Opinion

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Midterms may prompt congressional Republicans to act on immigration

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by Reid Ribble, opinion contributor - 05/13/26 12:30 PM ET

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by Reid Ribble, opinion contributor - 05/13/26 12:30 PM ET

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FILE – Law officials spread out through an apartment complex during a raid, Feb. 5, 2025, in east Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

During my three terms in Congress as a Republican representative from Wisconsin, there were a few fleeting moments when it seemed that the Congress might finally reform our dysfunctional immigration system. The economic and moral arguments for reform were clear and, to me, persuasive. But if biblical principles or the chance to rein in inflation aren’t reason enough for Republicans to finally pass immigration reform, the blinking red warning of a potential Democratic wave in November’s midterm elections should be.

That a Democratic-backed state supreme court candidate won last month in traditionally purple Wisconsin was not shocking — but the margin of victory is. Progressive candidate Chris Taylor won the majority of the votes in five of six Republican-held congressional districts in Wisconsin. In the 8th District that I once represented, which President Trump won by 16 points in 2024, Taylor won by 7 percent.

A lot could change in the six months before midterm congressional elections, but signs indicate that voters are not satisfied with the status quo. We must grapple with the economic issues and conservative faith-motivated voters’ dissatisfaction that have been caused by elements of the administration’s approach to immigration.

Before and after my career in Congress, I worked in the roofing industry. The reality is that the labor shortages plaguing the construction industry — made up by 30 percent immigrant workers — are fueling increased housing costs. The same is true in agriculture; 70 percent of workers in Wisconsin’s dairy industry are undocumented immigrants. Healthcare costs go up when hospitals cannot find workers.

More than a million lawfully present immigrants have lost work authorization since Trump’s inauguration, and other workers are detained or deported, driving up costs for consumers. Just in the first seven months of last year, the number of immigrant workers in the U.S. economy declined by 1.2 million, and that decline has continued.

Trump deserves credit for dramatic improvements to border security, which most evangelical Christians see as a priority. But he is losing some by separating families through an indiscriminate push to detain and deport immigrants who do not pose a public safety threat. Despite the “worst of the worst” rhetoric, Department of Homeland Security data shows that fewer than 30 percent of immigrants detained as of last month have been convicted of a crime, and a much smaller share, just 5 percent as of last fall have been convicted of a violent crime.

Most detained immigrants are not criminals. The vast majority — 80 percent — are Christians of one tradition or another. Further, 90 percent of evangelical Christians tell Lifeway Research that policy solutions should protect the unity of the immediate family. A new report from World Relief and the National Association of Evangelicals projects that 1.3 million U.S. citizen minor children and spouses will face separation from family if the administration continues its mass deportation and visa ban policies. For Christians focused on the family, that’s concerning.

Christian concern with immigration enforcement peaked in January next door in Minnesota. U.S. citizens, including one who grew up in the congressional district I represented, were killed by immigration officers. Lawfully present refugees — including Christians who had fled persecution — were taken from their homes and detained in Texas. Still, the resettlement of Christian refugees persecuted for their faith, who are a priority for 84 percent of Protestant pastors, remains completely shut down.

There are Republican members of Congress forging bipartisan consensus around real immigration solutions, such as Rep. Maria Salazar’s (R-Fla.) Dignity Act, which would improve border security, facilitate legal immigration, deport those convicted of violent offenses and establish a legalization process for other immigrants willing to make amends for their violation of an immigration law.

The National Association of Evangelicals and other faith groups have praised the effort, as have business groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Roofing Contractors Association and the National Association of Manufacturers.

To call this approach “amnesty” is absurd. Far from ignoring and forgiving a violation of law, the bill would enable immigrants who came prior to 20