Arizona senator unveils five-point immigration, border security plan

Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego unveiled his five-point immigration and border security framework, urging his colleagues in Washington D.C. to shift tactics, especially under the current political climate where enforcement raids and expedited deportations have taken center stage.

Released early Monday, the “Securing the Border and Fueling Economic Prosperity” plan focuses on strengthening security at the southern border with Mexico, amplifying and establishing pathways toward citizenship for incoming migrants and those who have lived in the U.S. for decades and addressing root causes of major migration flows into the U.S.

“Our border and immigration systems are broken,” he said in a video shared across his social platforms, indicating that his home state of Arizona has seen this issue firsthand, but divisive politics have long prevented Congress from taking impactful action.

The plan, which is not enforceable, acts as a framework that the current administration can adopt. But it also serves as a vehicle to refocus the immigration conversation on border enforcement, comprehensive reform and probable solutions. 

It could also be signaling toward the freshman senator’s potential 2028 bid for the presidency.

Gallego made a name for himself in January — days after being sworn in as one of two senators representing Arizona and the same day President Donald Trump regained control of the White House — when he backed the Laken Riley Act, a law that allows the detainment of an undocumented person if they are charged with having committed a theft-related crime.

The congressional act set the tone for the incoming presidency, signaling a move toward conservative politics for longtime Democrats like Gallego.

At the time, Gallego defended his vote, saying “we must give law enforcement the means to take action” when undocumented individuals committed crimes.

His newly-released plan adheres to that same reasoning, focusing intently on border security with a promise to create a pathway toward citizenship for Dreamers and certain undocumented individuals — a demand that immigration rights activists, lobbyists and legislators have unsuccessfully attempted to make a reality for decades.

In addition to supporting the many iterations of the DREAM Act during his time as congressmember, Gallego introduced legislation supporting undocumented students in higher education and pushing for pathways to permanent residency for undocumented immigrants who served in the military.

“This isn’t just politics for me, it’s personal,” he said in his video statement, sharing the story of his mother who migrated to the U.S. from Colombia.

Strengthening border security while ensuring pathways to authorized stay

Before unlocking immigration reform, the plan states, the primary focus should be on securing the border regions and preventing the arrival and entrance of potential threats, which include the smuggling of fentanyl via ports of entry.

Among his suggestions to make this happen are hiring and retaining more Border Patrol agents, building strategic border barriers, streamlining and expediting migration processing and ensuring robust oversight.

Gallego also calls for a more comprehensive immigration system by ending abuse of the asylum system on behalf of immigrants attempting to cross the border, ensuring lawful immigration pathways to boost economic prosperity and securing a pathway toward citizenship for Dreamers and other undocumented individuals, like children and spouses of citizens.

Lastly, the senator makes a case for going beyond reactive enforcement to solutions by looking at the root causes of migration flows and by building partnerships with Central and South American countries in order to reduce migration patterns.