Be it resolved, no one is illegal.

A wall that now stretches 300 miles along the U.S.-Mexico border. The suspensions of the Dreamers program that shielded 800,000 children born to undocumented immigrants from deportation. The launch of a zero-tolerance policy that separates unauthorized migrants from their children. These are some of the hallmarks of the immigration policy of President Donald Trump’s administration. Tackling the growing number of unauthorized migrants – estimates suggest as many as 12 million – was key to Trump’s election in 2016 and his case for a second term. Supporters of Trump’s immigration policies believe the rule of law must be paramount when deciding who gets to become a U.S. citizen. They argue that illegal immigrants are “queue jumping” – making it harder for migrants who apply lawfully to enter the U.S. Mass illegal migration is destabilizing the border, costing billions in social services, and driving down wages for struggling blue collar workers. Critics of President Trump’s immigration policies take issue with the very concept of a migrant being “illegal.” They argue that unauthorized border crossings are a civil violation not a criminal offence. They argue that a realistic and humane immigration policy needs to recognize that undocumented immigrants are part of the fabric of America, with more than two-thirds having lived in the U.S. for over ten years. A fair and just immigration policy in America would recognize the vital role migrants and their families play in the workplace, in their communities, in society at large.