The GOP and Democrat platforms on immigration

The Republicans/GOP and Democrats have posted their platforms for the upcoming 2024 elections. A platform is basically a political party’s position, vision and goals for what they hope to accomplish if elected. A platform deals with a wide variety of topics, such as the economy, foreign policy, safety and security, etc. The platforms also deal with the parties’ positions on immigration. In this article, I will discuss and contrast the GOP and Democratic Party platforms on immigration.

The GOP seems to take a strict and harsh position on immigration. It deals primarily with enforcement, with little on immigration reform, legalization, etc. The title of the immigration section is “Seal the border, and stop the migrant invasion.”

The Republicans “offer an aggressive plan to stop the open-border policies that have opened the floodgates to a tidal wave of illegal aliens…” They plan to “restore every border policy of the Trump administration, halt the release of illegal aliens into the interior… Shift massive portions of federal law enforcement to immigration enforcement” and move thousands of troops and deploy the US Navy to help secure the southern border.

The Republicans also plan to “strengthen ICE, increase penalties for illegal entry and overstaying visas,” as well as bring back the travel ban.

The Republicans also promised to “begin largest deportation program in American history,” noting that the “Republican Party is committed to sending illegal aliens back home and removing those who have violated our laws.”

Republicans also intend to “prioritize merit-based immigration,” end “chain migration” and put American workers first.” This seems to be an attack on family-based petitions, as chain migration typically is where one family member comes to the US, legalizes and then starts petitioning other family members.

In sum, the GOP is focusing on a very tough, enforcement-based policy toward immigration.

The Democratic platform also deals with securing our border, but also with “fixing the broken immigration system.” They recognize that immigrants come to the US “to pursue freedom and opportunity, to flee oppression and to reunite with family members, and in turn