Gallego Unveils Sweeping Immigration Plan Focused on Border Security, Economic Growth
Arizona senator’s five-point proposal aims to balance enforcement with compassion, offering pathways to citizenship and boosting border resources.
Washington — Sen. Ruben Gallego on Monday unveiled a comprehensive immigration reform plan aimed at securing the southern border while modernizing the nation’s immigration system to meet labor needs and protect vulnerable communities.
Titled “Securing the Border and Fueling Economic Security,” the 22-page proposal outlines a five-pillar strategy that includes border security, asylum system reform, expanded legal immigration pathways, regularization of undocumented residents, and efforts to address the root causes of migration.
“We don’t have to choose between border security and immigration reform. We can and should do both,” said Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona and U.S. Marine veteran who sits on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
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The plan combines enforcement mechanisms with humanitarian protections and labor market adjustments. It calls for enhanced recruitment and retention incentives for Border Patrol agents, expanded surveillance technology, and additional asylum officers to reduce court backlogs and speed up credible fear determinations.
Under Gallego’s proposal, a new emergency border authority would be established to manage surges in migration, allowing for streamlined removals and limitations on asylum eligibility during high-volume periods. The asylum process would be overhauled to align with federal court standards, requiring more stringent documentation and raising evidentiary thresholds to deter fraudulent claims.
The framework also includes a pathway to citizenship for long-term undocumented residents, particularly individuals brought to the U.S. as children—often referred to as “Dreamers.” “Many of them live in the shadows,” Gallego said. “We must do right by these communities by giving them their shot at the American dream.”
Gallego’s plan emphasizes economic development through immigration. It would lift green card caps for U.S.-educated STEM graduates and streamline employment-based visa processing. Additional reforms would address the agricultural workforce, temporary labor programs, and protections for migrant workers.
The proposal also focuses on curbing human smuggling and trafficking by increasing criminal penalties and bolstering regional cooperation with Central American nations. Protections for unaccompanied children would be codified under the 2008 Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, with enhanced interagency coordination.
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While Gallego’s framework echoes some aspects of past bipartisan immigration efforts—including those spearheaded by his predecessor, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema—it distinguishes itself by uniting progressive immigration goals with stringent border enforcement in a single legislative vision.
“Americans deserve the right to feel safe and know their border is secure,” Gallego said. “But for decades, Congress has tried and failed to take action because politics got in the way. It’s time to push forward and enact a plan that works.”
Whether the proposal can gain traction in a sharply divided Congress remains to be seen. Prior efforts were stymied by partisan disagreements and political calculus in an election year. Gallego expressed hope that his plan will avoid a similar fate and offer a path forward on one of the nation’s most polarizing issues.