Ohioans want solutions for immigration, not political theater

Ron Segerstrom, who volunteers at legal services, works the desk at the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), January 26, 2023, at the USCRI Cleveland Field Office, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish only with original story.)

When an immigration bill that would have addressed the border, asylum, and certainty for our resettled Afghan allies failed to advance earlier this month, I felt frustrated with legislators. Political theater and fundraising seem preferable to governing and passing needed legislation.

In Ohio, I am seeing much less political attitudes toward immigrants and a desire for immigration solutions. Ohioans are welcoming the stranger and trying to create solutions on their own. It’s beautiful.

Here are just a few examples: A few weeks ago, a pastor shared with me that Holmes County business leaders wanted to talk about immigration and workforce development. Later that week I met with Hispanic American pastors welcoming and caring for newly arrived asylum seekers in Cleveland. An Ohio National Guard leader stationed on the border reached out expressing a nuanced view of care toward asylum seekers and a concern over why Congress won’t work on solutions.

Further nurturing my faith in our neighbors, I saw a Christian business leader leave a meeting because he was welcoming a new group of Congolese refugees arriving in Columbus. I also received a call from an evangelical pastor in Lima telling me the story of his church filling with new asylum seekers, and his desire to help find legal services for them. They started a second service in Spanish. He excitedly told me how much his children love “Spanish church,” as they call it.

These communities see immigrants as good additions to their towns, albeit with some struggles that we — which is to say our leaders locally and nationally — need to address constructively.

In contrast, my inbox is full of headlines and emails from Ohio elected officials using dehumanizing rhetoric and misleading us about who has the ability to update our immigration system.

People fleeing war and collapsing countries are seeking safety and a better life, not threatening us, as some would have us believe. Instead of working together, many in power use lies and fear for political gain. The contrast between everyday Ohioans and our elected officials is stark.

The border and immigration bill’s failure was maddening because Republicans and Democrats had poured hours of good-faith effort into it — and because it was much more strict than any border legislation proposed in years. Now we are left with no solutions at all.

To my representatives and all elected officials, I plead: Do good. Stop the dehumanizing rhetoric and recognize people’s inherent dignity. Acknowledge the breadth of the problems that we need to solve and don’t use lazy talking points. Work together on balanced solutions.

Take a note from your constituents. Don’t sow division and fear. Ohioans are showing the American spirit at its best by gathering together and solving problems, welcoming well, and being creative.

Immigration is a federal responsibility. It is not the job of the states to decide who enters the country. The brokenness of our immigration system is primarily because of Congress’ inaction for decades Recently, Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine joined other GOP governors approving Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s actions against migrants, employing an argument of “self defense”.

I voted for DeWine, and I am disappointed in this decision. I would like to see him and other governors use their power and creativity to offer immigration solutions that prioritize compassion in addition to order and security.. A narrative of fear and “invasion” does nothing to solve our challenges..

For example, DeWine could use his political capital to encourage President Joe Biden and Congress to improve access to visas as an alternative to seeking asylum at the border, increase resources to improve the backlogged pipeline to refugee resettlement, and work with partners around the globe to address human suffering.

Our world is facing a crisis of displacement we have not seen since World War II. Addressing the causes of historically high migration and finding other solutions, not inciting fear for political gain, needs to be leaders’ focus.

It has been almost 40 years since Congress passed significant immigration reforms, and still Congress stalls. Rather than provide legal immigration pathways that help meet our workforce and demographic needs, we get razor wire and other deterrence-only measures that do not work.

“[N]o matter how many coils are strung out, one atop another, with more in reserve, the result is always the same,” Getty photographer John Moore said recently. “People get through. They’ve come too far. They always get through, no exceptions.”

Instead of political theater, we need solutions. According to recent polling , Americans want bipartisan cooperation and immigration solutions.

The Evangelical Immigration Table and Lifeway recently published their survey results , 78% of Evangelicals said they would support changes to immigration laws that would both increase border security and establish a process for those who are currently in the U.S. undocumented to earn legal status.

Most evangelicals, like myself, believe we have a moral responsibility to accept refugees and those fleeing persecution. It is time for Congress to pass immigration reforms that address the current challenges on border security and immigration.

Here in Ohio and elsewhere, Americans are already leaning in on solutions and welcome. Congress should too.

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