Let’s be clear from the start: no one is arguing for open borders. I think we can agree that a nation has a right to secure its borders and enforce its laws. But the question is whether immigration, done thoughtfully, benefits the country. And I believe the evidence is pretty strong that it does. Immigrants bring skills, energy, and a willingness to work. They start businesses at higher rates than native-born citizens. They fill labor shortages in industries that need them—agriculture, tech, healthcare. And they pay taxes, too. The idea that they’re a drain on the system doesn’t hold up when you look at the data. We’re a nation built by people from somewhere else. That doesn’t mean we ignore rule of law. It means we can be both orderly and welcoming. That balance is what makes immigration work.

Here's a number that stuck with me: immigrants start businesses at nearly twice the rate of native-born Americans. That's not just a feel-good stat—it means jobs for everyone, including the working-class communities you're worried about. You mentioned wage depression, and I get why that's a concern. But when researchers dig into the data, the effect is small and temporary. What's bigger is the way immigrants complement the workforce rather than replace it. They often take jobs in different sectors or at different skill levels than native workers. Meanwhile, they're paying into Social Security and Medicare, which keeps those systems solvent for all of us. I'm not dismissing the strains you're describing. They're real, and they deserve attention. But the answer isn't slamming the door—it's investing in infrastructure and education so communities can absorb newcomers without being overwhelmed. That's the humane approach.

You're right that the strain on communities is real, and I don't want to dismiss that. But a pause isn't going to fix the underlying issues. Overcrowded schools and hospitals are symptoms of underinvestment, not immigration. If we paused all movement tomorrow, those problems wouldn't disappear. The construction worker you mentioned—his wages are stagnant because of a lot of factors. Offshoring, automation, the decline of unions. Blaming immigrants is convenient, but it misses the bigger picture. And that cash-under-the-table work you're describing? That's a symptom of a broken legal system, not immigration itself. If we streamlined pathways to work legally, those same workers would be paying taxes and contributing to the systems you're worried about. We need to fix the process, not freeze it. That's how you actually help the communities you're talking about.