The Cost of America’s Broken Immigration System

Over 520 million people from all walks of life call the United States, Mexico, and Canada home. Our histories, our economies, our cultures—and yes, our crises—are inextricably linked, stretching far beyond our shared border. We must work to build the safest, most prosperous, and most opportunity-rich region in the world: one where hard work is rewarded, communities are secure, economic growth benefits ordinary people, and every child has a fair chance to succeed.

Importantly, we should not erase borders or diminish national identity. Rather, we must commit to work together where cooperation makes all three nations stronger, and to finally treat the border as the economic and democratic opportunity it can be.

I have been speaking with prospective Democratic candidates for the 2028 presidential election, and I will happily speak with any Republicans or Independents seeking solutions, because it is imperative that they transcend the dysfunctional politics that threaten our national and economic security. In my conversations, I hear encouraging things, but I also sense wariness. This is not a time for trepidation. The 2028 election is around the corner, and the issue of immigration, the U.S.-Mexico border, and how we co-exist peacefully with our neighbors will be defined by the leaders we choose and the demands we make of them. All of us—regardless of party, class, or race—must demand better.