ATLANTA – While Joe Biden’s sometimes contradictory immigration stances seem more about political expediency than well-thought-out policies, Libertarian Chase Oliver has consistently called for an Ellis Island-style system.
“There are few better examples of bad government than the current overly complex laws and regulations involving immigration,” says Oliver, 38, the Libertarian candidate for President.
Oliver will defend his immigration stances on the ZeroHedge Debate on Wednesday, June 26, from 7-8 p.m. EST. Oliver will pair with Robby Soave (Reason, The Hill) for the pro-immigration viewpoint, while Jack Posobiec and Ryan Gidursky will argue against it; Ryan Grim (The Intercept) will moderate.
Our cruel immigration system can be counted on for one thing: Every four years – for longer than Oliver has been alive – presidential candidates have called for urgent immigration reform.
Democrats run on immigration reform by appealing to your empathy, while Republicans run on immigration reform by appealing to your fear and sense of self-preservation. Regardless of who’s singing, the song remains the same. The new verse is a mash-up, with the Biden administration singing both parts of a discordant duet.
On June 4, the Biden Administration again got tough on borders, much to the continued chagrin of his progressive base. Then Tuesday, June 18 – two weeks later – he’s throwing them a bone. Biden is promising that maybe undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens can someday gain a green card, and then, eventually, citizenship without having to first leave the country and suffer an up to 10-year waiting period akin to a moratorium.The process, essentially an eight-year path to citizenship, is called “parole in place.”
It’s the same terminology used for a convicted criminal who is released early from their adjudicated sentence, kept under the watchful eye of the government, lest they re-offend. It’s a fair trade-off for early release from prison, but a slap in the face to those who aren’t convicted criminals.
“Most Americans are shocked to learn that families have not had legal protections up until now,” says Mike ter Maat, Oliver’s running mate.
“What has become of our immigration policy when a common decency – preserving the sanctity of some qualifying American families – is a major news event? That any person should face separation from their American spouse by deportation is un-American.”
Any remediation of harm caused by our broken immigration system is a step in the right direction. But in no world should we feel satisfied. Certain changes to policy must still get past legal challenges that will likely be coming from Republican-led states, ultimately ending up in front of the Supreme Court.
Oliver says it’s time for a change. It shouldn’t take eight years. It shouldn’t take eight months. We should not treat those who positively contribute to our society as common criminals.
“It should be simple for those who wish to come here to work and build a better life to appear before immigration officials at an accredited port of entry, be given medical and criminal checks to assess their safety, and receive a visa allowing them to immediately find employment. This is a process that should take, at most, days – not months or years.”
Oliver became the first Libertarian presidential candidate to campaign in all 50 states, and is the only candidate in the 2024 field to do so.
Oliver and ter Maat were nominated as the presidential ticket at the Libertarian National Convention on Memorial Day weekend.
Learn more at www.votechaseoliver.com
Philip Chiles, Sheri Conover Sharlow & Casey Crowe contributed to this release