Legal immigration must be expanded

A recent letter writer insisted Republicans aren't anti-immigrant; they just want immigrants to come legally. This common refrain overlooks a critical truth: for many immigrants, there is no viable legal pathway to come here, even though Iowa's economy depends on their labor.

Demand for workers in agriculture, construction, health care, and hospitality far exceeds visas available. For instance, the H-2A and H-2B visa programs for seasonal workers are capped well below what employers need. Pathways for permanent residency, such as family or employment-based visas, are limited by strict quotas and long waiting periods — sometimes decades.

This mismatch creates a dilemma: businesses face critical labor shortages, while individuals willing to work for a better life have no lawful way to do so. Meanwhile, the asylum system, meant to protect those fleeing persecution, is overloaded and often misused due to a lack of other options.

Rather than blaming people for circumventing a broken system, we should reform immigration laws to create realistic and accessible pathways. Unfortunately, politicians from both parties have failed to do so. People with power benefit from having an underclass of cheap, easy-to-exploit, undocumented workers who they can scapegoat for society's problems.

If you care about legal justice, social justice, or our economy, tell our senators and federal representatives you want them to expand legal pathways for hardworking immigrants.

Marie White

Cedar Rapids