Rep. Chris Deluzio: A tough and fair border deal killed by Republicans

We need to fix our broken border and immigration system. Period.

Like so many of my Democratic colleagues, I have been ready to work with our Republican counterparts to restore order, help local communities and bring some sanity to our immigration system.

But guess what? Do-nothing Washington Republicans have killed a bipartisan border deal, doing Donald Trump’s bidding, putting party above country, and once again showing they cannot be trusted to govern.

No one should doubt that the border and the broader immigration system is a mess. Years of failed policies and a lack of political courage have created an untenable situation.

Many people in South and Central America live under threat of sexual assault, murder and kidnapping and try to escape by seeking asylum in the United States, often with the help of human smugglers who use shady and hazardous methods to help people cross illegally into the United States. Many others simply seek economic opportunity like generations before them, looking toward the promise of America.

More broadly, the entire immigration system fails both our nation and immigrants themselves.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was created to protect people, known as Dreamers, who were brought to America as children without proper documentation. They continue to live in this country in constant fear of deportation to a foreign land that many have never known. Right now, there are over 500,000 of them in America. Without a path to some permanent status, they will always live in limbo, vulnerable to abuse and held back from contributing to their full potential.

Seasonal workers are another group needing protection and a legal pathway to avoid exploitation. Businesses across America depend on these folks to work on farms, care for the vulnerable and more. Without them, many industries would suffer, and economic growth would slow. And I regularly hear from business leaders worried that our region is losing talented folks because of a dysfunctional visa system.

Inaction is unacceptable. Yet that is precisely what many House Republicans in Washington want. For months, they refused to fund our national defense until Democrats and Republicans reached a deal on immigration. Now that we have one, struck by a group of senators with opposing ideologies, House Republicans have chosen to reject it out of hand. They refuse to take yes for an answer.

Why? Because Trump ordered them to. That weakness and craven partisanship puts party politics ahead of this country. Ahead of our security.

Republicans are actively creating more chaos at the border, more suffering among asylum-seekers and increasing the struggle in border communities — all so they can give Trump something to campaign on this year.

What’s in the deal Washington Republicans are killing? It is a compromise, but one that Democrats like me have supported to secure our border and get long-needed humanitarian aid and security assistance to our friends and allies. It is tough and fair.

It strengthens consequences if you cross our border illegally. The president would receive emergency powers to temporarily close the border if it gets overwhelmed. The deal would also raise the requirements for those seeking asylum, order detention of adult migrants traveling alone, and invest $20 billion in more security and personnel at the border. The deal also creates new powers to disrupt opioid and fentanyl supply chains, something that we badly need here in Western Pennsylvania, where so many have suffered from the opioid epidemic.

The deal also brings some much-needed improvements so that immigration cases are processed more quickly and there are legal pathways for lawful migrants to work and support their families.

For years, hard-working immigrant families have come to Western Pennsylvania to work in the mills and factories — we know something around here about hard work and striving for the American dream. We need orderly pathways for aspiring Americans ready to work and contribute to this country like generations before. Folks want a system where you make your case and you get a decision that is fast, fair and final.

The bipartisan border deal would create 250,000 new family and work visas over five years, for people to legally come to America and stay. Lawful migrants awaiting a final decision could receive work permits while they wait. It offers some basic humanity for families and kids, allowing some lawful migrant families to stay in the country subject to monitoring to make sure they make it to required court appearances. The deal provides legal representation to kids without a parent or guardian.

To be sure, this deal does not fix Washington’s longstanding failure to protect Dreamers. The vast majority of Americans agree that people who were brought here as children and have played by the rules ought to have a pathway to permanent status as Americans. But we can solve this problem, too.

I support a bipartisan bill — the Dignity Act — that creates an earned pathway for Dreamers. Introduced by Republican Rep. Maria Salazar and Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobar, our bill establishes a seven-year temporary legal status for undocumented immigrants during which they must pass criminal background checks, forgo federal benefits, and pay $5,000 in restitution. They can shave two years off the program through learning English and U.S. civics, community service and additional restitution. Once they’ve met these requirements, they can join the line for permanent status like all migrants who enter lawfully.

The Dignity Act also makes substantial investments in border security and serious improvements to our asylum and visa systems.

Congress can fix our broken immigration system and bring new levels of order. My fellow Democrats and I are trying to do exactly that. But we also need Republicans who want solutions.

Instead, many Washington Republicans are more interested in short-term political gain than in solving problems with a tough and fair border deal. Patriotism means putting country over party — something Washington needs badly these days. I’m ready to do my part.

Rep. Chris Deluzio, a Democrat, represents the 17th District.