immigration persuasive essay

Apr 10, 2023

How To Write Essays About Immigration (With Examples)

Immigrants bring diverse perspectives and skills that can enrich our societies and economies. If you want to gain insight into the impact of immigration on society and culture, keep reading!

Immigration, a subject deeply woven into the fabric of global discussions, touches on political, economic, and social nuances. As globalization propels many to seek new horizons, understanding the multifaceted impacts of migration is crucial. Crafting a compelling essay on such a vast topic requires more than just research; it demands the delicate weaving of insights into a coherent narrative. For those keen on delivering a polished essay on immigration, considering assistance from a reliable essay writing tool can be a game-changer. This tool not only refines the craft of writing but ensures your perspectives on immigration are articulated with clarity and precision.

Here are our Top 5 Essay Examples and Ideas about Immigration:

The economic impact of immigration on host countries, introduction.

In many nations, immigration has been a hotly debated issue, with supporters and opponents disputing how it would affect the home nation. The economic impact of immigration on host countries is one of the essential components of this discussion. Immigration's economic effects may be favorable or harmful, depending on many circumstances.

This article will examine the economic effects of immigration on the receiving nations, examining both the advantages and disadvantages that immigration may have. You will better know how immigration impacts a nation's economy and the variables that influence it after this article.

Immigration's effects on labor markets

An essential component of the total economic impact of immigration is how it affects labor markets. Immigration may affect labor markets, including shifting labor supply and demand, opening new job possibilities, and perhaps affecting local employees' earnings and prospects. This section will examine how immigration affects labor markets in receiving nations.

The shift in the labor supply is one of immigration's most apparent effects on labor markets. When more employees are available in the host nation due to immigration, there may be more competition for open positions. In fields that serve immigrant populations, such as ethnic food shops or language schools, immigrants can also generate new jobs.

Another significant impact of immigration on labor markets is its effect on wages and income distribution. Some studies have suggested that immigration can reduce wages for native workers, particularly those who are less educated or have lower skill levels. 

Immigrants can also contribute to economic growth and innovation, which can positively impact labor markets. Immigrants often have unique skills, experiences, and perspectives that can help drive innovation and create new job opportunities in the host country. Furthermore, immigrants are often more entrepreneurial and more likely to start businesses, which can generate new jobs and contribute to economic growth.

The effect of immigration on wages and income distribution

The effect of immigration on wages and income distribution is a crucial area of concern in the overall economic impact of immigration. Immigration can affect wages and income distribution in various ways, which can have significant implications for both native workers and immigrants. In this section, we will explore the effect of immigration on wages and income distribution in host countries.

One of the primary ways that immigration can impact wages and income distribution is by changing the supply and demand of labor. With an influx of immigrants, the labor supply increases, which can lead to increased competition for jobs. Some studies suggest that immigration harms wages for native workers, while others offer no significant effect.

Another way that immigration can impact wages and income distribution is through its effect on the composition of the workforce. Immigrants often fill low-skilled jobs in industries such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality, which tend to pay lower wages. 

Immigration can also impact income distribution by contributing to the overall level of economic inequality in a host country. While immigration can lead to lower wages for some native workers, it can also lead to higher wages and increased economic mobility for some immigrants. Furthermore, immigrants may face various barriers to upward mobility, such as discrimination or lack of access to education and training. This can lead to increased income inequality between native and immigrant workers.

The contribution of immigrants to economic growth and innovation

Immigrants have historically played a significant role in driving economic growth and innovation in host countries. In this section, we will explore the contribution of immigrants to economic growth and innovation and the factors that enable them to do so.

One of the primary ways that immigrants contribute to economic growth is through their entrepreneurial activities. Immigrants are often more likely to start their businesses than native-born individuals, and these businesses can create jobs and drive economic growth. Immigrant entrepreneurs have contributed to developing industries such as technology, healthcare, and hospitality. Additionally, immigrants are often overrepresented in STEM fields, which is critical to driving innovation and economic growth.

Another way that immigrants contribute to economic growth is through their impact on the labor force. Immigrants tend to be more mobile than native-born individuals, which can lead to a more flexible and adaptable workforce. Immigrants also tend to fill critical roles in industries such as healthcare and agriculture, which are essential to maintaining the functioning of the economy. By filling these roles, immigrants contribute to the overall productivity and growth of the economy.

The costs and benefits of social welfare programs for immigrants

The issue of social welfare programs for immigrants has been a controversial topic in many host countries. In this section, we will explore the costs and benefits of social welfare programs for immigrants and the policy implications.

One of the primary benefits of social welfare programs for immigrants is that they can help reduce poverty and promote social inclusion. Immigrants often face significant barriers to economic mobility, such as language barriers and discrimination. Social welfare programs can help provide a safety net for those struggling to make ends meet and promote social cohesion by reducing inequalities.

However, social welfare programs for immigrants also come with costs. One concern is that these programs may attract immigrants primarily seeking to access social welfare benefits rather than contributing to the economy. This can strain public finances and create resentment among native-born individuals who feel their tax dollars are being used to support immigrants.

Another concern is that social welfare programs may create disincentives for immigrants to work and contribute to the economy. If the benefits of social welfare programs are too generous, some immigrants may choose to rely on them rather than seek employment. This can create long-term dependence and reduce overall economic productivity.

The impact of immigration on public finances and fiscal policies

The effect of immigration on public finances and fiscal policies is a topic of significant interest and debate. This section will explore how immigration affects public finances and how host countries can implement budgetary policies to manage the impact.

One way that immigration can impact public finances is through taxes. Immigrants who are employed and pay taxes can contribute to the tax base of the host country, which can provide additional revenue for public services and infrastructure. However, immigrants who are not employed or earn low wages may contribute fewer taxes, which can strain public finances. 

Fiscal policies can be used to manage the impact of immigration on public finances. One guideline is to increase taxes on immigrants to offset the costs of public services they use. However, this can create a disincentive for highly skilled and educated immigrants to migrate to the host country. Another policy is to increase spending on public services to accommodate the needs of immigrants. However, this can strain public finances and lead to resentment among native-born individuals who feel their tax dollars are being used to support immigrants.

In conclusion, the economic impact of immigration is a complex issue with both costs and benefits for host countries. Immigration can impact labor markets, wages and income distribution, economic growth and innovation, social welfare programs, public finances, and fiscal policies. 

The social and cultural implications of immigration

Immigration has social and cultural implications that affect both immigrants and host countries. The movement of people from one place to another can result in a blending of cultures, traditions, and ideas. At the same time, immigration can also result in social and cultural tensions as different groups struggle to integrate and adjust to new environments. 

The social and cultural implications of immigration have become increasingly important in today's globalized world as the movement of people across borders has become more common. In this article, we will explore the various social and cultural implications of immigration and how they impact immigrants and host communities.

The impact of immigration on social cohesion and integration

Immigration has a significant impact on social cohesion and integration in host countries. Social cohesion refers to the degree to which members of a society feel connected and share a sense of belonging. In contrast, integration refers to the process by which immigrants become a part of the host society. Immigration can either enhance or hinder social cohesion and integration, depending on how it is managed and perceived by the host society.

Another factor that can impact social cohesion and integration is the level of diversity within the host society. Increased diversity can lead to greater cultural exchange and understanding but also social tensions and the formation of segregated communities. Promoting social interaction and cooperation among diverse groups can help mitigate these tensions and promote social cohesion.

The perception of immigrants by the host society also plays a significant role in social cohesion and integration. Negative stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes can hinder integration and create barriers to social cohesion. On the other hand, positive attitudes towards immigrants and their contributions to society can facilitate integration and promote social cohesion.

The role of language and communication in the integration of immigrants

Language and communication play a crucial role in integrating immigrants into host societies. Immigrants may need the ability to communicate effectively with others to overcome significant barriers to social and economic integration. Language and communication skills are essential for accessing education, finding employment, and participating in civic life.

Language is one of the primary barriers immigrants face when integrating into a new society. Without proficiency in the host country's language, immigrants may struggle to understand instructions, participate in conversations, and access essential services. This can lead to social isolation and hinder economic opportunities.

Language training programs are one way to address this issue. Effective language training programs can help immigrants learn the host country's language and develop the communication skills necessary for successful integration. These programs can also give immigrants the cultural knowledge and understanding essential to navigate the host society.

The effect of immigration on cultural diversity and identity

Immigration can significantly impact the cultural diversity and identity of both host societies and immigrant communities. The cultural exchange resulting from immigration can enrich societies and provide opportunities for learning and growth. However, immigration can also pose challenges to preserving cultural identities and maintaining social cohesion.

One of the primary ways in which immigration affects cultural diversity and identity is through the introduction of new customs, traditions, and beliefs. Immigrant communities often bring unique cultural practices, such as food, music, and art, that can enhance the cultural landscape of the host society. Exposure to new cultures can broaden the perspectives of individuals and communities, leading to greater tolerance and understanding.

The challenges and benefits of multiculturalism in host countries

Multiculturalism refers to the coexistence of different cultural groups within a society. It is a concept that has become increasingly important in modern societies characterized by race, ethnicity, religion, and language diversity. 

Multiculturalism is often promoted to promote tolerance, social cohesion, and the celebration of diversity. 

Challenges of multiculturalism

Multiculturalism presents a range of challenges that can impact host societies. These challenges include social division, discrimination, language barriers, and cultural clashes. For example, when immigrants share different values or traditions than the host society, this can lead to misunderstandings and conflict. Similarly, language barriers can limit communication and make it difficult for immigrants to integrate into the host society.

Benefits of multiculturalism

Multiculturalism can also bring a range of benefits to host societies. These benefits include increased cultural awareness and sensitivity, economic growth, and exchanging ideas and perspectives. For example, cultural diversity can provide opportunities for host societies to learn from different cultural practices and approaches to problem-solving. This can lead to innovation and growth.

Social cohesion

Social cohesion refers to the ability of a society to function harmoniously despite differences in culture, ethnicity, religion, and language. Multiculturalism can pose a challenge to social cohesion, but it can also promote it. Host societies can foster social cohesion by promoting the acceptance and understanding of different cultural groups. This can be achieved through policies and programs that promote intercultural dialogue, education, and community-building.

Discrimination and prejudice

Multiculturalism can also increase the risk of discrimination and prejudice. Discrimination can take many forms, including racial, religious, and cultural bias. Host societies can combat discrimination by implementing anti-discrimination laws and policies and promoting diversity and inclusion.

Economic benefits

Multiculturalism can also bring economic benefits to host societies. The presence of a diverse range of skills and talents can lead to innovation and economic growth. Immigrants can also get various skills and experiences contributing to the host society's economic development.

In conclusion, immigration has significant social and cultural implications for both host countries and immigrants. It affects social cohesion, integration, cultural diversity, and identity. Host countries face challenges and benefits of multiculturalism, including economic growth, innovation, and social change.

The role of immigration in shaping national identity

Immigration has always been a significant driver of cultural and social change, with immigrants often bringing their unique identities, values, and traditions to their new homes. As a result, immigration can play a crucial role in shaping national identity, as it challenges existing cultural norms and values and introduces new ideas and perspectives. 

In this article, we will explore the role of immigration in shaping national identity, including its effects on cultural diversity, social cohesion, and political discourse. We will also discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by immigration to national identity and the importance of embracing a diverse and inclusive national identity in today's globalized world.

Immigration and the evolution of national identity

The relationship between immigration and national identity is complex, as immigration can challenge and reinforce existing national identities. As immigrants bring new cultural practices and values, they challenge the existing norms and values of the host society, prompting a re-evaluation of what it means to be part of that society. This can create a more inclusive and diverse national identity as different cultural traditions and practices are recognized and celebrated.

