The ‘Pro-Family’ Party’s Cruelty: Separating Immigrant Families for Political Gain

For years, the Republican Party has been seen as the defender of traditional values, family unity, and children’s well-being. However, recent actions by prominent Republican politicians challenge this perception. They actively seek to separate hundreds of thousands of immigrant families. Texas is leading a coalition of 16 states, driven by Republican politicians, aiming to eliminate the ‘Keeping Families Together’ program. This program, launched by the Biden administration, aims to assist undocumented immigrants married to US citizens in remaining with their spouses. Despite its recent initiation and potential to benefit nearly half a million individuals residing in the US without legal status, a conservative judge, J. Campbell Barker, temporarily suspended the program. The judge cited the need to address claims from the suing states, alleging that the program would encourage unauthorized immigration and harm their states. However, no evidence supports these claims. This legal action against families with mixed immigration status is a cynical tactic. The program doesn’t encourage illegal immigration as it only applies to individuals who have lived in the country for at least 10 years. Additionally, it has strict eligibility requirements and only seeks to regularize the situation of long-term residents. The lawsuit is merely an attempt to keep the immigration issue alive during the election campaign, at the expense of the suffering and uncertainty faced by countless immigrant families. This tactic isn’t new. In February, despite years of Republican leaders pushing for border security as a top priority and calling for urgent legislation, when a bipartisan agreement finally emerged, Donald Trump urged his colleagues to sabotage their own border reform—the toughest in decades—because it didn’t benefit his re-election campaign. Cruel immigration policies are not the solution. While border security is crucial, inhumane policies like mass deportations, as proposed by Trump, or baseless opposition to programs like ‘Keeping Families Together’ and DACA, are illogical and lacking compassion. A report by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy highlights the significant contribution of undocumented immigrants to the US economy, particularly in North Carolina. Despite lacking work permits, access to public programs, and legal documentation, these individuals contributed $692.2 million in state and local taxes in 2022. This number could rise to $843.6 million if they were allowed to work legally. It’s no longer possible to view the Republican Party as a champion of families when they disregard the family unity of immigrant households, incite fear against millions of workers to gain votes, and implement policies that actively separated young children from their mothers at the border, as Trump did with his ‘zero tolerance’ plan. We cannot allow this cruelty to return to power.