We just celebrated the 50th Earth Day. It came and went with minimal fanfare as the planet's inhabitants are concerned with more immediate matters. Still, let's take the time to reflect on why there is an Earth Day in the first place.
America is facing a crisis that will test our resiliency. It's important to ignore much of the noise coming from D.C., as partisans try to figure out how they will pin blame on their opponents. It is crucial that we do pay attention to what is in legislation passing through Congress to ensure this emergency isn't used as another excuse for politicians to reward their donors.
Last week, President Trump told Laura Ingraham that employers in the United States "need" more foreign workers to fill skilled jobs because there are not enough Americans available. Ingraham pushed back on this front, and the evidence is on her side.
Howard County, Maryland is growing fast, and immigration is part of the reasons why. This is leading to the overcrowding of public schools in the county, leading to a redistricting plan unpopular with many residents there.
On Wednesday night, MSNBC hosted a debate for the 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary candidates. Only one very poorly framed question related to immigration was asked the entire evening. It wasn't for lack of time, since there were no immigration questions asked in the three-hour marathon debate the previous month. It's almost as if the candidates, and the networks hosting the debates, don't want to talk about it.
In response to the surge in individuals making frivolous and fraudulent asylum claims, USCIS announced a proposed rule this week that would make it more difficult for these individuals to enter the U.S. and gain work authorization.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case challenging President Trump's decision to end DACA. Most who sat in on the session anticipate that the Justices will side with the Administration. It remains to be seen whether or not the Court will rule on the constitutionality of President Obama's executive amnesty.
The State Department last week released its ceiling of 18,000 for refugee admissions for FY2020. While refugee resettlement organizations criticized this number, down from 30,000 from the previous year, the Trump Administration showed that it is prioritizing the interests of the American people by setting a manageable limit on refugee admissions, and recognizing that it must first deal with the ongoing crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.