At the same time, the influx of new immigrants can also create a sense of fear and anxiety among some members of the host society, who may view the changes brought about by immigration as a threat to their cultural identity. This can lead to calls for stricter immigration policies and a more limited definition of national identity, which can exclude or marginalize certain groups.

The role of immigrants in shaping cultural diversity

Immigrants have played a significant role in shaping cultural diversity in many countries. Their arrival in a new land brings their customs, traditions, beliefs, and practices, which contribute to society's richness and vibrancy. 

One of the key ways in which immigrants have shaped cultural diversity is through their contributions to the local community. Immigrants bring a wealth of knowledge, skills, and talents that can benefit the societies they move to. For example, they may introduce new cuisines, music, art, and literature that add to the cultural landscape of their new home. This can create a more diverse and inclusive society where different cultures are celebrated and appreciated.

Another important aspect of cultural diversity is the challenges immigrants face when adapting to a new culture. Moving to a new country can be a daunting experience, especially if the culture is vastly different from one's own. Immigrants may struggle with language barriers, cultural norms, and social customs that are unfamiliar to them. This can lead to feelings of isolation and exclusion, which can negatively impact their mental health and well-being.

The challenges of maintaining social cohesion amidst diversity

Strengthening social cohesion amidst diversity is a complex challenge many societies face today. Cultural, ethnic, religious, and language diversity can lead to tensions and conflicts if managed poorly. 

One of the main challenges of maintaining social cohesion amidst diversity is the need to balance the interests of different groups. This involves recognizing and respecting the cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity of society while also promoting a sense of shared identity and common values. This can be particularly challenging in contexts with competing interests and power imbalances between different groups.

Another challenge is the need to address discrimination and prejudice. Discrimination can take many forms, including unequal access to education, employment, housing, hate speech, and violence. Prejudice and stereotypes can also lead to social exclusion and marginalization of certain groups. Addressing these issues requires a concerted effort from the government, civil society, and individuals to promote tolerance and respect for diversity.

Promoting inclusive policies is another crucial factor in maintaining social cohesion amidst diversity. This includes policies promoting equal opportunities for all, regardless of background. This can involve affirmative action programs, targeted social policies, and support for minority groups. Inclusive policies can also create a sense of belonging and ownership among different groups, which helps foster social cohesion.

In conclusion, immigration profoundly influences the formation of national identity. As individuals from various backgrounds merge into a new country, they not only introduce their distinct cultural and ethnic traits but also embark on a journey of personal growth and adaptation. This process mirrors the development of key skills such as leadership, character, and community service, essential for thriving in diverse environments. These attributes are not only vital for immigrants as they integrate into society but are also exemplified in successful National Honor Society essays , where personal growth and societal contribution are celebrated. Thus, the experiences of immigrants significantly enrich the societal tapestry, reflecting in our collective values, beliefs, and practices.

To sum it all up:

To recapitulate writing a five-paragraph essay about immigration can be challenging, but with the right approach and resources, it can be a rewarding experience. Throughout this article, we have discussed the various aspects of immigration that one can explore in such an essay, including the economic impact, social and cultural implications, and the evolution of national identity. 

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Eight brilliant student essays on immigration and unjust assumptions.

Read winning essays from our winter 2019 “Border (In)Security” student writing contest.

For the winter 2019 student writing competition, “Border (In)Security,” we invited students to read the YES! Magazine article “Two-Thirds of Americans Live in the “Constitution-Free Zone” by Lornet Turnbull and respond with an up-to-700-word essay. 

Students had a choice between two writing prompts for this contest on immigration policies at the border and in the “Constitution-free zone,” a 100-mile perimeter from land and sea borders where U.S. Border Patrol can search any vehicle, bus, or vessel without a warrant. They could state their positions on the impact of immigration policies on our country’s security and how we determine who is welcome to live here. Or they could write about a time when someone made an unfair assumption about them, just as Border Patrol agents have made warrantless searches of Greyhound passengers based simply on race and clothing.

The Winners

From the hundreds of essays written, these eight were chosen as winners. Be sure to read the author’s response to the essay winners and the literary gems that caught our eye.

Middle School Winner: Alessandra Serafini

High School Winner: Cain Trevino

High School Winner: Ethan Peter

University Winner: Daniel Fries

Powerful Voice Winner: Emma Hernandez-Sanchez

Powerful Voice Winner: Tiara Lewis

Powerful Voice Winner: Hailee Park

Powerful Voice Winner: Aminata Toure

From the Author Lornet Turnbull

Literary Gems

Middle school winner.

Alessandra Serafini

Brier Terrace Middle School, Brier, Wash.

Broken Promises

“…Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

These words were written by Emma Lazarus and are inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty. And yet, the very door they talk about is no longer available to those who need it the most. The door has been shut, chained, and guarded. It no longer shines like gold. Those seeking asylum are being turned away. Families are being split up; children are being stranded. The promise America made to those in need is broken.

Not only is the promise to asylum seekers broken, but the promises made to some 200 million people already residing within the U.S. are broken, too. Anyone within 100 miles of the United States border lives in the “Constitution-free zone” and can be searched with “reasonable suspicion,” a suspicion that is determined by Border Patrol officers. The zone encompasses major cities, such as Seattle and New York City, and it even covers entire states, such as Florida, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. I live in the Seattle area, and it is unsettling that I can be searched and interrogated without the usual warrant. In these areas, there has been an abuse of power; people have been unlawfully searched and interrogated because of assumed race or religion.

The ACLU obtained data from the Customs and Border Protection Agency that demonstrate this reprehensible profiling. The data found that “82 percent of foreign citizens stopped by agents in that state are Latino, and almost 1 in 3 of those processed are, in fact, U.S. citizens.” These warrantless searches impede the trust-building process and communication between the local population and law enforcement officers. Unfortunately, this lack of trust makes campaigns, such as Homeland Security’s “If You See Something, Say Something,” ineffective due to the actions of the department’s own members and officers. Worst of all, profiling ostracizes entire communities and makes them feel unsafe in their own country.

Ironically, asylum seekers come to America in search of safety. However, the thin veil of safety has been drawn back, and, behind it, our tarnished colors are visible. We need to welcome people in their darkest hours rather than destroy their last bit of hope by slamming the door in their faces. The immigration process is currently in shambles, and an effective process is essential for both those already in the country and those outside of it. Many asylum seekers are running from war, poverty, hunger, and death. Their countries’ instability has hijacked every aspect of their lives, made them vagabonds, and the possibility of death, a cruel and unforgiving death, is real. They see no future for their children, and they are desperate for the perceived promise of America—a promise of opportunity, freedom, and a safe future. An effective process would determine who actually needs help and then grant them passage into America. Why should everyone be turned away? My grandmother immigrated to America from Scotland in 1955. I exist because she had a chance that others are now being denied.

Emma Lazarus named Lady Liberty the “Mother of Exiles.” Why are we denying her the happiness of children? Because we cannot decide which ones? America has an inexplicable area where our constitution has been spurned and forgotten. Additionally, there is a rancorous movement to close our southern border because of a deep-rooted fear of immigrants and what they represent. For too many Americans, they represent the end of established power and white supremacy, which is their worst nightmare. In fact, immigrants do represent change—healthy change—with new ideas and new energy that will help make this country stronger. Governmental agreement on a humane security plan is critical to ensure that America reaches its full potential. We can help. We can help people in unimaginably terrifying situations, and that should be our America.

Alessandra Serafini plays on a national soccer team for Seattle United and is learning American Sign Language outside of school. Her goal is to spread awareness about issues such as climate change, poverty, and large-scale political conflict through writing and public speaking.

  High School Winner

Cain Trevino

North Side High School, Fort Worth, Texas

Xenophobia and the Constitution-Free Zone

In August of 2017, U.S. Border Patrol agents boarded a Greyhound bus that had just arrived at the White River Junction station from Boston. According to Danielle Bonadona, a Lebanon resident and a bus passenger, “They wouldn’t let us get off. They boarded the bus and told us they needed to see our IDs or papers.” Bonadona, a 29-year-old American citizen, said that the agents spent around 20 minutes on the bus and “only checked the IDs of people who had accents or were not white.” Bonadona said she was aware of the 100-mile rule, but the experience of being stopped and searched felt “pretty unconstitutional.”

In the YES! article “Two-Thirds of Americans Live in the ‘Constitution-Free Zone’” by Lornet Turnbull, the author references the ACLU’s argument that “the 100-mile zone violates Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure.” However, the Supreme Court upholds the use of immigration checkpoints for inquiries on citizenship status. In my view, the ACLU makes a reasonable argument. The laws of the 100-mile zone are blurred, and, too often, officials give arbitrary reasons to conduct a search. Xenophobia and fear of immigrants burgeons in cities within these areas. People of color and those with accents or who are non-English speakers are profiled by law enforcement agencies that enforce anti-immigrant policies. The “Constitution-free zone” is portrayed as an effective barrier to secure our borders. However, this anti-immigrant zone does not make our country any safer. In fact, it does the opposite.

As a former student from the Houston area, I can tell you that the Constitution-free zone makes immigrants and citizens alike feel on edge. The Department of Homeland Security’s white SUVs patrol our streets. Even students feel the weight of anti-immigrant laws. Dennis Rivera Sarmiento, an undocumented student who attended Austin High School in Houston, was held by school police in February 2018 for a minor altercation and was handed over to county police. He was later picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and held in a detention center. It is unfair that kids like Dennis face much harsher consequences for minor incidents than other students with citizenship.

These instances are a direct result of anti-immigrant laws. For example, the 287(g) program gives local and state police the authority to share individuals’ information with ICE after an arrest. This means that immigrants can be deported for committing misdemeanors as minor as running a red light. Other laws like Senate Bill 4, passed by the Texas Legislature, allow police to ask people about their immigration status after they are detained. These policies make immigrants and people of color feel like they’re always under surveillance and that, at any moment, they may be pulled over to be questioned and detained.

During Hurricane Harvey, the immigrant community was hesitant to go to the shelters because images of immigration authorities patrolling the area began to surface online. It made them feel like their own city was against them at a time when they needed them most. Constitution-free zones create communities of fear. For many immigrants, the danger of being questioned about immigration status prevents them from reporting crimes, even when they are the victim. Unreported crime only places more groups of people at risk and, overall, makes communities less safe.

In order to create a humane immigration process, citizens and non-citizens must hold policymakers accountable and get rid of discriminatory laws like 287(g) and Senate Bill 4. Abolishing the Constitution-free zone will also require pressure from the public and many organizations. For a more streamlined legal process, the League of United Latin American Citizens suggests background checks and a small application fee for incoming immigrants, as well as permanent resident status for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients. Other organizations propose expanding the green card lottery and asylum for immigrants escaping the dangers of their home countries.

Immigrants who come to the U.S. are only looking for an opportunity to provide for their families and themselves; so, the question of deciding who gets inside the border and who doesn’t is the same as trying to prove some people are worth more than others. The narratives created by anti-immigrant media plant the false idea that immigrants bring nothing but crime and terrorism. Increased funding for the border and enforcing laws like 287(g) empower anti-immigrant groups to vilify immigrants and promote a witch hunt that targets innocent people. This hatred and xenophobia allow law enforcement to ask any person of color or non-native English speaker about their citizenship or to detain a teenager for a minor incident. Getting rid of the 100-mile zone means standing up for justice and freedom because nobody, regardless of citizenship, should have to live under laws created from fear and hatred.

