Here is my five-minute opening statement, as prepared:
Chairman Graham, Ranking Member Merkley, and distinguished members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify.
For half a century, the Cato Institute’s research has shown that people—whatever their ancestry, background, or birthplace—can thrive in a free society. Immigrants come to work for us and with us to make our lives bett...
The strongest version of this narrative is a principled defense of immigration as a net positive for American society, backed by economic data and constitutional arguments. It effectively highlights the contradictions in current enforcement policies—where DHS targets low-level offenders and even crime victims while failing to focus on genuine public safety threats. The testimony also makes a compelling case for federalism, arguing that Congress cannot compel local law enforcement to enforce fede...