Are Democrats Getting Nervous or Serious About the Illegal Immigration Crisis?
FAIR Take | March 2024
Call it a sign of the times. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia who represents Illinois’ 4th Congressional District is facing a stiff challenge from a Chicago alderman in the only race that really matters: The Democratic primary. Raymond Lopez has made illegal immigration a central theme of his campaign, accusing the incumbent in this heavily Hispanic district of being part of the problem that has resulted in the surge of illegal aliens that is overwhelming the Windy City.
“I think the primary difference between Chuy Garcia and myself is that Chuy is an open border Democrat who has forgotten about everyone here that’s been waiting for help,” Lopez told a Chicago TV station. More than 11,000 recently arrived illegal aliens are being housed in 23 shelters across the city. The acknowledged price tag is $300 million (and counting), but that figure doesn’t include big ticket items like public education and health care. Chicagoans feel their interests and safety are being compromised, and have expressed their anger at a series of raucous City Council meetings.
If the impact of the Biden Border Crisis is roiling people in a deep blue district that was once represented by Luis Gutierrez, the self-proclaimed champion of the nation’s illegal alien population, it is not surprising that it is starting to get the attention of Democrats in more moderate states and districts. American voters cite the border and immigration as their top concern heading into the 2024 elections, and 71 percent support making it “tougher” to enter the U.S. illegally.
Last week, 14 House Democrats tried to put some daylight between themselves and President Biden when they voted in favor of a resolution condemning his immigration policies and refusal to use executive power to regain control of our borders. The resolution, which passed 226-193, is non-binding, but the fact that 14 members broke ranks is significant.
Also last week, an even larger group of congressional Democrats went a step further. A group of 26 members announced the formation of “Democrats for Border Security,” chaired by Representatives Henry Cuellar of Texas and Tom Suozzi, who just won a special election in New York. Cuellar’s district includes a long section of border along the Rio Grande, while Suozzi’s Long Island district stretches into Queens.
Whether this newly-formed group is actually aiming to secure the borders and end mass illegal immigration, or is just posturing on an issue they recognize is political kryptonite for their party, remains to be seen. Cuellar has been calling for stronger border and immigration enforcement for years, and has set himself apart from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on this issue. He reiterated that position last week, saying, “It doesn’t matter if we’re Hispanics. We want to see order. We want to see security.”
Suozzi, on the other hand, seemed more interested in using the formation of the group as a means to deflect blame for the crisis away from his party by promoting the faux border security bill that crashed and burned in the Senate last month. He used the press conference announcing Democrats for Border Security to blast Republicans for rejecting that backroom deal that would have done little more than codified mass illegal immigration, asylum fraud, and presidential abuse of parole authority.
Regardless of the motivation, the resolution of condemnation and the formation of a 26-member splinter group, presents an opportunity for congressional advocates for true immigration reform and border security. With an election looming, and armed with the knowledge that the constituents these members represent are deeply disturbed by what is happening at the border and in their communities, they need to be put to the test. That test can, and should, entail forcing them to vote on whether to include H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, as part of the FY 2024 budget that must be approved by March 22.
These days, it is significant when any Democratic lawmaker is even willing to pay lip service to the idea of securing the border and halting illegal immigration. But that’s not enough. Given current circumstances, they need to put up or shut up.