Cain Trevino is a sophomore. Cain is proud of his Mexican and Salvadorian descent and is an advocate for the implementation of Ethnic Studies in Texas. He enjoys basketball, playing the violin, and studying c omputer science. Cain plans to pursue a career in engineering at Stanford University and later earn a PhD.  

High School Winner

Ethan Peter

Kirkwood High School, Kirkwood, Mo.

I’m an expert on bussing. For the past couple of months, I’ve been a busser at a pizza restaurant near my house. It may not be the most glamorous job, but it pays all right, and, I’ll admit, I’m in it for the money.

I arrive at 5 p.m. and inspect the restaurant to ensure it is in pristine condition for the 6 p.m. wave of guests. As customers come and go, I pick up their dirty dishes, wash off their tables, and reset them for the next guests. For the first hour of my shift, the work is fairly straightforward.

I met another expert on bussing while crossing the border in a church van two years ago. Our van arrived at the border checkpoint, and an agent stopped us. She read our passports, let us through, and moved on to her next vehicle. The Border Patrol agent’s job seemed fairly straightforward.

At the restaurant, 6 p.m. means a rush of customers. It’s the end of the workday, and these folks are hungry for our pizzas and salads. My job is no longer straightforward.

Throughout the frenzy, the TVs in the restaurant buzz about waves of people coming to the U.S. border. The peaceful ebb and flow enjoyed by Border agents is disrupted by intense surges of immigrants who seek to enter the U.S. Outside forces push immigrants to the United States: wars break out in the Middle East, gangs terrorize parts of Central and South America, and economic downturns force foreigners to look to the U.S., drawn by the promise of opportunity. Refugees and migrant caravans arrive, and suddenly, a Border Patrol agent’s job is no longer straightforward.

I turn from the TVs in anticipation of a crisis exploding inside the restaurant: crowds that arrive together will leave together. I’ve learned that when a table looks finished with their dishes, I need to proactively ask to take those dishes, otherwise, I will fall behind, and the tables won’t be ready for the next customers. The challenge is judging who is finished eating. I’m forced to read clues and use my discretion.

Interpreting clues is part of a Border Patrol agent’s job, too. Lornet Turnbull states, “For example, CBP data obtained by ACLU in Michigan shows that 82 percent of foreign citizens stopped by agents in that state are Latino, and almost 1 in 3 of those processed is, in fact, a U.S. citizen.” While I try to spot customers done with their meals so I can clear their part of the table, the Border Patrol officer uses clues to detect undocumented immigrants. We both sometimes guess incorrectly, but our intentions are to do our jobs to the best of our abilities.

These situations are uncomfortable. I certainly do not enjoy interrupting a conversation to get someone’s dishes, and I doubt Border Patrol agents enjoy interrogating someone about their immigration status. In both situations, the people we mistakenly ask lose time and are subjected to awkward and uncomfortable situations. However, here’s where the busser and the Border Patrol officer’s situations are different: If I make a mistake, the customer faces a minor inconvenience. The stakes for a Border Patrol agent are much higher. Mistakenly asking for documentation and searching someone can lead to embarrassment or fear—it can even be life-changing. Thus, Border Patrol agents must be fairly certain that someone’s immigration status is questionable before they begin their interrogation.

To avoid these situations altogether, the U.S. must make the path to citizenship for immigrants easier. This is particularly true for immigrants fleeing violence. Many people object to this by saying these immigrants will bring violence with them, but data does not support this view. In 1939, a ship of Jewish refugees from Germany was turned away from the U.S.—a decision viewed negatively through the lens of history. Today, many people advocate restricting immigration for refugees from violent countries; they refuse to learn the lessons from 1939. The sad thing is that many of these immigrants are seen as just as violent as the people they are fleeing. We should not confuse the oppressed with the oppressor.

My restaurant appreciates customers because they bring us money, just as we should appreciate immigrants because they bring us unique perspectives. Equally important, immigrants provide this country with a variety of expert ideas and cultures, which builds better human connections and strengthens our society.

Ethan Peter is a junior. Ethan writes for his school newspaper, The Kirkwood Call, and plays volleyball for his high school and a club team. He hopes to continue to grow as a writer in the future. 

University Winner

Daniel Fries

Lane Community College, Eugene, Ore.

Detained on the Road to Equality

The United States is a nation of immigrants. There are currently 43 million foreign-born people living in the U.S. Millions of them are naturalized American citizens, and 23 million, or 7.2 percent of the population, are living here without documentation (US Census, 2016). One in seven residents of the United States was not born here. Multiculturalism is, and always has been, a key part of the American experience. However, romantic notions of finding a better life in the United States for immigrants and refugees don’t reflect reality. In modern history, America is a country that systematically treats immigrants—documented or not—and non-white Americans in a way that is fundamentally different than what is considered right by the majority.

The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment states,“No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” When a suspected undocumented immigrant is detained, their basic human rights are violated. Warrantless raids on Greyhound buses within 100 miles of the border (an area referred to by some as the “Constitution-free zone”) are clear violations of human rights. These violations are not due to the current state of politics; they are the symptom of blatant racism in the United States and a system that denigrates and abuses people least able to defend themselves.

It is not surprising that some of the mechanisms that drive modern American racism are political in nature. Human beings are predisposed to dislike and distrust individuals that do not conform to the norms of their social group (Mountz, Allison). Some politicians appeal to this suspicion and wrongly attribute high crime rates to non-white immigrants. The truth is that immigrants commit fewer crimes than native-born Americans. In fact, people born in the United States are convicted of crimes at a rate twice that of undocumented non-natives (Cato Institute, 2018).

The majority of immigrants take high risks to seek a better life, giving them incentive to obey the laws of their new country. In many states, any contact with law enforcement may ultimately result in deportation and separation from family. While immigrants commit far fewer crimes, fear of violent crime by much of the U.S. population outweighs the truth. For some politicians, it is easier to sell a border wall to a scared population than it is to explain the need for reformed immigration policy. It’s easier to say that immigrants are taking people’s jobs than explain a changing global economy and its effect on employment. The only crime committed in this instance is discrimination.

Human rights are violated when an undocumented immigrant—or someone perceived as an undocumented immigrant—who has not committed a crime is detained on a Greyhound bus. When a United States citizen is detained on the same bus, constitutional rights are being violated. The fact that this happens every day and that we debate its morality makes it abundantly clear that racism is deeply ingrained in this country. Many Americans who have never experienced this type of oppression lack the capacity to understand its lasting effect. Most Americans don’t know what it’s like to be late to work because they were wrongfully detained, were pulled over by the police for the third time that month for no legal reason, or had to coordinate legal representation for their U.S. citizen grandmother because she was taken off a bus for being a suspected undocumented immigrant. This oppression is cruel and unnecessary.

America doesn’t need a wall to keep out undocumented immigrants; it needs to seriously address how to deal with immigration. It is possible to reform the current system in such a way that anyone can become a member of American society, instead of existing outside of it. If a person wants to live in the United States and agrees to follow its laws and pay its taxes, a path to citizenship should be available.

People come to the U.S. from all over the world for many reasons. Some have no other choice. There are ongoing humanitarian crises in Syria, Yemen, and South America that are responsible for the influx of immigrants and asylum seekers at our borders. If the United States wants to address the current situation, it must acknowledge the global factors affecting the immigrants at the center of this debate and make fact-informed decisions. There is a way to maintain the security of America while treating migrants and refugees compassionately, to let those who wish to contribute to our society do so, and to offer a hand up instead of building a wall.

Daniel Fries studies computer science. Daniel has served as a wildland firefighter in Oregon, California, and Alaska. He is passionate about science, nature, and the ways that technology contributes to making the world a better, more empathetic, and safer place.

Powerful Voice Winner

Emma Hernandez-Sanchez

Wellness, Business and Sports School, Woodburn, Ore.

An Emotion an Immigrant Knows Too Well

Before Donald Trump’s campaign, I was oblivious to my race and the idea of racism. As far as I knew, I was the same as everyone else. I didn’t stop to think about our different-colored skins. I lived in a house with a family and attended school five days a week just like everyone else. So, what made me different?

Seventh grade was a very stressful year—the year that race and racism made an appearance in my life. It was as if a cold splash of water woke me up and finally opened my eyes to what the world was saying. It was this year that Donald Trump started initiating change about who got the right to live in this country and who didn’t. There was a lot of talk about deportation, specifically for Mexicans, and it sparked commotion and fear in me.

I remember being afraid and nervous to go out. At home, the anxiety was there but always at the far back of my mind because I felt safe inside. My fear began as a small whisper, but every time I stepped out of my house, it got louder. I would have dreams about the deportation police coming to my school; when I went to places like the library, the park, the store, or the mall, I would pay attention to everyone and to my surroundings. In my head, I would always ask myself, “Did they give us nasty looks?,” “Why does it seem quieter?” “Was that a cop I just saw?” I would notice little things, like how there were only a few Mexicans out or how empty a store was. When my mom went grocery shopping, I would pray that she would be safe. I was born in America, and both my parents were legally documented. My mom was basically raised here. Still, I couldn’t help but feel nervous.

I knew I shouldn’t have been afraid, but with one look, agents could have automatically thought my family and I were undocumented. Even when the deportation police would figure out that we weren’t undocumented, they’d still figure out a way to deport us—at least that was what was going through my head. It got so bad that I didn’t even want to do the simplest things like go grocery shopping because there was a rumor that the week before a person was taken from Walmart.

I felt scared and nervous, and I wasn’t even undocumented. I can’t even imagine how people who are undocumented must have felt, how they feel. All I can think is that it’s probably ten times worse than what I was feeling. Always worrying about being deported and separated from your family must be hard. I was living in fear, and I didn’t even have it that bad. My heart goes out to families that get separated from each other. It’s because of those fears that I detest the “Constitution-free zone.”

Legally documented and undocumented people who live in the Constitution-free zone are in constant fear of being deported. People shouldn’t have to live this way. In fact, there have been arguments that the 100-mile zone violates the Fourth Amendment, which gives people the right to be protected from unreasonable searches and seizures of property by the government. Unfortunately, the U.S. Supreme Court has consistently upheld these practices.

One question that Lornet Turnbull asks in her YES! article “Two-Thirds of Americans Live in the ‘Constitution-Free Zone’” is, “How should we decide who is welcome in the U.S and who is not?” Instead of focusing on immigrants, how about we focus on the people who shoot up schools, rape girls, exploit women for human sex trafficking, and sell drugs? These are the people who make our country unsafe; they are the ones who shouldn’t be accepted. Even if they are citizens and have the legal right to live here, they still shouldn’t be included. If they are the ones making this country unsafe, then what gives them the right to live here?

I don’t think that the Constitution-free zone is an effective and justifiable way to make this country more “secure.” If someone isn’t causing any trouble in the United States and is just simply living their life, then they should be welcomed here. We shouldn’t have to live in fear that our rights will be taken away. I believe that it’s unfair for people to automatically think that it’s the Hispanics that make this country unsafe. Sure, get all the undocumented people out of the United States, but it’s not going to make this country any safer. It is a society that promotes violence that makes us unsafe, not a race.

Emma Hernandez-Sanchez is a freshman who is passionate about literature and her education. Emma wan ts to inspire others to be creative and try their best. She enjoys reading and creating stories that spark imagination. 

  Powerful Voice Winner

Tiara Lewis

Columbus City Preparatory Schools for Girls,

Columbus, Ohio

Hold Your Head High and Keep Those Fists Down

How would you feel if you walked into a store and salespeople were staring at you? Making you feel like you didn’t belong. Judging you. Assuming that you were going to take something, even though you might have $1,000 on you to spend. Sometimes it doesn’t matter. This is because people will always judge you. It might not be because of your race but for random reasons, like because your hair is black instead of dirty blonde. Or because your hair is short and not long. Or just because they are having a bad day. People will always find ways to bring you down and accuse you of something, but that doesn’t mean you have to go along with it.

