Subject: Re: The immigration debate is over'
The Republican plan (H.R. 2) would build a wall and make it more difficult for unauthorized immigrants to find work.

Biden's plan is to address the root causes of migration, and also expand legal pathways while increasing consequences for illegal pathways.

U.S. sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela are forcing many to leave their countries. Global Warming and the long term effects of the 1980's Central America wars are also forcing many to migrate.

In January 2022 there were 11.4 million illegal immigrants in the U.S., lower than the peak of 12.2 million in 2007. Almost 1 in 5 workers last year were born outside the U.S. (including legally admitted immigrants, refugees, students, temporary workers, and undocumented immigrants). Immigrants today account for 14% of the U.S. population, nearly triple the share (5%) in 1970. However, today's immigrant share remains below the record 15% share in 1890.

But the U.S. Immigration Court backlog has grown from 0.4 million in 2015, to 1.1 million in 2019, to 2.1 million in 2023. And there are reports of 10,000 migrants a day heading to the US border.