By: Dave Morgan

September 20,2024

As a proud member of two American tribes—a descendant of Polish immigrants and the Blackfeet native American Nation—I know firsthand the value of our nation's diverse heritage. Yet, while we celebrate our blended immigrant culture, our present immigration system remains divisive, broken and in dire need of reform.

The late Barbara Jordan, a civil rights leader and descendant of enslaved people, urged Congress to abandon hyphenated identities and unite as Americans. Her immigration reform vision was clear: 'People who should get in, get in; people who should not enter are kept out; and people who are deportable should be required to leave.' This was the foundation of her exhaustive report in 1995 on immigration reform, a report that still resonates today.

What did Barbara mean when she said, “people who should not enter are kept out.”

Under present law, our border security officers at ports of entry are required to interview trespassers who claim asylum. When Border officials are overwhelmed by hundreds of arrivals all claiming asylum, they have no way to conduct a preliminary asylum claim known as a credible fear interview and instead permit the trespassers into our nation, waiting for an asylum hearing years and years in the future. This process borders on insanity.

Border officers should have only one duty at a port of entry. Those with entry approval, get in. Those without entry approval, are kept out - no exceptions.

Undocumented border crossers apprehended at locations other than a port of entry should be deported immediately. This is an action Barbara suggested thirty years ago. We should have a listen to her then and we should listen to her now.

As Barbara said: “Unlawful immigration is unacceptable to this country. It is unlawful and we need to curb it. We need to do this effectively as a nation of immigrants. The rule of law is part of our commitment, and we must set limits on who can enter and back up those limits with credible enforcement of immigration law.”

Congress doesn’t need another commission to study this problem. Instead, they should dust off Barbara Jordan’s report and start from there. Will they? I hope so.

While we wait for major immigration reform, I suggest a minor legislative first step which would have a major impact on border security. I propose the Barbara Jordan Act, which would:

· Temporarily modify 8 U.S. Code § 1158, Section (a)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to require that all asylum claims begin outside the United States.

· Mandate that new asylum seekers undergo a Credible Fear Interview (CFI) at a U.S. embassy, consulate, or licensed facility, preferably in a safe third country. This interview would be conducted by a USCIS asylum officer using a secure online portal designed for asylum claims.

· If an asylum applicant is deemed eligible for a U.S. court hearing, they would be issued entry documents along with an airline voucher to attend their court date.

· This Act would not affect backlogged immigrants currently in the United States seeking asylum.

Dave Morgan

We either have a border, or we don't. We need and welcome immigrants who come here legally, but we cannot continue leaving our back door open to anyone who wants to enter—whether they knock or not.

"It's time for ordinary citizens to speak out and demand that our elected officials prioritize the national interest over special interests. We must break the cycle of political gridlock and reform our immigration system to reflect the values and needs of our country. Barbara was right in 1995, and she is right today.

Call your Representative and ask them to support the draft Barbara Jordan Act. If you want a copy of this draft legislation, just email me at [email protected]