Every time I entered a store, I would change my entire personality. I would change the way I talked and the way I walked. I always saw myself as needing to fit in. If a store was all pink, like the store Justice, I would act like a girly girl. If I was shopping in a darker store, like Hot Topic, I would hum to the heavy metal songs and act more goth. I had no idea that I was feeding into stereotypes.

When I was 11, I walked into Claire’s, a well-known store at the mall. That day was my sister’s birthday. Both of us were really happy and had money to spend. As soon as we walked into the store, two employees stared me and my sister down, giving us cold looks. When we went to the cashier to buy some earrings, we thought everything was fine. However, when we walked out of the store, there was a policeman and security guards waiting. At that moment, my sister and I looked at one another, and I said, in a scared little girl voice, “I wonder what happened? Why are they here?”

Then, they stopped us. We didn’t know what was going on. The same employee that cashed us out was screaming as her eyes got big, “What did you steal?” I was starting to get numb. Me and my sister looked at each other and told the truth: “We didn’t steal anything. You can check us.” They rudely ripped through our bags and caused a big scene. My heart was pounding like a drum. I felt violated and scared. Then, the policeman said, “Come with us. We need to call your parents.” While this was happening, the employees were talking to each other, smiling. We got checked again. The police said that they were going to check the cameras, but after they were done searching us, they realized that we didn’t do anything wrong and let us go about our day.

Walking in the mall was embarrassing—everybody staring, looking, and whispering as we left the security office. This made me feel like I did something wrong while knowing I didn’t. We went back to the store to get our shopping bags. The employees sneered, “Don’t you niggers ever come in this store again. You people always take stuff. This time you just got lucky.” Their faces were red and frightening. It was almost like they were in a scary 3D movie, screaming, and coming right at us. I felt hurt and disappointed that someone had the power within them to say something so harsh and wrong to another person. Those employees’ exact words will forever be engraved in my memory.

In the article, “Two-Thirds of Americans Live in the ‘Constitution-Free Zone’,” Lornet Turnbull states, “In January, they stopped a man in Indio, California, as he was boarding a Los Angeles-bound bus. While questioning this man about his immigration status, agents told him his ‘shoes looked suspicious,’ like those of someone who had recently crossed the border.” They literally judged him by his shoes. They had no proof of anything. If a man is judged by his shoes, who else and what else are being judged in the world?

In the novel  To Kill a Mockingbird , a character named Atticus states, “You just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let’em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change.” No matter how much you might try to change yourself, your hairstyle, and your clothes, people will always make assumptions about you. However, you never need to change yourself to make a point or to feel like you fit in. Be yourself. Don’t let those stereotypes turn into facts.

Tiara Lewis is in the eighth grade. Tiara plays the clarinet and is trying to change the world— one essay at a time. She is most often found curled up on her bed, “Divergent” in one hand and a cream-filled doughnut in the other.

Hailee Park

 Wielding My Swords

If I were a swordsman, my weapons would be my identities. I would wield one sword in my left hand and another in my right. People expect me to use both fluently, but I’m not naturally ambidextrous. Even though I am a right-handed swordsman, wielding my dominant sword with ease, I must also carry a sword in my left, the heirloom of my family heritage. Although I try to live up to others’ expectations by using both swords, I may appear inexperienced while attempting to use my left. In some instances, my heirloom is mistaken for representing different families’ since the embellishments look similar.

Many assumptions are made about my heirloom sword based on its appearance, just as many assumptions are made about me based on my physical looks. “Are you Chinese?” When I respond with ‘no,’ they stare at me blankly in confusion. There is a multitude of Asian cultures in the United States, of which I am one. Despite what many others may assume, I am not Chinese; I am an American-born Korean.

“Then… are you Japanese?” Instead of asking a broader question, like “What is your ethnicity?,” they choose to ask a direct question. I reply that I am Korean. I like to think that this answers their question sufficiently; however, they think otherwise. Instead, I take this as their invitation to a duel.

They attack me with another question: “Are you from North Korea or South Korea?” I don’t know how to respond because I’m not from either of those countries; I was born in America. I respond with “South Korea,” where my parents are from because I assume that they’re asking me about my ethnicity. I’m not offended by this situation because I get asked these questions frequently. From this experience, I realize that people don’t know how to politely ask questions about identity to those unlike them. Instead of asking “What is your family’s ethnicity?,” many people use rude alternatives, such as “Where are you from?,” or “What language do you speak?”

When people ask these questions, they make assumptions based on someone’s appearance. In my case, people make inferences like:

“She must be really good at speaking Korean.”

“She’s Asian; therefore, she must be born in Asia.”

“She’s probably Chinese.”

These thoughts may appear in their heads because making assumptions is natural. However, there are instances when assumptions can be taken too far. Some U.S. Border Patrol agents in the “Constitution-free zone” have made similar assumptions based on skin color and clothing. For example, agents marked someone as an undocumented immigrant because “his shoes looked suspicious, like those of someone who had recently crossed the border.”

Another instance was when a Jamaican grandmother was forced off a bus when she was visiting her granddaughter. The impetus was her accent and the color of her skin. Government officials chose to act on their assumptions, even though they had no solid proof that the grandmother was an undocumented immigrant. These situations just touch the surface of the issue of racial injustice in America.

When someone makes unfair assumptions about me, they are pointing their sword and challenging me to a duel; I cannot refuse because I am already involved. It is not appropriate for anyone, including Border Patrol agents, to make unjustified assumptions or to act on those assumptions. Border Patrol agents have no right to confiscate the swords of the innocent solely based on their conjectures. The next time I’m faced with a situation where racially ignorant assumptions are made about me, I will refuse to surrender my sword, point it back at them, and triumphantly fight their ignorance with my cultural pride.

Hailee Park is an eighth grader who enjoys reading many genres. While reading, Hailee recognized the racial injustices against immigrants in America, which inspired her essay. Hailee plays violin in her school’s orchestra and listens to and composes music. 

Aminata Toure

East Harlem School, New York City, N.Y.

We Are Still Dreaming

As a young Muslim American woman, I have been labeled things I am not: a terrorist, oppressed, and an ISIS supporter. I have been accused of planning 9/11, an event that happened before I was born. Lately, in the media, Muslims have been portrayed as supporters of a malevolent cause, terrorizing others just because they do not have the same beliefs. I often scoff at news reports that portray Muslims in such a light, just as I scoff at all names I’ve been labeled. They are words that do not define me. 

In a land where labels have stripped immigrants of their personalities, they are now being stripped of something that makes them human: their rights. The situation described in Lornet Turnbull’s article, “Two-Thirds of Americans are Living in the ‘Constitution-Free Zone’,” goes directly against the Constitution, the soul of this country, something that asserts that we are all equal before the law. If immigrants do not have protection from the Constitution, is there any way to feel safe?

Although most insults are easy to shrug off, they are still threatening. I am ashamed when I feel afraid to go to the mosque. Friday is an extremely special day when we gather together to pray, but lately, I haven’t been going to the mosque for Jummah prayers. I have realized that I can never feel safe when in a large group of Muslims because of the widespread hatred of Muslims in the United States, commonly referred to as Islamophobia. Police surround our mosque, and there are posters warning us about dangerous people who might attack our place of worship because we have been identified as terrorists.

I wish I could tune out every news report that blasts out the headline “Terrorist Attack!” because I know that I will be judged based on the actions of someone else. Despite this anti-Muslim racism, what I have learned from these insults is that I am proud of my faith. I am a Muslim, but being Muslim doesn’t define me. I am a writer, a student, a dreamer, a friend, a New Yorker, a helper, and an American. I am unapologetically me, a Muslim, and so much more. I definitely think everyone should get to know a Muslim. They would see that some of us are also Harry Potter fans, not just people planning to bomb the White House.

Labels are unjustly placed on us because of the way we speak, the color of our skin, and what we believe in—not for who we are as individuals. Instead, we should all take more time to get to know one another. As Martin Luther King Jr. said in his “I Have a Dream” speech, we should be judged by the content of our character and not the color of our skin. To me, it seems Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream is a dream that should be a reality. But, for now, we are dreaming.

Aminata Toure is a Guinean American Muslim student. Aminata loves spoken-word poetry and performs in front of hundreds of people at her school’s annual poetry slam. She loves writing, language, history, and West African food and culture. Aminata wants to work at the United Nations when she grows up.

From the Author 

Dear Alessandra, Cain, Daniel, Tiara, Emma, Hailee, Aminata and Ethan,

I am moved and inspired by the thought each of you put into your responses to my story about this so-called “Constitution-free zone.” Whether we realize it or not, immigration in this country impacts all of us— either because we are immigrants ourselves, have neighbors, friends, and family who are, or because we depend on immigrants for many aspects of our lives—from the food we put on our tables to the technology that bewitches us. It is true that immigrants enrich our society in so many important ways, as many of you point out.

And while the federal statute that permits U.S. Border Patrol officers to stop and search at will any of the 200 million of us in this 100-mile shadow border, immigrants have been their biggest targets. In your essays, you highlight how unjust the law is—nothing short of racial profiling. It is heartening to see each of you, in your own way, speaking out against the unfairness of this practice.

Alessandra, you are correct, the immigration system in this country is in shambles. You make a powerful argument about how profiling ostracizes entire communities and how the warrantless searches allowed by this statute impede trust-building between law enforcement and the people they are called on to serve.

And Cain, you point out how this 100-mile zone, along with other laws in the state of Texas where you attended school, make people feel like they’re “always under surveillance, and that, at any moment, you may be pulled over to be questioned and detained.” It seems unimaginable that people live their lives this way, yet millions in this country do.

You, Emma, for example, speak of living in a kind of silent fear since Donald Trump took office, even though you were born in this country and your parents are here legally. You are right, “We shouldn’t have to live in fear that our rights will be taken away.”

And Aminata, you write of being constantly judged and labeled because you’re a Muslim American. How unfortunate and sad that in a country that generations of people fled to search for religious freedom, you are ashamed at times to practice your own. The Constitution-free zone, you write, “goes directly against the Constitution, the soul of this country, something that asserts that we are all equal before the law.”

Tiara, I could personally relate to your gripping account of being racially profiled and humiliated in a store. You were appalled that the Greyhound passenger in California was targeted by Border Patrol because they claimed his shoes looked like those of someone who had walked across the border: “If a man is judged by his shoes,” you ask, “who else and what else are getting judged in the world?”

Hailee, you write about the incorrect assumptions people make about you, an American born of Korean descent, based solely on your appearance and compared it to the assumptions Border Patrol agents make about those they detain in this zone.

Daniel, you speak of the role of political fearmongering in immigration. It’s not new, but under the current administration, turning immigrants into boogiemen for political gain is currency. You write that “For some politicians, it is easier to sell a border wall to a scared population than it is to explain the need for reformed immigration policy.”

And Ethan, you recognize the contributions immigrants make to this country through the connections we all make with them and the strength they bring to our society.

Keep speaking your truth. Use your words and status to call out injustice wherever and whenever you see it. Untold numbers of people spoke out against this practice by Border Patrol and brought pressure on Greyhound to change. In December, the company began offering passengers written guidance—in both Spanish and English—so they understand what their rights are when officers board their bus. Small steps, yes, but progress nonetheless, brought about by people just like you, speaking up for those who sometimes lack a voice to speak up for themselves.

