Staff Reports
Rep. Chip Roy from Texas has stepped into the spotlight, calling on President-elect Donald Trump to unleash the brakes on both legal and illegal immigration. The congressman highlighted the rather alarming reality that it’s primarily foreign-born workers snagging the majority of new jobs, while American citizens are left in the dust. Roy insists that freezing immigration will give struggling Americans a fighting chance at re-entering the workforce. It’s a bold move from a man who sees America’s labor market as a game where foreign workers are currently winning.
During a recent conference, Roy laid out a clear agenda—stop the influx of legal immigrants and get serious about kicking out those here illegally. He argued that the top priority should be securing the border before engaging in any debates about the workforce. This seems to be a refreshing call for some good old-fashioned law and order in response to what many view as a runaway immigration system. The congressman emphasized that before anyone even thinks about granting entry to another 3 million legal immigrants, it is essential to figure out a plan that puts American workers first.
Armed with compelling statistics, Roy painted a vivid picture of the current immigration landscape. He pointed out that the immigrant population in the U.S. has reached historic heights, with over 51 million foreign-born individuals now calling America home—making up around 16% of the population. This influx harks back to the early 1900s when the government had to hit the brakes on immigration for nearly 40 years after things got out of control. Apparently, history has a way of repeating itself, and those with short memories are still busy foot-racing toward another immigration overhaul.
‘Freeze’ on immigration urged to put Americans back to work https://t.co/U2hFfPbYCy
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) January 15, 2025
Interestingly, the argument that businesses need foreign tech workers fell flat for Roy. With droves of American graduates in STEM fields, it raises the question of why they’re not filling these positions. Instead, it appears companies are increasingly opting for cheaper foreign labor, all while American workers are incentivized to stay home. Roy pointed out that this scheme has corporate interests benefiting at the expense of homegrown talent, who find themselves in an odd limbo where degrees don’t lead to jobs and employment opportunities are handed over to cheaper alternatives.
Despite years of discussions around immigration reform, Roy expressed skepticism about Washington’s sincerity. The incessant advocacy for a revised immigration system seems to be more noise than action, as big businesses continue to cash in on cheaper labor. He humorously noted the irony in Republican campaigns, which often promise to secure the border while familiarity breeds complacency. Many in the GOP have been talking the talk for years but seem to lack the courage to walk the walk. If anyone’s keeping track, Roy believes it’s high time to shift gears and focus on American workers instead of pandering to corporate demands.
