Focusing on Solutions, Not Scapegoats.

Arjun Sawhney

“Either lead or get the hell out of the way. It’s really easy to do the wrong thing when it polls well. It takes leadership to do the right thing when it doesn’t.” – Rep. Sean Casten

There’s a narrative circulating in American politics that blames immigrants for many of the economic and social challenges we face: job competition, rising rents, safety concerns, and strained public resources. It’s a compelling story, not because it’s rooted in truth, but because it offers a simple explanation for complex problems. But simplicity and accuracy are not the same thing.

This narrative doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. In fact, it distracts from the real causes of our challenges, and in doing so, prevents us from making the kind of progress our country is capable of.

Leadership is about telling hard truths, even when they don’t fit a political agenda. The truth is this: immigration is not weakening America. It is, and always has been, a source of strength.

In the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, America faced unprecedented economic uncertainty. But we recovered faster than expected. Jobs returned, inflation began to ease, and wages saw a modest rise. One major factor behind that recovery? Immigration.

“Part of the reason why the U.S. was both able to grow the labor market and bring inflation down was because immigration rates were running dramatically higher than the Fed or the CBO thought was possible.” – Rep. Sean Casten

With more workers available, businesses were able to meet demands without overdriving wages or prices. Immigrants stepped into roles across industries, from health care to agriculture, helping to stabilize the economy when it mattered most.

“The idea that America is somehow weaker because we have immigrants that come to our shores is something that you only say if you are either a coward or a demagogue. None of the facts support that. The rate at which immigrants commit crime, it takes 3 generations of immigrants being in the USA before they commit crimes at the same high level as Americans.” – Rep. Casten

We must base our policy on facts, not fear. The facts are clear: immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than native-born citizens. It takes several generations before immigrant families begin to mirror the broader American population in terms of crime or public service use.

So why, despite the evidence, does this skepticism about immigration persist?  Because blaming immigrants is easier than addressing long-term structural problems: stagnant wages, unaffordable housing, an overburdened healthcare system, and a political system that too often fails to deliver for working families.

“I’m just gonna tell you the reason you can’t get a job is not because you’re a slacker, not because you’ve some other personal defect, it’s just because a brown person came ahead and jumped ahead of you in line. You can say that. It might make you feel good. Doesn’t mean it’s true.” – Rep. Casten

Blame might be emotionally satisfying in the short term, but it doesn’t offer a path forward. We need to recognize that immigrants are not the cause of our challenges; they are often helping solve them.

Immigration isn’t just about economics, though. It’s also about who we are and who we aspire to be as a nation. America was built by people who came here seeking opportunity and freedom. That story is not just history, it’s our ongoing reality.

“The day Americans stop welcoming immigrants to our shores is the day Americans stop being American.”  Ronald Reagan, quoted by Rep. Casten

“I’ve always seen America as a great city on a hill, and if that city must have walls, then make sure it has doors and windows so that all who want can come inside.” – Ronald Reagan, quoted by Rep. Casten

Opportunity should not be limited solely to those already inside. America’s greatness is rooted in its openness, its diversity, and its ability to integrate people from all walks of life into a shared vision of the future.

So, what does real leadership on immigration look like today?

It means fixing a legal immigration system that leaves families in limbo for years. It means expanding work visa programs to meet the needs of modern industries. It means creating fair and practical pathways to citizenship for the undocumented immigrants who are already living, working, and contributing here. It means balancing border security with human dignity and humanitarian responsibility. It means rejecting fear-based rhetoric in favor of real, data-driven policy.

It’s also important to acknowledge that people who feel economically vulnerable, politically unheard, or socially isolated are not wrong to be frustrated. Many Americans are struggling. But placing the blame on immigrants diverts attention away from the real levers of change: public investment, workforce development, tax fairness, healthcare access, housing supply, and education. We have the tools. We have the resources. What we need is the will.