Immigration is Complex

To the Editor:

Mr. Hromas’ response to my letter attempts to shift the immigration debate into a binary of legal versus illegal, but this false dichotomy oversimplifies both history and policy.

First, the notion that early immigrants were “legal” by today’s standards is misleading. Prior to the late 19th century, the United States had virtually no immigration restrictions. Hromas’s great-great-grandfather likely arrived during a period when entry required little more than showing up at a port. The first major federal immigration law, the Chinese Exclusion Act, wasn’t passed until 1882. The Immigration Act of 1924 then imposed quotas based on national origin, codifying racial and ethnic bias into law. To compare that era’s open borders to today’s complex legal framework is historically inaccurate and intellectually dishonest.

Second, the claim that immigrant labor needs have “been accomplished” ignores ongoing economic dependence on immigrant workers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, immigrants (both documented and undocumented) made up nearly 19.2% of the civilian workforce in 2024 and have a participation rate of 77.3% (compared to 65.9% for native born), with high representation in agriculture, construction, healthcare, and logistics. Immigrant-owned businesses also employ millions of Americans and contribute billions in local and federal taxes annually. These are not marginal roles, they are foundational to our economy.

Third, the assertion that undocumented immigrants inherently disrespect all laws is a sweeping generalization. Many are asylum seekers or visa over-stayers, not criminals. U.S. law allows individuals to request asylum regardless of how they arrive. Meanwhile, legal pathways for low-skilled workers are severely limited. Only 5,000 employment-based green cards are issued annually for such roles, despite hundreds of thousands of applicants. The system itself is broken, not the moral character of those navigating it.

Finally, the suggestion that liberals want a “slave-labor force” is inflammatory, unserious, and intellectually dishonest. Advocates for reform are calling for legal protections, fair wages, and humane treatment, not exploitation. Might help to get outside your bubble now and again.

America’s immigration story is complex, ongoing, and foundational to our national identity. Reducing it to slogans and binaries does a disservice to the facts.

Eric Green La Grange