Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportations has resurfaced as a key campaign issue, stirring anxiety over the future of immigration policy in the United States. The proposed mass deportations, which could cost the U.S. upwards of $300 billion, threaten to destabilize industries, increase grocery prices, and disrupt countless families. Yet, despite these potential repercussions, the plan resonates with a significant portion of the electorate, including many Latinos who stand to be directly affected by such policies. Trump’s appeal lies in a widely held, yet flawed, belief about immigration: the idea that there exists a “perfect immigrant,” someone who follows all the rules and thus deserves to stay. But this concept is nearly impossible to achieve, given the deeply flawed and cumbersome immigration system that many immigrants are forced to navigate.
The “Perfect Immigrant” Myth: A Frustrating Oversimplification
One of the most persistent misconceptions about U.S. immigration is the idea that immigrants should simply “come back the right way.” This notion assumes that everyone can comply with the existing immigration laws if they just follow the proper procedures. According to this logic, anyone seeking residency, citizenship, or asylum in the U.S. should be able to enter legally and without issue if they follow the legal route. This is what many call the “perfect immigrant.”
However, the reality of the current system is far more complex. As a Mexican American raised near the U.S.-Mexico border, I have witnessed firsthand the obstacles that immigrants face—obstacles that even well-intentioned people often fail to recognize. The immigration process is not as straightforward as many believe. In fact, the system is so broken that achieving perfection under its constraints is nearly impossible.
Backlog and Bureaucratic Bottleneck
The most glaring issue with the U.S. immigration system is its staggering backlog. As of the end of fiscal year 2023, the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review reported a backlog of 2.46 million cases. This delay often causes applicants to wait years—sometimes decades—for their cases to be heard. This massive backlog has real-world consequences for families and individuals seeking legal immigration pathways.
Alana McMains, a San Diego-based immigration attorney, explained the intricacies of the process. She guided me through the Visa Bulletin, a critical tool that indicates which visas are being reviewed based on the applicant’s country of origin and the date they applied. The Visa Bulletin reveals the stark truth: for many applicants, the wait can stretch on for decades.
For example, those applying for family-sponsored visas under the F1 category—unmarried sons or daughters of U.S. citizens—are facing wait times that can exceed 20 years. As of the December 2024 Visa Bulletin, applicants from Mexico who filed for this visa on or before November 22, 2004, are only now being reviewed. Despite having done everything “the right way,” they face an uncertain and drawn-out journey to citizenship.
The Cost of Perfection: Delays, Legal Fees, and Desperation
While the Visa Bulletin outlines the technicalities of visa applications, it also highlights the crushing reality that many immigrants face: waiting is expensive, and sometimes the only option is to break the law in order to survive. The long waiting periods often leave immigrants in a precarious situation, especially if they are trying to support families. This pressure leads some to commit acts of fraud or deception in an attempt to speed up their immigration process.
Marriage fraud and the purchase of fake documents are common ways that immigrants try to expedite their applications. While this behavior is certainly illegal, it’s understandable when the legal process is so prohibitively slow and expensive. People who follow the law, who file all the correct paperwork, and who never violate immigration policies, still find themselves stuck in a decades-long limbo. For many, desperation leads to risky decisions.
Moreover, the financial burden of the immigration process adds another layer of difficulty. Filing fees for immigration forms can range from $520 to $1,440, depending on the type of visa or form. Given the complexity of the system, immigrants often need to file multiple forms at different stages, sometimes for the same issue, like renewing work authorization. The constant cycle of paperwork, combined with the high costs, can be overwhelming for individuals, particularly those who face financial hardships. A lapse in filing due to financial strain can be seen as a violation, leading to the accrual of unlawful presence, further complicating an already difficult situation.
The Role of Legal Representation: Access to Justice
The need for legal representation in the immigration process cannot be overstated. Immigration law is incredibly complex, and the consequences of a mistake can be severe. A 2015 study showed that immigrants with legal representation were significantly more likely to be granted legal status and avoid deportation. However, legal representation comes at a high cost, and for many immigrants, it remains an unaffordable luxury.
Some immigrants attempt to navigate the system without legal help, hoping to save money. Unfortunately, this often leads to costly errors. In the worst cases, individuals may fall victim to unscrupulous immigration lawyers or fraudulent firms that prey on their desperation. While some immigration lawyers provide invaluable assistance, the field is rife with scammers who exploit vulnerable clients.
Systemic Dysfunction: Why Immigration Reform Has Failed
The U.S. immigration system is in desperate need of reform, yet bipartisan efforts to overhaul the system have consistently failed. In the past, policies such as the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 and the Refugee Act of 1980 were considered practical and compassionate. Today, however, similar reforms are viewed as radical, particularly by those in power who prioritize enforcement over humanity.
As Theresa Cardinal Brown, senior adviser for immigration and border policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, explained, even lawmakers themselves often struggle to understand the immigration system. “You don’t necessarily know how to get to the outcome you’re trying to get to in a way that’s workable,” Brown told NPR earlier this year. This lack of understanding is one of the primary reasons why immigration reform has stalled at the federal level.
With no comprehensive immigration reform in sight, the system remains a convoluted mess that harms immigrants and undermines their opportunities for legal entry into the U.S.
The Economic Contributions of Immigrants: A Double Standard
Despite the challenges, immigrants—both documented and undocumented—continue to contribute significantly to the U.S. economy. In 2022, undocumented households paid $35.1 billion in taxes. Immigrants fill essential jobs, from agriculture to construction to healthcare, and contribute to the nation’s economic growth. Yet, at the same time, there is a growing sentiment in some circles that immigrants are a burden on society.
Ironically, the U.S. has often turned a blind eye to the exploitation of undocumented workers, particularly by corporate interests eager to capitalize on cheap labor. While these corporations profit from immigrant labor, the same individuals who keep the economy running are vilified by those who claim they are “breaking the law.”
Trump’s “Perfect Immigrant” and the Real Consequences
Trump’s rhetoric promises a U.S. that will only accept “perfect immigrants”—those who follow the rules and jump through the necessary hoops to gain legal entry. But the reality is that the system itself is so broken that the idea of a “perfect immigrant” is more of a myth than a possibility. Immigrants who comply with the law and follow every rule may still find themselves stuck in a never-ending wait, unable to join their families or secure legal status.
In this context, Trump’s promise to punish those who “break the law” ignores the deeper systemic flaws that prevent many immigrants from achieving legal status. The solution to the country’s immigration crisis is not to deport those who are trapped in a broken system but to fix the system itself. Until then, the notion of the “perfect immigrant” remains an unattainable ideal in a country that offers no clear path to perfection.
Conclusion: The Human Cost of a Broken System
The immigration system in the U.S. is flawed, inefficient, and unjust. It imposes undue burdens on those seeking a better life and drives many to break the very laws that they are trying to follow. Trump’s vision of deporting all who have “broken the law” overlooks the complexities of the immigration system and the human toll it takes on families. Rather than demonizing immigrants, the U.S. must acknowledge the realities of its immigration process and work toward meaningful reform. Until then, the myth of the “perfect immigrant” will continue to harm those who only seek a chance to live and contribute to this country legally.
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