Areas of Common Ground
Despite partisan divides, most Americans agree on these key points:
- ✓The current immigration system is broken and needs comprehensive reform
- ✓Border security is important and should be enforced
- ✓Legal immigration should have clear, fair pathways that work efficiently
+ 7 more areas of agreement below
What's the Challenge?
Immigration remains one of America's most contentious political issues, with 73% of Republicans and significant numbers of Democrats citing it as a top concern. The debate often polarizes into 'open borders' vs. 'close borders' extremes, obscuring substantial common ground. The U.S. immigration system hasn't seen comprehensive reform since 1986, leaving millions in legal limbo while border enforcement remains inconsistent. Both humanitarian concerns and rule-of-law principles deserve serious consideration.
Where Most Americans Agree
The current immigration system is broken and needs comprehensive reform
Border security is important and should be enforced
Legal immigration should have clear, fair pathways that work efficiently
Children brought here illegally (Dreamers) shouldn't be punished for their parents' decisions
Immigration courts are massively backlogged and need more resources
Employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers should face consequences
Asylum seekers deserve fair hearings, but the system shouldn't be exploited
America benefits from attracting talented immigrants who contribute to the economy
Human trafficking and smuggling operations should be stopped
Local law enforcement shouldn't be forced to do federal immigration enforcement
Source: Pew Research Center 2024, AP-NORC 2025
Current Perspectives from Both Sides
Understanding the full debate requires hearing what each side actually argues—not caricatures or strawmen.
Progressive Perspective
- •Immigration is a human rights issue, not just a law enforcement problem
- •Pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants recognize their contributions and humanity
- •Border wall and mass deportation policies are cruel, expensive, and ineffective
- •Asylum seekers fleeing violence and persecution deserve compassion and protection
- •Anti-immigrant rhetoric fuels racism and scapegoating of vulnerable communities
- •Immigration detention centers have inhumane conditions that violate human rights
Conservative Perspective
- •Border security is national security, illegal immigration undermines rule of law
- •Amnesty for illegal immigrants rewards lawbreaking and encourages more illegal immigration
- •Sanctuary cities endanger public safety by protecting criminal illegal immigrants
- •Chain migration and visa lottery should end in favor of merit-based immigration
- •American workers' jobs and wages are threatened by illegal immigration and cheap labor
- •Complete the border wall and enforce existing immigration laws before any reform
These represent current talking points from each side of the political spectrum. Understanding both perspectives is essential for productive dialogue.
Evidence-Based Facts
Immigration court backlog exceeds 3 million cases with average wait times of 4+ years
Undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022
Border apprehensions fluctuate significantly: 1.7 million in 2021, varied by administration policies
Legal immigration processing times have increased significantly, with some green cards taking 10+ years
Immigrant-founded companies employ millions of Americans and include 55% of U.S. billion-dollar startups
Learn More
Migration Policy Institute - Immigration Data Hub
Nonpartisan research on immigration statistics, trends, and policy analysis
Migration Policy Institute
Bipartisan Policy Center - Immigration Task Force
Proposals for comprehensive immigration reform with bipartisan support
Bipartisan Policy Center
Congressional Budget Office - Immigration's Economic Effects
Nonpartisan analysis of immigration's fiscal and economic impacts
Congressional Budget Office
Questions for Thoughtful Debate
How do we balance border security with humanitarian obligations to asylum seekers?
What should happen to the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants already in the U.S.?
How many immigrants should the U.S. admit annually, and with what criteria?
Should there be a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers? What about their parents?
How do we fix the legal immigration system so people don't wait decades?
What's the appropriate role of local law enforcement in immigration enforcement?
How do we stop employer demand for undocumented labor while protecting workers?