September 6th, 2025]
- Hope and hate: how governments around the world are responding to 'illegal' immigration - SBS Australia - September 6th, 2025 [September 6th, 2025]
- Malheur County Sheriff cannot help I.C.E. with illegal immigration enforcement - KIVI-TV - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- Baseless Allegations Of Massive Illegal Immigration Into India From Bangladesh - Eurasia Review - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- Interim US attorney says he has been directed to go after illegal immigration - Rocky Mount Telegram - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- Digital ID cards could be introduced to curb illegal immigration - The Independent - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- VOTE: Do you support Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration in large US cities? - WEAR-TV - September 1st, 2025 [September 1st, 2025]
- Better Tools, Fewer Raids: The Digital Solution to Illegal Immigration - American Enterprise Institute - August 29th, 2025 [August 29th, 2025]
- ICE arrests criminal illegal alien convicted of murder - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - August 27th, 2025 [August 27th, 2025]
- CEO used disability charity as a front for offering illegal immigration advice - The Independent - August 27th, 2025 [August 27th, 2025]
- ICE Newark arrests heavily armed illegal alien who overstayed visa by 9 years - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - August 27th, 2025 [August 27th, 2025]
- Illegal immigration hit a record-high of 14 million in the US in 2023, Pew report finds - Salina Post - August 26th, 2025 [August 26th, 2025]
- HSI Kansas City hosts young European leaders from 15 nations to share strategies for combating transnational crime and illegal immigration - U.S.... - August 26th, 2025 [August 26th, 2025]
- ICE arrests twice-convicted, drunk-driving illegal alien whos been hiding in California for over 20 years - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement... - August 26th, 2025 [August 26th, 2025]
- Two Illegal Aliens Arrested, One Extradited to Florida for Triple Vehicular Homicide - Federation for American Immigration Reform - August 26th, 2025 [August 26th, 2025]
- Illegal immigration hit a record-high of 14 million in the US in 2023, Pew report finds - Castanet - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Illegal immigration hit a record-high of 14 million in the US in 2023, Pew report finds - MSN - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- New York State Claims Right to Give Welfare to Illegal Aliens - Federation for American Immigration Reform - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Illegal immigration hit a record-high of 14 million in the US in 2023, Pew report finds - The Sumter Item - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- This City Figures it Can Help Illegal Aliens More by NOT Enacting Sanctuary Policies - Federation for American Immigration Reform - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Illegal immigration hit a record-high of 14 million in the US in 2023, Pew report finds - FOX4KC.com - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Enhancing Border Security and Combatting Illegal Immigration - U.S. Department of State (.gov) - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- ICE arrests 9 illegal aliens and seizes drugs, scammed gift cards at underground nightclub in California - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement... - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- Archived: ICE arrests nearly 200 in Los Angeles-area operation targeting criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants, and immigration fugitives - U.S.... - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- Oklahoma Moves to End In-State Tuition for Illegal Aliens - Federation for American Immigration Reform - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- Never Get Used to Illegal Alien Crime. This Family Wont. - Federation for American Immigration Reform - August 14th, 2025 [August 14th, 2025]
- Clashes play out nationwide over Trump's approach to illegal immigration - KATV - August 12th, 2025 [August 12th, 2025]
- Clashes play out nationwide over Trump's approach to illegal immigration - KUTV - August 9th, 2025 [August 9th, 2025]
- Illegal immigration vs domestic crime: Where should resources go? - Cleveland.com - August 9th, 2025 [August 9th, 2025]
- Clashes play out nationwide over Trump's approach to illegal immigration - KOMO - August 7th, 2025 [August 7th, 2025]
- Ohio, South Carolina, 16 others join Texas illegal immigration fight - The Center Square - August 7th, 2025 [August 7th, 2025]
- Grand Forks Border Patrol apprehends eight people suspected of illegal immigration - Grand Forks Herald - August 7th, 2025 [August 7th, 2025]
- NC Democrats attacking one of their own over illegal immigration (08-07-2025--Hour1) - WBT Charlotte's News Talk - August 7th, 2025 [August 7th, 2025]
- Ohio, South Carolina, 16 others join Texas illegal immigration fight - Shelby News - August 7th, 2025 [August 7th, 2025]
- Third Circuit Blocks New Jersey Law Prohibiting the Private Detention of Illegal Aliens - Federation for American Immigration Reform - August 1st, 2025 [August 1st, 2025]
- ICE Philadelphia removes illegal alien from Honduras wanted for femicide, attempted homicide - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - July 30th, 2025 [July 30th, 2025]
- Illegal immigration cost taxpayers millions in Florida last year. Heres how - WKMG - July 28th, 2025 [July 28th, 2025]
- ICE Buffalo arrests illegal alien with 9 US criminal convictions including assault, arson and robbery - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement... - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Illegal Alien Felons Wont Get Taxpayer-Funded Legal Aid in California, and Activists are Fuming - Federation for American Immigration Reform - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Two Illegal Aliens with Lengthy Criminal Backgrounds Suspected in NYC Shooting - Federation for American Immigration Reform - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Calif. college to permit criticism of men in womens sports, illegal immigration to settle free speech suit - The College Fix - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Nationwide protests begin against Trumps illegal immigration crackdown, health care cuts - WKMG - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Federal agents conduct illegal-immigration hiring raid at northern AZ BBQ chain - The Arizona Republic - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Fmr Biden adviser roasted over NYT illegal immigration op-ed | RISING - The Hill - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- He opposes illegal immigration, but Gely won his heart - The Seattle Times - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration is causing uncertainty, ex-DNC official says - Fox News - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]