With sincere gratitude,

Lornet Turnbull

Lornet Turnbull is an editor for YES! and a Seattle-based freelance writer. Follow her on Twitter  @TurnbullL .

We received many outstanding essays for the Winter 2019 Student Writing Competition. Though not every participant can win the contest, we’d like to share some excerpts that caught our eye:

After my parents argued with the woman, they told me if you can fight with fists, you prove the other person’s point, but when you fight with the power of your words, you can have a much bigger impact. I also learned that I should never be ashamed of where I am from. —Fernando Flores, The East Harlem School, New York City, N.Y.

Just because we were born here and are privileged to the freedom of our country, we do not have the right to deprive others of a chance at success. —Avalyn Cox, Brier Terrace Middle School, Brier, Wash.

Maybe, rather than a wall, a better solution to our immigration problem would be a bridge. —Sean Dwyer, Lane Community College, Eugene, Ore.

If anything, what I’ve learned is that I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to change our world. I don’t know how to make a difference, how to make my voice heard. But I have learned the importance of one word, a simple two-letter word that’s taught to the youngest of us, a word we all know but never recognize: the significance of ‘we.’ —Enna Chiu, Highland Park High School, Highland Park, N.J.

Not to say the Border Patrol should not have authorization to search people within the border, but I am saying it should be near the border, more like one mile, not 100. —Cooper Tarbuck, Maranacook Middle School, Manchester, Maine.

My caramel color, my feminism, my Spanish and English language, my Mexican culture, and my young Latina self gives me the confidence to believe in myself, but it can also teach others that making wrong assumptions about someone because of their skin color, identity, culture, looks or gender can make them look and be weaker. —Ana Hernandez, The East Harlem School, New York City, N.Y.

We don’t need to change who we are to fit these stereotypes like someone going on a diet to fit into a new pair of pants. —Kaylee Meyers, Brier Terrace Middle School, Brier, Wash.

If a human being with no criminal background whatsoever has trouble entering the country because of the way he or she dresses or speaks, border protection degenerates into arbitrariness. —Jonas Schumacher, Heidelberg University of Education, Heidelberg, Germany

I believe that you should be able to travel freely throughout your own country without the constant fear of needing to prove that you belong here . —MacKenzie Morgan, Lincoln Middle School, Ypsilanti, Mich.

America is known as “the Land of Opportunity,” but this label is quickly disappearing. If we keep stopping those striving for a better life, then what will become of this country? —Ennyn Chiu, Highland Park Middle School, Highland Park, N.J.

The fact that two-thirds of the people in the U.S. are living in an area called the “Constitution-free zone” is appalling. Our Constitution was made to protect our rights as citizens, no matter where we are in the country. These systems that we are using to “secure” our country are failing, and we need to find a way to change them. —Isis Liaw, Brier Terrace Middle School, Brier, Wash.

I won’t let anyone, especially a man, tell me what I can do, because I am a strong Latina. I will represent where I come from, and I am proud to be Mexican. I will show others that looks can be deceiving. I will show others that even the weakest animal, a beautiful butterfly, is tough, and it will cross any border, no matter how challenging the journey may be. —Brittany Leal, The East Harlem School, New York City, N.Y.

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32+ Argumentative Essays Topics on Immigration with Prompts [+ Essay Outline]

Dr. wilson mn.

• August 1, 2022
• Essay Topics and Ideas , Nursing

There are a lot of immigration issues that people are passionate about. If you care about the immigration and want to make a difference, then you should consider writing an argumentative essay on one of these topics. Here are some ideas on Argumentative Essays Topics on Immigration to get you started:

What You'll Learn

Interesting Topics On Migration

• Different Perspectives on Immigration Reform Essay Prompt: Over the past few years, people have moved to the United States for various reasons. Some have moved to the United States to reunite with their families, work, or look for safety.
• Arguments on Why Immigration Should be Stopped Essay Prompt: Immigration can be defined as the movement of an individual from one’s country of origin to set up new and permanent residence in another country. Immigration has been a pertinent issue in most countries, especially the United States.
• Effects of Immigration Essay Prompt: Immigration is moving from one place to another in order to live and work in that place. The history of immigration dates back to thousands of years ago when the first Africans arrived in Egypt.
• How does racism impact the way we view Immigration? Essay Prompt: In recent years, views of immigration in the United States have shifted with many Americans perceiving immigrants as a source of national prosperity, rather than an eminent burden. (Interesting Topics on Migration)
• Immigration, Essay Prompt: Consider any issues such as how to deal with illegal immigrants, how to encourage new, productive immigrants, cost of illegal immigrants.

As you continue,  thestudycorp.com  has the top and most qualified writers to help with any of your assignments. All you need to do is  place an order  with us . Select a Argumentative Essays Topics on Immigration and we will write the essau for you.

Argumentative Essay Ideas On Immigration with Prompts

• What Role Should The State Of Texas Play In The Immigration Policy
• No One Is Safe.’ How Trump’s Immigration Policy Is Splitting Families Apart Essay Prompt: In the past, people who immigrated to the US illegally and had criminal records were some of the most targeted, but now the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can pick up family members and separate them from their families.
• The economic impact of Immigration on the US economy Essay Prompt: Immigration has a significant impact on the United States economy. Immigration has enhanced economic development and has small to no effects on employment and wages for native-born workers.
• Describe Immigration Laws And Potential Illegal Immigrants
• Essay Prompt: You explore your position on the topic of immigration laws. Select an immigration law for this Discussion and consider whether or not that law is justifiable.
• The bad impact of Immigration on the U.S. economy. Essay Essay Prompt: Immigration is a hotly debated topic in the United States, especially in political circles. Over the years, millions of people have immigrated to the United States from all parts of the world and it has become a melting pot of cultures. (Interesting Topics on Migration)
• Impact of Immigration on American Cities Essay Prompt: The issue of immigration is a sensitive national topic in the United States. The topic’s sensitivity is fueled by several misconceptions about immigration and its impact on the United States. (Argumentative Essay Ideas On Immigration)
• Research Assignment on Enforcement of Immigration Laws Essay Prompt: Explain at least one challenge related to enforcing the laws at the state level. Provide an insight you had about the effectiveness of enforcement of laws. A Research Project On Migration.

Further read on Creative Synthesis Essay Topics & Ideas in 2022

If you care about immigration and want to make a difference, then you should consider writing an argumentative essay on one of these topics . Here are some ideas on Argumentative Essays Topics on Immigration to get you started:

Immigration Research Paper Topics

• Immigration is Good to America: Immigration Makes Americans Less Isolated Globally Essay Prompt: Incorporate analysis of the reading and somebody’s personal experience to make a clear and precise argumentative essay on immigration.
• Republican Party Restrictions on Immigration Law Essay Essay Prompt: The US president Donald Trump is from the Republican Party with the decision made following the policies of the party. Republican Party has a strong stand on restrictions on immigrants which have caused unrest to blacks and minority groups in the US.
• Discuss one specific issue position from either the Democratic or Republican parties’ platforms, indicating whether you agree or disagree.
• Why The United States Should Adopt An Open Immigration Policy Essay Prompt: Two Viewpoints explaining why Immigration Must Be Restricted to Protect American Americans Against Terrorists and why the United States Should Adopt an Open Immigration Policy.
• Liberal Critique And Reform Of Immigration Policy Essay Prompt: Immigration reforms have remained fundamental similar to civil rights and desegregation throughout the history of the united states (US). In the past centuries, immigration reforms have been greatly influenced by the civil rights movement. As noted, the civil rights movement was about winning full and…
• Immigration, Pluralism, and Amalgamation Essay Prompt: The world has significantly transformed into a global village mainly due to technological advancement that has made almost every part of the world accessible. Consequently, migration has become a common aspect of modern life. These changes have prompted different countries to establish immigration policies…
• Essay Prompt: In the current interconnected world, global migration has turned out to be a reality that affects approximately all countries across the world. With advanced modern means of transport, people find it easier, cheaper and more convenient to move from one nation to another searching for employment.
• How to Strengthen America’s National Security
• Essay Prompt: Enhancing border control and enforcement of immigration laws are the two primary ideas that can effectively manage the problem of illegal immigration in the US. (Interesting Topics on Migration)
• Immigration Policy Impact on Economic, Security & Humanitarian Policy Essay Prompt: The current immigration policy has a far-reaching impact on humanitarian, security, and economic aspects. For instance, Migrant Protection Protocols by former President Trump prevents the imprisonment of asylum seekers, especially women and children, until the hearing of their case.
• Should American Citizenship be a Birthright? Research Paper Essay Prompt: The belief that everybody born in American soil becomes subject to the jurisdiction, hence citizens of the United States was included in the Constitution in 1868, in the 14th amendment.

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Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Illegal Immigration — Illegal Immigration Persuasive Speech

Illegal Immigration Persuasive Speech

• Categories: Illegal Immigration

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Words: 723 |

Published: Mar 19, 2024

Words: 723 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, definition of illegal immigration, argument for stricter immigration policies, argument for a compassionate approach, addressing human rights, considering the larger context, why should we care.

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71 Illegal Immigration Essay Topics & Examples

Looking for illegal immigration essay topics? The issue of undocumented immigration is hot, controversial, and worth exploring.

• 📝 Essay: How to Write

👍 Essay Topics & Examples

🔍 research paper topics & examples, ❓ questions about illegal immigration for research paper.

Illegal immigration refers to undocumented migration of people into a county in violation of the according immigration laws of that country. Illegal immigrants face a number of problems, like the risk of being enslaved, health problems due to the lack of access to public health systems, and many more. Whether you’re planning to write a 5-paragraph essay or a thesis about illegal immigration, the article below will be helpful. Here you’ll find everything all you might need to write an A+ immigration essay. There are research paper ideas, tips, & illegal immigration essay examples.

📝 Illegal Immigration Essay: How to Write

Illegal immigration essays are familiar to anyone studying sociology, politics, human rights, and other similar subjects. Today, there is plenty of information about illegal immigration on the Internet, so you shouldn’t worry about finding things to write about. What you absolutely need to pay attention to is the structure. The tips in this post will help you to nail your next illegal immigration essay!

Tip 1: Create a list of possible topics. Illegal immigration is a rather broad subject, so you will need to narrow it down a little bit. For example, you may want to write about the pros and cons of illegal immigration. Argumentative papers on this subject could be particularly successful if your points are strong and supported by evidence.

Tip 2: Write down a title. You may want to postpone this step until you’re one-on-one with the paper, but finding the right title will aid you in structuring the essay. There are numerous online resources that you could use to browse illegal immigration essay topics and titles. If nothing comes to mind, compose a thesis statement and use it as a preliminary title to help you focus.

Tip 3: Collect ideas. While you may have studied illegal immigration already, don’t write down any points until you’ve done your research. Be sure to check a variety of sources, including scholarly articles, government reports, newspaper articles, and editorial pieces. This will ensure that your overview of the chosen theme is comprehensive. Try to avoid sites such as Wikipedia, online encyclopedias, and blogs. While there may be some good points there, your tutor will most likely reject sources that are not academic quality. Hence, you should stick to publications from reputable sources to avoid losing marks! Write down all the key statements, information, and arguments that you can find online.

Tip 4: Prepare an outline. An outline is the backbone of your paper on illegal immigration. Argumentative essay outline examples would usually include an introduction, two points supporting your position, one point against it, a rebuttal, and a conclusion. A persuasive paper would have a different outline, with more supporting points and no opposing opinions. An informative essay will have an introduction, background, three to five main points, and a conclusion. Create a basic outline for the chosen essay type and don’t worry about adding information to each section yet.

