America cannot continue to rely on a broken immigration system that neither secures our borders nor supports the workforce that drives our economy. Across the country, and especially here in the Central Valley, we are feeling the effects of federal inaction and misguided enforcement. Farmers can’t find workers. Industries are short-staffed. Families are living in fear. And the nation continues to pour billions into a system that fails to deliver security or opportunity. It’s time for a real solution.

Luis Chavez
Opinion

As a county supervisor and the son of an immigrant farm worker, I know firsthand that immigration is not just a policy issue, it’s personal. It’s about families, jobs, and the future of our economy for all of us. We don’t need more finger-pointing in Washington, or immigrants being used as pawns in political games. We need real solutions that help our communities. That starts with comprehensive immigration reform that addresses our broken system and provides a pragmatic, humane path forward for the country, a path that affirms why we are the beacon of freedom and the largest economy in the world.

The Building Blocks of Smart Reform

Five key components to consider:

1. A path for earned citizenship
2. A guest worker process for in-demand industries
3. Dreamers given priority and a fast track for earned permanent citizenship
4. A secure border to ensure violent criminals, terrorists, and cartel members can’t enter our country
5. Clear criteria for refugees seeking asylum and eligibility points

This framework respects the rule of law while acknowledging the economic realities we face. Today, it costs American taxpayers roughly $17,000 to arrest, process, transport, and deport one undocumented individual. Multiply that by millions, and we’re spending billions without solving the problem.

Now imagine a different approach. If the estimated 20 million undocumented individuals in this country were given a legal avenue to come forward, pay a $5,000 fine and an application fee, we could generate up to $100 billion in revenue. That money could support schools, infrastructure, and public safety, and help avoid cuts to Medicare.

Here in Fresno County, we see this issue up close. Our agricultural economy depends on a reliable workforce, yet our farmers struggle to find labor due to the uncertainty surrounding immigration. Nationally, industries like construction, hospitality, and elder care face similar shortages. We need a guest worker process that’s modern, streamlined, and responsive to actual labor demands, not one stuck in the past. My iPhone uses better technology than the current immigration system. We are better than this.

Dreamers, young people who know no other country but this one, deserve a fast track to earned citizenship. Many of them are students, professionals, business owners, and essential workers here in the Central Valley. We can’t leave them in limbo any longer.

A Secure Border While Remaining a Beacon of Freedom

And yes, we must maintain a secure and orderly border process. But that doesn’t mean turning our backs on people fleeing war, violence, or persecution. We need a clear, lawful process for seeking asylum, guided by humane standards, accountability, and strong background checks to ensure public safety.

Though the U.S. immigration system remains broken, immigrants are crucial to growing the labor force and supporting economic output. Immigrants have helped expand the labor supply, pay nearly $580 billion a year in taxes, and possess a spending power of $1.6 trillion. Congress must reform and modernize the immigration system while also cementing the immense economic benefits associated with immigration.

Random immigration raids don’t keep us safe. Targeted enforcement focused on violent criminals does. Repurposing federal agents from the DEA, ATF, and FBI leaves us vulnerable to terrorist attacks and drug trafficking cartels. At the rate of conducting random raids, the Department of Homeland Security will run out of money by next month and face a $1 billion deficit. We can be smarter and more effective if we set aside politics and focus on solutions. Simply put, it is both inefficient and ineffective.

Immigration reform should not be a partisan talking point. It should be a sound economic strategy and a reflection of our moral values. There are wonderful people from all parties right here in the Central Valley and across this country. I know this because I know them, farmers and farm workers, hotel owners and hotel workers, those on the right and on the left. If we get this right, we won’t just improve our immigration system; we’ll also reaffirm what it means to be American.

Congress must act. Real lives are on the line. We can’t afford to delay. We need solutions.

About the Author

Luis Chavez serves as the Fresno County Supervisor for District 3. He is the son of immigrant farm workers and a longtime advocate for working families and education reform.