David J. Bier, the Associate Director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute, testified before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability that the current U.S. immigration system both hinders legal immigration and promotes illegal entry into the country.
Bier was quoted as saying, "Unfortunately, the U.S. immigration system does not facilitate lawful migration; instead, it obstructs it and encourages illegal immigration." He further elaborated in his testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives that simply restoring the flawed system will not adequately curb law violations. According to Bier, immigration laws are overly restrictive, leaving most immigrants with no option but to journey to the border. This is evidenced by a mere 3% of immigrants projected to receive a green card this year.
Citing statistics from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Bier stated that these restrictive laws have been particularly highlighted as global displacement has surged from 34 million in 2012 to 108 million in 2023. Additionally, he pointed out that with the recovery of the U.S. economy creating millions of job openings, more immigrants are drawn to make their way to the border. As Bier put it, "The unprecedented availability of jobs, combined with the global displacement crisis, led to an unprecedented surge in illegal migration to the southwest border."
Arguing against simple expulsion as a solution for rampant illegal immigration during his testimony, Bier noted that many migrants who were expelled had no choice but to attempt reentry into the United States. Instead, he advocated for less restrictive pre-parole sponsorship programs like "Uniting for Ukraine".
Drawing on research from his own institution - The Cato Institute - Bier demonstrated how this policy allowed 99% of Ukrainians who arrived at the border seeking asylum to enter legally while reducing illegal Ukrainian entries at southern borders by 99%. The institute's findings also showed similar sponsorship programs significantly reduced illegal entries from Haiti (down 98%), Cuba (down 96%), Nicaragua (down 88%), and Venezuela (down 32%).
Bier further argued for a relaxation of immigration policies to facilitate legal immigration. He said, "The fundamental legal immigration framework dates back to 1924, with its last significant update occurring in 1990. Each year, about 97 percent of the millions of applicants are rejected. The available categories are extremely narrow. A more effective approach would be to deregulate legal immigration, allowing immigrants to enter as long as they do not pose a security threat and meet other basic criteria."
According to the Congressional hearing page, Bier has over a decade's experience working with immigration policy and currently serves as the Associate Director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute. In addition to his current role, Bier has assisted Idaho Congressman Raúl Labrador in drafting immigration legislation and his work has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court.