Tip 5: Organize your points in a sequence. Now, return to the list of points you’ve already made and see which ones fit into the outline nicely. The most general information should go into the introduction, where you describe the problem and your approach. You should finish your introduction with an illegal immigration essay thesis to show the focus of the paper. In the next sections, your points should escalate in complexity. For example, you can start with the history of immigration, then consider recent data on undocumented immigrants, and then discuss the opportunities for immigration reform. Write each point as a topic sentence and ensure that they follow in a logical sequence. Delete any information that doesn’t fit – you won’t regret it later!

A paper structured based on these tips will be interesting to read and earn your tutor’s approval. If you need to write an essay about immigration in the United States, don’t forget to check our free sample papers!

• Effects of illegal immigration on the economy of the United States and the measures that be taken to minimize the effect The study will include the demographics of the illegal immigration, its history, the immigration policy, and the impact that the illegal immigration has on the economy of the United States.
• Illegal Immigration Policies and Violent Crime The authors of this article discuss how illegal immigration and border enforcement influence the level of crime along the U.S.-Mexico border.
• Strategies for Solving the Issue of Illegal Immigration in the US The first one is enforcing the measures preventing it, and the second one is changing immigration policy in order to make legalization easier.
• The Birth of Illegal Immigration In addition, Americans blamed Chinese immigrants for low wages and the unemployment rate, which further influenced the ban on Asians to move to the U.S.
• Illegal Immigration Control in the Texas Although the public assigns immense powers to the governor’s office, Texas’ office of the governor enjoys weak institutional powers because of the constitution’s provision of multiple offices that server alongside the office of the governor.
• The Illegal Immigration Prevention Policy For example, one of the biggest of them would be the necessity to analyze all the gathered information. Therefore, it is safe to assume that there would be no shortage of information for the Chef […]
• Illegal Immigration: Difference in Covering the Matter The aim of the paper is to discover the difference in covering the matter of illegal migration to Canary Islands from sub-Saharan including periodical issues, radio broadcasts, and a photo, in order not only to […]
• Ethics of Illegal Immigration Effects on the US As such, the Immigration Act of 1924 was established, which promoted the immigration of foreign citizens into the US to meet these requirements, and also created several objective preconditions for foreigners to consider entering America […]
• Illegal Immigration Issue in the USA The secure border could also be considered one of the possible solutions to the problem of illegal immigration as it will help to control this very aspect.
• Illegal Immigration, Its Causes, Methods, Effects It is the duty of immigration officers to update all the expired visas and ensure that either they are renewed or the victims leave the country.
• Illegal Immigration Crisis: Problems and Solutions For example, federal policy has led to the involvement of local law enforcement as immigration agents who have inherited the responsibilities of checking citizenship status and detaining those failing to produce documentation.
• America and the Problem of Illegal Immigration The presence of the illegal immigrants, commonly known as illegal aliens, is such massive numbers has brought the issue of illegal immigration to the limelight of the U.S.political scene, to the halls of Congress, and […]
• Sheriff Joe’s Illegal Immigration in Arizona Often dubbed as the “toughest sheriff in the United States”, the sheriff has the numbers to back his fight against illegal immigrants in his county.
• Illegal Immigration in the United States Another factor that calls for strict application of the law for the deportation of illegal immigrants in the United States is the fact that the legislation that has been in existence has provided avenues for […]
• Illegal Immigration Problem in the United States The fences that were set up to deter entry only covered part of the border and in the past decade, the government has been searching for better ways to control entry into the United States.
• Illegal Immigration in the USA Some of the most secure cities in the countries happen to be in the south. Kane and Johnson also add that immigrants are not a problem to the country’s economy; consequently, anti-immigration laws need not […]
• Is the Legalization of Illegal Aliens a Good Solution to Illegal Immigration in America? Huge numbers of illegal immigrants come from the southern borders of the US and especially on the US-Mexico border and to the north; the US-Canada border.
• Role of Frontex in Combating Illegal Immigration in the European Union Territory Surveillance on external borders With its headquarters in Warsaw, Poland, the European Agency for the management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the member states of the European Union is a body, which […]
• Illegal Immigration in the United States as an Economic Burden Finally, the economic challenge of illegal immigration also undermines the educational system in the United States. As it has been mentioned before, the illegal immigration in the Unites States creates both opportunities and shortcomings for […]
• Migration and National Security The author has noted that there is a close relationship between immigrants and these issues and this call for the need to evaluate the application of these policies in controlling the activities of immigrants in […]
• The Issue of Muslims’ Immigration to Australia This increase was especially noticeable in the late 1940s and the early 1950s, following the overthrow of the monarchy in Egypt, resulting in the rise of the Arab nationalist movement.
• Stopping Illegal Immigration: Border Security The other reason for the need to stop illegal immigration is that the Illegal aliens are weighing down many systems in the country.
• Illegal Immigration in the United States The name of the article to be critiqued is, ‘The Economics and Policy of Illegal Immigration in the United States’. One of the hypotheses that have been supported by the article is that policymakers across […]
• Immigration and Illegal Foreigners in Japan However, the economic boom of the mid 1980s necessitated the use of foreign workers and this marked the first wave of immigrants in Japan.
• How Has Immigration Transformed the Life and Culture of London Over the Past 150 Years? Except in the recent years where the number has decreased as a result of the heightening recession, people seeking employment have always constituted the largest number of the total inflows in the UK.
• Socio-Economic Benefits of Immigrant Population in the US and Canada Immigration in the United States and Canada in the Post Hart-Cella Act and Canadian Immigration Act Era This paper addresses the socio-economic benefits of immigrant population in the United States of America and Canada.
• Illegal Immigration to the United States Fox News has argued that it is very difficult to actually determine how an increase in the number of illegal immigrants gets to affect the rate of crime in the United States.
• Economic advantages and disadvantages of immigration into the U.S. According to Geigenberger, because of this inability to get taxes from the majority of the immigrants, the government is always strained in the achievement of objectives.
• Immigration Reform and the Economic Impact The emergence of immigration policy from the comprehensive immigration reform primarily seeks to implement a flexible legal immigration platform that would leverage the economic situations of the United States. The national GDP depends on the […]
• Immigration Bill in US This essay seeks to prove that it is proper for such people to acquire citizenship in the United States of America through the passing of the pending immigration bill.
• The Issue of Illegal Immigration On the other hand, opponents of immigration depict immigrants as a menace to the American people as it promotes the rise in criminal activities and causes an economic and social burden to taxpayers.
• Illegal Immigration: Views of Policy Makers, Media and General Public Illegal immigration into the U.S.is a billion dollar question that has fueled considerable public debate within the country in the past few years due the inherent social and economic costs that illegal immigration places on […]
• The Impact of Immigration on the Economy of the USA The USA is one of the most attractive countries to come for many specialists and workers from different countries of the World.
• Argument for Measures to Control Illegal Immigration One of the impacts of such immigration is the financial burden that is laid on the government in terms of making provisions for the immigrants.
• The Unemployed and Illegal Immigrants in the United States Are More Likely to Be Involved in Crime Than the Employed and Legal Immigrants The criteria of selection for the literature will be the relevance to the research topic as well as the year of publication.
• Free-rider Problem and Illegal Immigration The issue of free riding is inevitable in each and every country because of the presence of the presence of minors, tax evaders and illegal immigrants just to mention but a few.
• History of the Illegal Immigration into the U.S. It also proposes some policies to be implemented by the government in a bid to curtail the demerits of illegal immigrants When the house is granting citizenship to illegal immigrant, it should take note of […]
• Economic Contribution of Slaves and Present Day Legal and Illegal Immigration In Europe, slavery peaked in the fourteenth and ended in the late twentieth century after the emancipation of serfdom. The economy of a country is undoubtedly the last receptor of the effects of illegal immigrants.
• Illegal Immigrants and Amnesty: A Pro Argument This is given that the illegal immigrants will now be able to participate fully in the economy. However, they are of the view that, as much as this might be the case, this is not […]
• Legal Immigration versus Illegal Immigration in America Due to the large number of illegal immigrants in the U. Legal immigration in America is accompanied by introduction of new skills to the country.
• Implications of Illegal Immigration in the US According to politicians, an increase in the number of illegal immigrants is highly likely to destabilize the law of the land, as well as disrupt the government’s planning and implementation of the labor market laws.
• Analyzing the Issue of Illegal Immigration in the US Illegal immigration is one of the main disasters of the USA. The Mexico illegal immigrants remain one of the most devastating problems of the USA.
• Arizona Immigration Law: What For? Lately though, the signing of an immigration law that seems to curtail the freedom of the people by Governor Jan Brewer rattled some feathers not only in the state, but in the larger US and […]
• Does Border Enforcement Protect U.S. Workers From Illegal Immigration?
• Does Illegal Immigration Empower Rightist Parties?
• How Illegal Immigration Effects the Economy and the School System in the U.S.?
• How Should America Handle Illegal Immigration?
• Who Has the Most Impact on Illegal Immigration Policy?
• Why the Border Fence May Not Be the Solution for the Illegal Immigration?
• Why the Federal Government Can’t End Illegal Immigration in the US?
• What Are the Common Causes of Illegal Immigration?
• What Is the Role of Smugglers in Illegal Immigration and Border Enforcement?
• What Is the Effect of Illegal Immigration on the Hospitality and Food Industry?
• What Is President Donald Trump’s Zero Tolerance Policy Effect on Illegal Immigration?
• What Are the Welfare Effects of Illegal Immigration?
• What Are the Emerging Geopolitics of Illegal Immigration in the EU?
• What Is the Rational Approach to Illegal Immigration?
• What Is Theory of Permissible Illegal Immigration?
• What Are the Links Between Illegal Immigration and Organized Crime?
• What Are the Strategic Perspectives on Illegal Immigration Into South Africa?
• What Are the Perspectives and Challenges of Asylum Policy and Illegal Immigration?
• How Illegal Immigration Laws Affect the Economic of Texas?
• What Is the All-American Canal and What Are Its Effects on Illegal Immigration?
• What Is the Controversy Surrounding Arizona’s Anti-illegal Immigration Legislation?
• Why Is Turkey a Transit Country for Illegal Immigration to EU?
• What Is the Role of Informality, Taxation and Trade in Illegal Immigration?
• What Is the European Union’s Anti-illegal Immigration Discourse?
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Transcript: Ezra Klein Interviews Ben Wikler

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This Is How Democrats Win in Wisconsin

Ben wikler, the chair of the democratic party of wisconsin, discusses whether kamala harris can appeal to voters in the swing state..

[MUSIC PLAYING]

From New York Times Opinion, this is “The Ezra Klein Show.”

What a month this week has been. I don’t think I have ever lived through a period in American politics that felt like as much changed as fast. On Sunday, we got the news that Joe Biden was dropping out. I was on a plane that night. I feverishly wrote the audio essay that I then recorded Monday that came out Tuesday. And by Tuesday, I felt like we were in a fully different world than when I was writing.

Over the last year that I’ve been working on some of these issues, the most common and dominant worry that Democrats had if something happened to Joe Biden or if Joe Biden decided or was convinced to step aside is that they had so little confidence in Kamala Harris. Sunday, I was still hearing from Democrats worried about Harris. There was reporting of Nancy Pelosi wanting an open primary or an open convention.

And now, watching the party not just converge around her, but feel a real thrill around her, really, really become passionate Harris stans — watching the whole party fall out of the coconut tree and live unburdened by what has been and only in the imagining of what could be, it’s fun to watch Democrats have fun. They have not had fun in a long time. And it’s also a good reminder that people don’t know how something is going to feel until it actually happens.

