According to Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Katie Britt, both illegal and legal immigration have served to undermine the economic prosperity of middle-class Americans.
Britt’s campaign on Tuesday released the candidate’s immigration platform, which calls for the reinstatement of former President Donald Trump’s border policies and significant reform to the nation’s legal immigration policies.
Conservatives have long decried the wage suppression Americans are subjected to by way of foreign nationals flooding the labor market. Britt’s plan seeks to jumpstart citizens’ wage growth by pursuing multiple policy changes.
As senator, Britt said she would work to secure funding to finish the wall along the U.S. southern border, and reinstate the Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” program and the public charge rule. Additionally, the proposal calls for ending the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) catch and release policies.
Ending illegal immigration, according to Britt, is “only half the problem.”
“For decades, American workers have seen stagnant wage growth,” said Britt. “Under President Biden, wages are growing at a rate lower than inflation, which is crushing hardworking Alabamians and retirees.”
Britt noted that more than one million immigrants enter the nation’s interior on an annual basis. She said the market’s supply of immigrant labor had “driven down the wages of Alabamians, especially those without college degrees.”
“America’s immigration policies have been good for foreigners who want to come to America,” added Britt. “But they have been bad for American workers. That needs to change.”
The following are proposed measures from Britt’s immigration memo:
- Reduce overall legal immigration to a sensible level and transition to a new system that prioritizes skills and merit over family-ties.
- Overhaul guest worker programs that depress wages and rob American workers of job opportunities.
- Permanently address the deeply flawed and corrupt EB-5 investor visa program, which allows shady foreign investors like Russian oligarchs to obtain green cards.
- Require all employers to use E-Verify – this would not only protect American workers, but also deter illegal immigration more than any other enforcement program or policy change.
Further, Britt advised that she would sponsor U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton’s (R-Ark.) “RAISE Act,” which would cut in half the number of immigrants allowed into the nation. The bill also ends the current chain migration system, establishes a merit-based immigration system, and eliminates the diversity visa lottery system.
Legislatively, Britt stated her intentions to clarify that birthright citizenship only applies to individuals born to U.S. citizens or those lawfully residing in the nation. She also outlined her goal of halting “Big Tech’s exploitation of the United States’ immigration system.”
“As the next U.S. Senator for Alabama, I will fight tirelessly for America First policies that put American workers first and keep our families and communities safe and strong,” proclaimed Britt. “Under President Biden, wages are growing at a rate lower than inflation, which is crushing hardworking Alabamians and retirees. That needs to change. On my first day in office, I will take specific steps to not only secure our border, but also reform our immigration system to put American workers and Alabama families first.”
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
