In an effort to present a contrast with Joe Biden, Republicans insist upon elevating immigration as a top tier 2024 campaign issue. My issue with this is they lie, dissemble, and obstruct.

Are there are many “contacts” at the border. Yes. Is there a problem with illegal importation of the narcotic fentanyl? Yes. Are there 15 million undocumented persons inside the U.S. border right now? Probably yes. Why don’t politicians do something about this? Republicans decided that instead of legislating our country out of a potential problem, they would rather use immigration as one of three key issues to cudgel Joe Biden as president. (The other two are right to choose, and the economy).

On the April 5 edition of Iowa Press, Jeff Kaufmann was asked about abortion suppressing Republican voter turnout: “You know, I think it remains to be seen when you’ve got this overwhelming interest and these overwhelming numbers in terms of people’s disappointment on the border and with the economy. What is the bandwidth in terms — can you have three major issues? Can you have four? Is immigration going to overwhelm the issues debate? We’re ready for that debate.”

I don’t know anyone among my neighbors and friends for whom immigration is a significant issue. For Iowa Republicans, immigration is a top three issue.

Kaufmann explained the electoral calculus to Brianne Pfannenstiel of the Des Moines Register.

And quite frankly, Brianne, I’d like to say it’s all rallying around Donald Trump, but there’s also an element there too of if you have a choice between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, even people that are not necessarily thrilled about the personality of Donald Trump, they’re going to vote for Donald Trump.

When the founders wrote the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, immigrants were on their collective mind. Many of the founders were immigrants themselves, and no one asked native populations whether white immigrants from Europe were legal or could take the land and physically remove them. When the British began importation of slaves to North America in 1619, few people considered this human chattel to be immigrants, let alone have standing with the government. In short, white colonists began protecting their stolen and domineering rights with the 1790 Naturalization Act, which required two years of residence in the country, “good moral character,” and that an applicant must be a “free white person.” The bias toward white naturalization continued until 1965 when Lyndon Johnson opened the country’s doors to immigration from other parts of the world.

Current immigration policy, Iowa-style, is a reaction to liberal policies dating back to LBJ.

Anyone paying attention can see what’s going on:

• The governor sends Iowa National Guard Troops to Texas to help with border patrol.
• Iowa members of Congress voted to impeach Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.
• Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst signed a petition to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to bring the impeachment to an immediate trial.
• Senate Majority Leader immediately takes a vote and dismisses both articles of impeachment. The votes were 51-48 and 51-49, both along party lines.
• Characterization of fentanyl addiction as a killer (by Miller-Meeks, et. al) when Iowa has one of the lowest drug overdose mortality rates in the nation.
• Wanton use of the phrase “every state is a border state” when nothing could be further from the truth. If Iowa was a border state, there would be no reason to send troops to Texas.

I don’t expect everyone to agree with me. All the same, there are more important issues at stake in this election. The only way to overcome Republican hyperbole about the border is to elect Democrats.

Here is a link to the Iowa Democratic Party to get involved today.