ATLANTA - A third of a million people crossed the U.S.-Mexico border last month seeking asylum. Presidential hopeful Chase Oliver will see the impact firsthand when he visits Nogales, Arizona Friday.
“The crisis at our borders is a humanitarian crisis caused by government failure,” says Oliver, 38, Rolling Stone’s “Most Influential Libertarian” and Libertarian presidential hopeful. “The continuing criminalization of illegal entry - which is a misdemeanor by law - has caused a logjam at entry points and created a tragic, dangerous black market for human smugglers.”
An estimated 2.5 million immigrants crossed the U.S.-Mexican border in 2023, with a potential record-breaking 300,000 in December.
”We need to support Ellis Island-style immigration. In fact, 40 percent of Americans can trace their ancestry to this room in Ellis Island,” Oliver says, his voice echoing just above the sound of footsteps that bounce off the hard surfaces of a room where millions of footsteps once passed.
“If you want to come here, and work and put down your roots and start your American Dream, that’s all we should be asking of you. We should be allowing more and more peaceful people to come here and start their journey toward their American Dream, just like our ancestors did.”
Studies show that fear of immigrants is misplaced: Immigrants commit fewer crimes than native-borns, including studies in Texas showing that undocumented immigrants are far less apt to commit violent, property, or drug crimes.
Federal laws limit access to welfare. Federal law restricts how much welfare immigrants can receive, and they receive 30 percent less federal and state aid than native-born Americans. They join the workforce, boosting productivity - and ironically, native-born wages - and they spend more than native-borns.
“We need to get back to supporting and loving our immigrant neighbors,” Oliver says.
CHASE OLIVER VISITS BORDER WITH SHERIFF HATHAWAY
JANUARY 12TH, 3:45PM MDT
Nogales Tactical
16 N Morley Ave,
Nogales, AZ 85621
In 2023, Chase Oliver:
Broke barriers for the Libertarian Party when he became the first presidential candidate outside of the Old Parties invited to speak at the Iowa Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair.
Raised the most funds from donors among all Libertarian candidates for president;
Has the largest network of donors and volunteers from across the nation;
Traveled more miles and to more states - 44, with many repeat visits - than any of his competitors;
Helped fund-raise thousands of dollars and knocked on hundreds of doors to help local candidates;
Gained media attention for activism, including opposing Cop City in his hometown of Atlanta and protests to support charities providing poverty relief in Columbia, S.C.
Chase Oliver starts 2024 as the only Libertarian candidate invited to debate Republican, Democrat, and independent candidates at the Government Information Forum as part of the lead-up to the nation’s first primary in New Hampshire.
Oliver’s national attention grew after his debate with incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock and an empty podium set aside for opponent Herschel Walker. Oliver - Georgia’s first openly gay candidate for Senate - garnered over 80,000 votes and forced a runoff between the Republican and Democratic candidates.
Broadcast coverage includes PBS, CNN, Fox Business, and CSPAN. Print coverage includes The New York Times, The Washington Post, Bloomberg, and Rolling Stone, which labels him the “Most Influential Libertarian.”
Oliver is available for media interviews, including for university journalism and communications students.
To learn more about Chase Oliver, visit votechaseoliver.com.
SOURCES:
Abramitzky, R., Bouston, L. P., Jácome, E., Pérez, S., & Torres, D. J. (2023). Law-Abiding Immigrants: The Incarceration Gap between Immigrants and the Us-Born, 1850–2020. Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research.
Light, Michael, T., He, J., & Robey, J. P. (2020). Comparing Crime Rates between Undocumented Immigrants, Legal Immigrants, and Native-Born Us Citizens in Texas. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(51), 32340-32347.
Orrenius, P. (2016). Benefits of Immigration Outweigh the Costs. The Catalyst: A Journal of Ideas from the Bush Institute, Spring(02).
Sherman, A., Trisi, D., Stone, C., Gonzales, S., & Parrott, S. (2019). Immigrants Contribute Greatly to U.S. Economy, Despite Administration’s “Public Charge” Rule Rationale. Washington, D.C.: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.