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Rep. Jayapal accuses GOP of destroying legal immigration pathways in previous Trump administration
Jayapal emphasized the need for legal immigration pathways to reunite families, fill job vacancies, and support economic growth.
Rep. Jayapal / Image- Wikipedia
Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who represents Washington's 7th Congressional District, delivered a sharp critique of Republican immigration policies, accusing the GOP of dismantling legal pathways to immigration and perpetuating dysfunction in the nation’s immigration system.
“Republicans love to say that they’re in favor of immigration — as long as people enter the country legally. But that’s a lie,” said Rep. Jayapal speaking during a House session. The Congresswoman detailed the damage caused under former President Donald Trump’s administration, led by key advisor Stephen Miller, and underscored the importance of expanding legal immigration pathways to address labor shortages and demographic challenges.
When Republicans say they’re OK with immigration as long as it’s legal immigration, don’t believe them.
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) December 4, 2024
Donald Trump and Stephen Miller spent four years destroying legal pathways and left our immigration services in shambles. They have no interest in a system that works. pic.twitter.com/IxWRoDsYSs
“Donald Trump and Stephen Miller spent four years destroying legal pathways and left our immigration services in shambles. They have no interest in a system that works.” She pointed to the correlation between the destruction of legal immigration avenues under Trump and an increase in border crossings, noting that Republican actions contradict their rhetoric.
Jayapal emphasized the need for legal immigration pathways to reunite families, fill job vacancies, and support economic growth. During her speech, she questioned USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou on the state of the agency inherited from the Trump administration, describing it as “broken” and plagued by backlogs, delays, and underutilized employment-based visas.
When Democrats expand legal pathways, fewer people show up to the border.
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) December 4, 2024
But when Republicans destroy those legal pathways, border crossings increase.
The correlation is there — but Republicans refuse to follow the logic so they can continue fear-mongering about immigrants. https://t.co/Up32cq0Xte
“In 2020, USCIS was broken. Legal immigration slowed to a trickle,” Jayapal said. “Applications for citizenship were way down and took over a year to process. The Trump administration stripped away USCIS’s service-oriented mission and replaced it with policies designed to destroy the legal immigration system.”
The congresswoman also highlighted the economic consequences of restricting immigration, citing other nations that have faced challenges due to aging populations and declining birth rates. “As the baby boomer population continues to age and retires, coupled with declining birth rates, America will continue to need more legal immigration,” she stated, pushing back against calls from some Republican lawmakers to halt legal immigration entirely.
Jayapal argued that Democrats are working to expand legal pathways, which, in turn, reduces irregular border crossings. “When Democrats expand legal pathways, fewer people show up to the border. But when Republicans destroy those legal pathways, border crossings increase,” she said, urging her colleagues to abandon fear-mongering about immigrants and focus on building an effective immigration system.
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