‘We Must Do Right by These Communities’

Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) has introduced a five-part framework to address immigration and border security reform, part of a renewed legislative push to tackle an issue plagued by partisan fighting in Congress.

The announcement took place days after Gallego called for Democrats to adopt stricter immigration policies and claimed that seeking to reduce unlawful border crossings should not depend on people’s political affiliation.

Titled Securing the Border and Fueling Economic Prosperity, the plan outlines policy goals aimed at satisfying both security-focused and immigration-focused priorities. It proposes expanded Border Patrol staffing, modernized ports of entry, asylum system reform, increased legal immigration pathways, citizenship for Dreamers, and international collaboration to address migration drivers.

“We don’t have to choose between border security and immigration reform,” Gallego said about the proposal in a statement shared by The Washington Examiner. “We can and should do both. Americans deserve the right to feel safe and know their border is secure, but for decades, Congress has tried and failed to take action because politics got in the way. It’s time to push forward and enact a plan that works.”

“We must do right by these communities by giving them their shot at the American dream so they can prosper in the country that has provided so much to families like mine,” Gallego added.

It’s not the first time Gallego has pushed for stricter immigration policies, recently claiming that the issue should not be left in the bipartisan cracks. In a recent interview with a local Arizona radio station, Gallego said:

“Getting illegal border crossing to as near zero as possible should be a bipartisan position. I think that’s something that we could all start with right there”

Gallego has been elevating his profile with a trip to Pennsylvania, where he hosted a town hall this past weekend. However, he rejected a presidential run in the near term. “Has it ever crossed my mind? F—ing of course,” he told NBC News last week. “I’m an elected official, it crosses my mind. Am I thinking about it right now? Absolutely not.”