A pathway to citizenship could be what leads Trump — and America — to victory in 2025
The coalition of Trump Republicans and tech bros that delivered Donald Trump back to the White House is showing cracks. The former is expecting mass deportations, and the latter want to protect legal immigration. What Trump does once back in office could define his legacy.
Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump have a lot in common. They are both bold leaders, celebrity politicians and right-wing outsiders who challenged the status quo. They both understood what the American people care about. (“It’s the economy, stupid.”) In their first terms, they both passed significant tax cuts. Now, Trump, like Reagan, can be bold and pass immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship.
In 1986, Ronald Reagan signed into law the Immigration Reform and Control Act, which beefed up border security while granting a pathway to citizenship for nearly 2.7 million immigrants. The result was a 3 to 5 percent reduction in crime, increased labor earnings and productivity, higher tax revenues, a boost to consumer spending and entrepreneurship growth. Most importantly, there was a renewed sense of opportunity in America to return to that “shining city upon a hill.”
Congress has failed to legislate on immigration over the last three decades. Americans are tired of the stagflation and inaction. Trump should work with Congress to bring America’s immigration system into the tech age while adhering to the balance of authority between the state and federal governments that united our republic.
The immigration system should be designed to meet America’s national interests, state interests and the interests of the American people. A layered approach is needed that includes the authority of the individual states, allowing them to manage their immigration requests and criteria for accepting applicants to match local needs.
Immigration reform should provide a clear and structured pathway to citizenship for individuals already residing in the U.S. To qualify, such “Pathway Immigrants” should meet several criteria, including securing a job offer, paying administrative fees, passing a citizenship test and an extensive background check, and demonstrating proficiency in English. This ensures that applicants are prepared to integrate into the workforce and contribute to the economy.
This approach is designed to address labor market needs, distinguishing between low-skilled and high-skilled workers. For example, one state might request 25,000 low-skilled and 17,500 high-skilled workers annually, adhering to basic federal criteria, while another might permit 35,000 low-skilled workers and 5,500 high-skilled workers with additional state-specific requirements.
Prospective immigrants would apply through an online portal, which connects them to job postings by state and local businesses for a minimal fee established by local authorities to cover administrative costs. Applicants would select a job from the portal and commit to it before entering the country.
Pathway Immigrants would be required to live in the state that sponsors their entry for at least three years and retain their approved job until their citizenship process is complete. After this period, they would be free to move to other states if they desire. This residency requirement encourages economic stability and discourages over-concentration in specific regions.
In addition to a simpler and fairer application process, reform should fund increases in border security and create a task force to partner with local communities and authorities to deport illegal immigrants who fail to apply or do not meet the criteria.
Allowing millions to, as Reagan said, “come out of the shadows” and participate in the formal economy will spur growth and create new jobs. It will also increase tax revenue by an estimated $40.2 billion annually, potentially generating “$1.5 trillion towards the nation’s GDP over 10 years.”
Passing a successful reform deal means cobbling together different factions and showing them it’s in the American people’s interest to pass legislation. Here, the new tech establishment gets a more straightforward and continued investment in legal immigration. The populist base gets increased border security and funding for removing illegal residents who don’t meet the requirements for citizenship. Progressives get to deliver citizenship and rights to millions harbored in sanctuary cities.
American citizens get additional partners to grow their small businesses and communities and pay down the national debt.
Americans want an immigration policy that allows good, hard-working people in and keeps bad people with nefarious intentions out. Simpler but more focused and updated immigration reforms will create a stronger and more competitive labor market. They will also expand the tax base and spur economic opportunity, setting the stage for reducing the deficit in the future.
Although Trump and Reagan have a lot in common, they differ dramatically in public persona. Reagan projected optimism and professionalism, whereas Trump is brash and combative. They may take different routes to leadership, but they both seek rational solutions for the American working class.
Trump’s first term embodied the dysfunction of the ’60s and ’70s. He slipped into the trap of dirty tricks and madman behavior that tripped up Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon. So, while DOGE is working with Congress to cut wasteful spending and remove red tape, Trump could take a more statesman-like approach and embrace Reaganesque reforms that renew optimism in the economy and the American people.
Jeff Mayhugh is the founding editor of Politics and Parenting and vice president at No Cap Fund.