Republicans Weaponize Immigration, Path to Citizenship Needed

A Conversation with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

In the wake of the 2020 election, Democrats are grappling with how to address the issue of immigration, particularly the influx of undocumented immigrants at the southern border. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) believes that Republicans are to blame for the lack of progress on this issue, arguing that they have weaponized the lack of comprehensive immigration reform to their advantage.

During an interview with NPR's Steve Inskeep, Ocasio-Cortez argued that the lack of a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants creates a large population that can be easily exploited politically. She also pointed out that many undocumented immigrants did not cross the border illegally, but rather overstayed their visas.

Ocasio-Cortez believes that the best way to address the issue of illegal immigration is to make more immigration legal, such as by granting citizenship to undocumented immigrants. She also criticized Republican legislation such as the Laken Riley Act, which she believes guts due process and creates a pipeline to private prisons.

Inskeep questioned why this issue continues to be a "political loser" for Democrats, but Ocasio-Cortez believes that the lack of comprehensive immigration reform is the root of the problem. She argues that Republicans are able to exploit the large population of undocumented immigrants for political gain.

The conversation between Ocasio-Cortez and Inskeep highlights the complex and divisive nature of the immigration debate in the United States. Democrats and Republicans have fundamentally different views on how to address the issue, and it is unclear how these differences can be reconciled.