By Emmanuel Olawale

Immigration has become a focal point in this election. As a first-generation immigrant and an immigrant rights attorney, I am disheartened by the misinformation and anti-immigrant rhetoric circulating to win votes.
Immigrants are the lifeblood of the American economy, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution because this country was built by immigrants, with immigrants, and for immigrants. This debate has persisted since the United States’ inception, highlighted by the fact that Alexander Hamilton, one of our founding fathers and an immigrant from the West Indies, chose never to aspire to the presidency because he was not a “natural born” American.
We can secure our borders while still welcoming those seeking freedom from persecution. When immigrants arrive at our borders and apply for asylum, they do so under protections granted by both American and international law. Once their cases are reviewed, if their asylum claims are denied, they face removal from the United States.
The asylum process can take up to a decade as cases move through the immigration court system. Immigrants are not to blame for these lengthy waits; in fact, most seek a faster resolution.
However, the federal government lacks enough immigration courts and judges. For example, there is only one immigration court for the entire state of Ohio.
Crossing the border without a visa and seeking asylum is not a criminal act. It violates immigration laws, but it is neither a misdemeanor nor a felony. For this reason, immigrants are detained—not imprisoned. They are held until they are either paroled, bonded out, or their cases are adjudicated. They are neither criminals nor ‘illegal.’

The idea that border enforcement alone is the solution to the immigration issue is short-sighted and stands in opposition to the American ideals inscribed at Ellis Island: ‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.’
We can secure our borders and still streamline the immigration process to fuel economic growth and welcome new talents. We can, indeed, chew gum and walk at the same time.
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