The U.S. Constitution clearly delegates immigration policy to the federal government, giving Congress the power to “establish a uniform rule of naturalization.” State governments, however, have a responsibility to protect the health and safety of their citizens. What can/should states do when federal immigration policy doesn’t seem to be working?
According to U.S. Customs, there have been more than 1.5 million illegal crossings of the southern U.S. border in just the first five months of 2022 – nearing the total for all of 2021. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has launched Operation Lone Star, a tremendous expenditure of state government resources to try to bring illegal immigration under some control.
What right or responsibility should states have in a situation like this?
Write our usual 2 – 5 page essay on the Texas border crisis, focusing on what rights or duties Texas should have in a situation like this under our federalist system of shared powers and responsibilities between the federal government and the states.
