Lora Ries, Director of Heritage's Border Security and Immigration Center, has said that the U.S. immigration system is in disrepair and can only function effectively if "borders are secure and immigration laws are consistently and thoroughly enforced." This statement was made in a commentary dated December 3.
"A lawful and efficient immigration system can succeed only if our borders are secure and immigration laws are consistently and thoroughly enforced," said Ries, Heritage, Director of Heritage’s Border Security and Immigration Center, according to The Heritage Foundation. "If it is no longer easier, faster, and cheaper to immigrate here illegally, future migrants will change their behavior based on calculations of higher risk and will be deterred from violating immigration laws."
According to Ries, America's immigration system is currently "a pile of ashes" requiring reform. She argues that the nation cannot sustain an "open border welfare state" that fails to prioritize American citizens or legal immigrants. Ries says, "By changing legal terms; twisting and warping statutory requirements; waiving, ignoring, or refusing to enforce laws; and unconstitutionally creating immigration benefits not authorized by Congress, the Biden–Harris Administration has intentionally erased the line between legal and illegal immigration."
Ries advocates for the incoming administration to introduce "a new, simpler, lawful, orderly, and manageable immigration system" that prioritizes Americans first. Her policy proposals include five principles: upholding the Constitution and rule of law by prioritizing U.S. citizenship as a primary benefit for immigrants, adhering to legal definitions such as maintaining the term "temporary," and ending birthright citizenship.
Specific recommendations from Ries involve limiting parole to urgent individual cases, reinstating enforcement programs like "Remain in Mexico," and completing the border wall. Reforms should aim at reducing processing times for legal immigration while streamlining costs through consistent fee structures without overburdening applicants. The safety of American citizens should be prioritized alongside a lawful system allowing for legal immigration.
CNN reported that President-elect Donald Trump’s administration is preparing to reinstate certain immigration enforcement measures with a focus on deportations while halting Biden's policies. Plans include reviving the "Remain in Mexico" program, ending parole protections, mandating detention for migrants instead of releasing them into the U.S., exploring executive actions, and working with Congress on border security provisions. Trump's appointed "border czar," Tom Holman, is a former director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Ries brings nearly 30 years of experience in immigration and homeland security to her role at The Heritage Foundation. Her background includes leadership positions at the Department of Homeland Security and serving as Counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims. She holds a law degree from Valparaiso University Law School with expertise in international economics, cultural affairs, and Mexican history.