At the same time, when things shift this much, it is reasonable to ask, is anything being missed? Are things that people were legitimately worried about being suppressed? Kamala Harris is a liberal Black Democrat from San Francisco, California. For many in the party, that is not the profile they would imagine or prefer for Wisconsin, for Michigan, for Pennsylvania, for Arizona, for Georgia, for all these states.

Now, Harris, as I’ve argued in other shows, has other political identities. That list of attributes doesn’t actually reveal that she was a moderate, tough on crime Democrat in California. But I think it’s worth taking the concerns the party had about her not very long ago seriously, and one way to do that is to look at Wisconsin. Losing Wisconsin in 2016 was a trauma for Democrats.

It’s no accident that Harris’s first major campaign rally, first campaign rally at all, in fact, since Joe Biden stepped aside, was in Wisconsin, the same state where Republicans held their convention this year. Wisconsin is a must-win state for everybody this year. But when Harris stepped out on that stage in Wisconsin —

The next president of the United States, Kamala Harris!

— the feel of it was, I think, really different than the people who had been worrying about how she might play in Wisconsin would have expected.

(CHANTING) Kamala! Kamala! Kamala!

Thank you all. Thank you. Thank —

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you all. Thank you. Thank you, everyone. Thank you. Thank you. Good afternoon, Wisconsin. [LAUGHS]

How do Democrats win Wisconsin? Well, since 2016, they’ve been figuring that out. The Democratic Party there, the state party, is run by Ben Wikler, a veteran of different organizing groups like MoveOn and absolutely one of the most effective state chairs in the country. And they’ve been on a fair winning streak since.

In 2020, Joe Biden won the state. In 2022. Governor Tony Evers was re-elected. There was a feeling Wisconsin might go red, and they really kept that from happening. It has gotten bluer since 2016.

But that is not to say Democrats have been on an unbroken winning streak. And in particular, the lost sits in the Democratic psyche is Ron Johnson versus Mandela Barnes in the senate campaign in 2022. 2022 was a good year for Democrats. Ron Johnson was one of their prime targets. They really don’t like that guy, and they thought he was really vulnerable.

Barnes is the lieutenant governor. He’d been elected statewide. He’s a young Black Democrat, a charismatic guy, and he lost. And he lost in a race run by Chris LaCivita, who is now running Donald Trump’s campaign.

So what can be learned from that race? What can be learned from both Democratic wins and losses in Wisconsin, and how is the Republican Party positioned there now, now that Donald Trump has chosen JD Vance for his vice president? The person you would of course want to talk about this with is that Democratic state party chair, Ben Wikler. And he was kind enough to join me today. As always, my email, [email protected].

Ben Wikler, welcome to the show.

Great to be with you, Ezra.

So Kamala Harris’s first campaign rally happened yesterday, Tuesday, the 23rd, in Wisconsin. You were there. You helped introduce her. What was the vibe like?

It was electric. Let me paint the scene for you. We had a previously scheduled Kamala Harris visit to Wisconsin on Tuesday on the books, so our team was preparing for that.

And then the world changed on Sunday. And then the world changed again with a kind of whoosh. It was like the country was making a decision. The Democratic Party coalesced. Our delegates started pledging en masse for Kamala Harris. We endorsed her with a unanimous vote of her state party’s governing body on Monday.

And meanwhile, the RSVPs were rolling in, and the whole team planning the logistics of the event had to scramble to find a bigger and bigger place. They found West Allis Central High School with a huge gymnasium, and more than 3,000 people got in to the event.

And when you walked in, the room would just explode. And when I walked out, people jumped to their feet not because of me, because of this feeling that they were there for history. They were there for a kind of end to a period in American politics that people want to move past and the beginning of something so much better.

And all the way through, through multiple speakers, through music breaks, there was this just sense of joy and hope and optimism that felt so unlike the sense of dread that people have had in the pit of their stomach since 2015. Really, it felt like something new. And I feel so lucky that I was in the room when all that happened. And it feels like what we’re about to see unfold across the country.

Man, I’m pumped hearing that.

I want to pick up on two things you said there, Ben. One is the whoosh, and the other is the joy. But let’s do the whoosh first.

I feel like my head is spinning. I’ve never felt political sentiment change faster than in the past couple of days. This candidate, who people were actually afraid of, I think it’s important to be honest about this, inside the Democratic party, they are thrilled about. And there’s something very organic about it.

Suddenly, the internet is full of Kamala’s rap memes and memes of her laugh and her dancing. There’s this deep set of intangibles that have connected around her that feels a lot to me like Obama in 2008. But instead of being this build, that was a multi-year build to what he was in ‘08, it all happened in 48 hours. How do you account for it?

I feel like, as a country, we’ve been holding our breath. And it’s like we can finally exhale, and then we can start singing with joy. It is a head-spinning moment. It really is a head-spinning moment.

And I say this as someone who believes deeply that Joe Biden was an extraordinarily effective — still is an extraordinarily effective president. And he made this really extraordinary decision borne out of, I think, a really deep patriotism and a sense of something bigger than himself. And so I was in my feelings when that announcement came through. My head spun the first time when I saw President Biden’s tweet.

Yeah, when I saw that tweet, I actually had to sit down.

I felt like everything went quiet around me. You could feel history happening right there.

I think that’s right. I was sitting down. Thank goodness. I was sitting down with my laptop perched next to me. If I’d have been standing, I think I would have dropped my computer and smashed it. So on that front, I was well prepared, only on that front in a sense.

There was this yawning moment of no one knows what’s going to happen now when that word went out. And then President Biden shortly thereafter endorsed Vice President Harris. And then the work that the vice president has been doing, I think, started to bear fruit in a very rapid way.

She has been building relationships across the country. She’s been working closely with Democratic and progressive leaders and activists, union leaders, elected officials all over the country. She’s been on this nationwide tour since the Dobbs decision, meeting with people involved on the front lines of the fight for reproductive freedom, people directly affected and providers and advocacy groups and organizers.

She was in my office at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin earlier this year and met the whole team, people filing through and meeting her individually. She’s been doing this work in a way that I think the country hadn’t quite realized, in a way that made her the totally clear choice as our nominee. And this is something that I think, in a funny way, is starting from the party and moving out. Because the people who’ve been closest to the campaign, the people who’ve been seeing her in her stops across America, those are the people who are actually delegates.

She’s gone through the process, that mini primary that people have talked about — have wanted, which is for people to actually see her in action on the campaign trail. But she’s not been the locus of the national conversation. The national conversation was about Biden and Trump, then briefly about JD Vance, which — a decision that will live in infamy by Donald Trump.

But for Kamala Harris, she has been doing this. She has very visibly been just a powerhouse spokesperson in these last few weeks. And it is so natural now for her to step into this role as the nominee. She tipped the balance and got the presumptive nomination on Monday night. So she’s now the presumptive nominee of the party, and the general election has begun.

The last couple of days, she has raised more than $100 million, breaking all fund-raising records. We’re hearing a lot about money beyond that, money from big donors going into super PACs, money going down ballot in Wisconsin, in the Democratic Party there, in the down ballot races there. What are you seeing in fund-raising since Harris got Joe Biden’s endorsement?

I can say that in the last 48 hours at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, we’ve had a flood. We’ve had more than $250,000 just float in. People have been logging on and clicking, I’ll say it, wisdems.org, our website.

People have been — who I’ve left messages for the last year have now been sending me texts back that they just contributed $500, $5,000, people making bigger contributions than they thought. And anecdotally, talking to state legislative candidates already, it is a new day for them too. There’s a general sense, I think, of, yes, we can actually do this.

We can not only win, but we can win up and down the ballot. The goal now is a Democratic trifecta that can actually pass Roe into law, the Women’s Health Protection Act, led by my senator, Tammy Baldwin, I’m proud to say. We can pass the PRO Act for union organizing.

We can expand Social Security and Medicare, not watch them get eviscerated by the Vance Trumpites. You can feel the future on your fingertips. And that is going to fuel energy in state legislative races. It’s going to fuel energy for people running for county offices across the country.

It gets volunteers jazzed. For weeks, it’s been — every time I would go to a canvas kickoff, someone is asking, what’s going to happen with the ticket? They’re watching the news. They’re listening to your podcast.

They’re wondering, what should happen next? What is going to happen next? Now there’s clarity. And from that clarity comes unity. And from that unity comes energy. And I think that that’s what everyone involved in Democratic politics is feeling at this moment.

So I am personally thrilled to see Democrats have some joy in this election. I think they — as you put it well, I don’t think they quite realized how much dread they were carrying. It’s this mass collective effervescence. It’s really fun to watch and to see.

And I’m going to be counter-vibes for a minute, which is not going to be the most popular place to be right now, and inhabit some of the concerns I was hearing a few weeks ago, even through the weekend that have now been pushed to the side. And one of the reasons I wanted you on today is that Wisconsin is a good place to focus on these concerns.

There’s a tendency, as Democrats have been very focused on this Midwestern blue wall in recent years, to just say, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania. Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania. And it’s moderate-ish Midwestern states. Tight elections could go either way. Obviously, they’re different states. What is the political culture of Wisconsin that people should take into account when they’re thinking about it?

Yeah, people see Wisconsin as the state where it’s always a nail-biter, not every time, but over and over. The governor’s race here was 1.1 percentage point in 2018 during the blue wave, the presidential elections that come down to fractions of a point. And they think that means that everyone’s clustered in the middle of the political spectrum.

And the reality is, like swing voters themselves, people have conflicted, idiosyncratic, interesting views that are deeply rooted in the history of this place. And just to spell that out, Wisconsin was the state where the Republican Party was founded as a radical antislavery party in the 19th century. It became the birthplace of the progressive movement as a popular, farmer labor in Minnesota, movement against the big trusts and corporate power. Fighting Bob La Follette is this iconic figure whose bust is in the state capitol. He was this founder of the Progressive Party and this forefather of the progressive movement here.

Wisconsin was the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment so women could vote. It was the first state to have a statewide equal rights law for women. Wisconsinites wrote the Social Security Act. They created workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance here.

People fought and died in battles for labor rights. There’s this deep, rich, progressive streak, the founding of Earth Day, all these things that happened here that people learn about in school. It’s also the state where Joe McCarthy rose to power.

It’s also a state where the John Birch Society had a huge role in Republican politics, where the Bradley Foundation, which funds the Heritage Foundation and was involved in Stop the Steal-ey stuff and Project 2025-ey stuff — all that happened in Wisconsin. And we got this red wave in 2010 with Scott Walker, the Republicans in the state legislature, who we finally have the chance to kick off. It’s a state where there’s both the greatest traditions of expanding freedom and making the government work for regular folks, and also a state where there’s a far right streak that has scarred our politics, I think, for so long.

It’s led to some of the biggest racial disparities in the country. All of those stories have played out here. And in every election, it’s a choice of, which Wisconsin is going to show up? Which Wisconsin are we going to be?

So 2022, surprisingly good year for Democrats in the senate. They beat a bunch of MAGA Republicans, but not in Wisconsin, where Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes loses in a pretty tough race to Ron Johnson, who had become very MAGA over those years. Mandela Barnes is a liberal Black Democrat. Johnson’s race is run by Chris LaCivita, who is now running Donald Trump’s campaign. And I want to play you one of the ads from that race.

What happens when criminals are released because bail is set dangerously low?

Tragedy in Waukesha. An SUV plows through the city’s Christmas parade.

Six people were killed and dozens more injured. Brooks was freed from jail on $1,000 bail.

