Our Election series: What They Say And What We Think
Now a month away from election day, the country has reached a point where the political landscape feels like it’s been boiled down to a stark, almost oversimplified choice. But even though it seems like a straightforward decision between two extremes, the reality is messier and more complex than most people have time to really dig into. At the heart of these debates is the immigration issue.
Candidate Policies/Goals:
On one side, is Former President Donald Trump. His plan—no surprises here—is all about reinforcing borders, in every sense of the word. The border wall, which by now has become a symbol as much as a structure, represents something larger: a clear divide between what’s inside and what’s outside, between “us” and “them.” Trump’s policies go beyond just “the wall.” The “Migrant Protection Protocols” keep asylum seekers outside the U.S. while they wait, sometimes for years, in places that are often just as dangerous as where they came from. And the mass deportation of “illegal aliens” is central to his view of how a nation is secured—clear lines, clear consequences.
“The reason we have so many immigrants is because we’ve gotten more compassionate,” said Kaden Carson, a freshman criminology major and registered Republican.
Vice President Kamala Harris is pitching something different. Her immigration plan isn’t about walls or enforcement—it’s about reform, about making the system work for the people who are already here. Harris talks about creating legal pathways to citizenship, particularly for dreamers and essential workers. She wants to reunite families that were separated at the border and tackle the root causes of migration in Central America. But her proposals are more complicated, less about instant fixes and more about long-term solutions.
“Reuniting families is nice, but I don’t know enough about her plans,” said Sophie Smith, a freshman social work major, unsure how effective Harris’ aims will be.
Within the two candidates and parties, are two opposing visions for the country, and the decision will come down to what kind of future people believe in creating for the citizens that live inside the country’s borders.
More opinions, including what Milligan professors think about climate change and other relevant election topics, will be discussed at the Deeper Connections Election Edition panel event.
written by Chris Cox