Mandela Barnes wants to end cash bail completely. He wrote the bill. Barnes still wants to end cash bail today. Mandela Barnes, not just a Democrat, a dangerous Democrat.

LaCivita’s attack line on Barnes was different, “dangerous.” These were very Willie Horton-like ads, very racially coded. They darkened his skin with the filters they were using in the ads.

Republicans have already started using “dangerously liberal,” which is quite similar as their line on Harris. So this was the kind of race that people were afraid of and that many of the Democratic Party wondered how Harris would fare in. So I think it’s good to focus in on it. Talk me through, from your perspective, the Barnes-Johnson race and its lessons for Democrats now.

First of all, that ad makes me want to punch through a wall hearing it again, just as I felt at that time. Just to be clear, Mandela Barnes’s position was that, rather than how much money you have, the question should be whether you’re a danger to the community if you’re held in pretrial detention, which actually is a pro community safety point of view. But putting that aside, I think that race actually illustrates the path to victory for Kamala Harris in the following way.

Mandela Barnes came out of that primary ahead against Ron Johnson. Ron Johnson had pretty high negatives, but about a third of Wisconsin did not yet have a view about Mandela Barnes. And then Chris LaCivita and super PACs, allied super PACs, which put in $29 million to smear Mandela Barnes, they came in, and they were outspending the pro-Mandela, anti-Johnson side in some media markets in some weeks by 4 to 1. People were seeing attack after attack after attack.

And of course, they’re going to use — we see this all the time in Wisconsin, Republican-ran ads using inflammatory, racist, often racially coded, sometimes not even fig leaf dogwhistle racism or bullhorn. Of course we’re going to see those ads. And just to pull the lens back here, Wisconsin, we’ve had nail-biters over and over. Four of the last six presidential elections have come down to less than 1 percentage point.

But the other two out of the last six were landslides for Barack Obama. We’ve elected Tammy Baldwin in huge margins in 2012 and in 2018. Wisconsin is the first state in the country to elect a Black woman to statewide executive office, Vel Phillips in 1978.

In all these races, we’ve seen hideous Republican attacks. The question is how we punch back. And in that moment, Mandela’s campaign, and I say this being close to the internal side of this whole thing, they knew that they could actually beat that hideous message. And it took three things.

One is responding to the attack head on and deflating it. The second was laying out who Mandela Barnes is and what he wants to do, what he’s for. And the third is being on offense. The campaign didn’t have the resources to do all that. This was a campaign that had just finished a primary.

Groups had not yet clicked into gear to provide outside support. And so there was this massive imbalance, and people were hearing surround sound with the most vicious attacks without hearing the combination of defense, self-definition and offense. And what we from a million other races, when you do all those things, it works.

And we know that from that race too, because by the final stretch in that race, the cavalry arrived. The whole progressive movement was in formation, fighting and supporting Mandela Barnes. And he started gaining. He went from a significant deficit in the polls, and seeing the internal polls, I can vouch for this, to being right on the cusp. He was gaining about a point a week. And he ran out of weeks. He wound up losing by 1 point.

When you say the cavalry came in, do you mean they came in with money, or there was a change in feeling towards him? Was this a resources gap that closed?

Fundamentally, this was resources. When you have to choose, you only have enough money to have one ad on the air in every part of the state. You have to choose which of those messages you want to communicate or try to cram three messages into 30 seconds, which is really hard to do.

There were a whole bunch of groups on the air. By the end, there were groups going after Ron Johnson for his support for Jan. 6 protesters who beat up law enforcement officers and with U.S. veterans talking about how Ron Johnson attacked everything that they fought for. There were ads about Mandela Barnes and his story. And they were his ads making clear that he’s always supported community safety. He’s supported funding first responders, that the ads that Republicans were running were total BS.

But critically, if all you’re doing is defending, you’re going to lose. You have to be on offense at the same time. And to do that, you need to have the resources.

We do not have to be terrified of a red wave in 2024. That was the narrative in 2022, and Democrats went on defense. And I get that. I want to ask everyone to bring their minds to the fact that when we are on offense, when we are proud and fighting for who we are, what we want, for a country that works for everyone, we win these elections, and we’re going to win this year.

I think it’s important to talk about this bluntly, because I will say, this was a big whisper campaign against Harris over many months, which is this idea that I’d say a liberal Black Democrat from California, a woman, is not going to be able to win in Wisconsin, in Pennsylvania, in Michigan. You need someone from there. You need somebody like Scranton Joe, although it doesn’t just have to be Scranton Joe.

And at the same time, if you look at Wisconsin’s record, Barack Obama wins in Wisconsin twice. Wisconsin has a very progressive record. And the Mandela Barnes / Johnson race — I don’t think I had realized in retrospect even how close it was. It was a 27,000-vote win for Johnson. It was nothing.

And both Clinton — Hillary Clinton and Trump and Joe Biden and Trump, these were 20,000-vote margins. So these were all — it’s all been teetering. But what do you say to Democrats who have this view that these Midwest states will not vote for someone with Harris’s both geographic and racial and ideological background?

As Wisconsinites would say, that cheese curd don’t squeak. It’s just not the case. And you can see that in our electoral record.

I would also say, in 2022, the national incumbent advantage was 2.2 points. So Mandela Barnes was running against an incumbent U.S. senator, and he lost by 1 point. If he had been the incumbent, he probably would have won that election. No incumbent from either party lost a senate race in 2022.

So this was within the margin of what a fully-funded, resourced and supported campaign can do. And I will never not be mad that we didn’t find a way to find all the resources needed to be able to cross the finish line. But that election illustrates exactly why this is a winnable race in this moment.

First thing I’ll say is, unlike Donald Trump and Tammy Baldwin, Kamala Harris lived in Wisconsin when she was four. She was a kid who grew up in part in the Midwest. She visited her house in Madison, her childhood home when she was in Madison, on her recent campaign visit.

She understands the state. She’s been here every year during her vice presidency in not just Milwaukee, but in Western Wisconsin and in Waukesha County, the heart of Republican Wisconsin. That’s when she kicked off her “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour. She is 100 percent credible as someone who will restore women’s freedom over their own bodies, No one can ever hear her speak or even see her and think this is not someone who would actually carry that forward.

So campaigns are about narrative, about momentum. They’re about deep, visceral sense of who’s team is this person on. And Kamala Harris is evidently, clearly on the team of people who want a country that’s characterized by freedom and opportunity and hope and the future. Donald Trump is manifestly the opposite. And that’s a contrast that works out for Team Future. People do not want to go back to the sense of constant conflict and dread and fear and menace that Trump represents.

I want to note before I play this that I think Republicans are scrambling and confused right now. So I’m not sure where they are at this moment as where they’re going to land in their attacks. But I want to play you one of the early ads Republicans have released on Harris.

Kamala was in on it. She covered up Joe’s obvious mental decline.

Our president is in good shape, in good health, tireless, vibrant. And I have no doubt about the strength of the work that we have done.

But Kamala knew Joe couldn’t do the job, so she did it. Look what she got done — a border invasion, runaway inflation, the American dream dead. They created this mess. They know Kamala owns this failed record.

The way some of the early ads I’ve seen from them are working is on two things. One is saying she was a border czar. And you know, the Trump campaign is very built around this idea of a migrant invasion.

And the other is tying her to Biden’s record. And Democrats are very proud of Biden’s record. I think there’s a lot for Democrats to be proud of in Biden’s record, but Biden’s record has not been popular. People are mad about inflation. How do you think about that? How do you respond to that?

That feels like an ad crafted for a Fox News audience that’s been following the narratives in the MAGA cinematic universe. And this is the next plot twist. I don’t think that moves normie voters. I think for people that don’t live, sleep, eat and breathe this stuff, it’s very clear that Kamala Harris and Joe Biden are two separate people. It’s also a moment that is fundamentally different in terms of what is moving people day to day.

We have seen a drop in border crossings. We’ve seen an enormous rapid drop in inflation. People are still frustrated about higher prices. But Trump is running on an increased prices platform. And that may have been a tough message for people to hear from Joe Biden. I think that Kamala Harris can make it really powerfully.

And if people are frustrated with the way things have been going, and they want change, Kamala Harris is a change candidate. And this, I think, speaks to this kind of deeper underlying structure of politics recently. There have been a series of change elections, a series of elections where people were frustrated. 2008 was a change election, and voters voted for Barack Obama once and then a second time. This was like, let’s finish the job. We can’t go back in 2012.

2016, there were a lot of reasons that 2016 happened, but for some voters, it was a kind of burn the house down. Sick of this. Let’s change everything kind of vote for Donald Trump.

2020, those same voters, the ones who bounced back, so many of them were like, ah, you know, we voted for Trump and look what we got. This is terrible. They want change again.

One thing I’ve heard from a lot of political strategists is that Harris’s vice-presidential pick is going to be meaningful. It is the first huge decision voters will see her make, and it will help define her to them. What would you advise her to look for in terms of a candidate who would actually help in a place like Wisconsin?

My core advice would be to make the decision on the grounds of a governing partner that you can work with to build a better future for the country. I think the more political — in a sense, a stunt pick — would actually not send the clear message that this is someone who’s planning for how to make everyone’s lives better. That said, I don’t think any of the names that are being thrown around are stunt picks. These are all people who are credible partners in governance.

I think fundamentally what people are going to be responding to in this race is a choice between two different futures and every brushstroke that helps to paint that future can help make that choice vivid. JD Vance actually reinforces that aspect of the menace that Trump poses to people and that MAGA poses to people. I think for Kamala Harris, her partner is an opportunity to help paint a vision of change and moving forward in a way that I think will be really exciting to folks.

I’m glad you brought up Vance. I don’t normally think vice-presidential picks are very significant. It happens occasionally. Sarah Palin was one, but Vance feels significant. I mean, one dimension is the amount of blood Democrats smell in the water around JD Vance is like nothing I’ve ever seen. Just watching every vice-presidential possibility line up on “Morning Joe” and cable news to show how they would take Vance apart in a debate. And I want to play you what Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the line he was trying out here.

Well, it’s true. These guys are just weird. And, you know, they’re running for he-man women hater’s club or something. That’s what they go out. That’s not what people are interested in. And there is angst because robber barons like JD Vance and Donald Trump gutted the Midwest, told us we didn’t do that.

They talk about private schools. Where in the heck are you going to find a private school in a town of 400? Those are public schools. Those are great teachers that are out there making a difference and gave us an opportunity to succeed. That angst that JD Vance talks about in “Hillbilly Elegy,” none of my hillbilly cousins went to Yale, and none of them went on to be venture capitalists or whatever. It’s not who people really are.

The reason that connected, I mean, I’ve seen that all over, is it gets at something true, which is that there’s something weird about Vance. I mean, I’m sorry. There is. Like, watching the guy’s own ideological evolution, I’m very willing to take people’s conversions as sincere. But going from Trump might be Hitler to as slavish as Vance is towards him now. The way Vance just talks about other people, kind of the way he is on the stump, like it just like feels like a guy who has spent too much time in a MAGA comment section, like late at night on YouTube for the last four years.

And it feels like it has crystallized something about Trump. Like, it has created a different kind of attack surface around him that he’d almost become this sort of — I don’t know — he was treated with nostalgia. Like, people got used to him, and Vance made him and them weird again.

I think a lot of people are about to find out what Groyper means.

Do you want to say what groyper means? They’ve got to find out somehow, Ben.

I think people should Google Groyper. G-R-O-Y-P-E-R. Bordering on alt right online provocateur universe. And there’s a very, very extreme edge of this that includes all the most terrifying Charlottesville-y type of people. But this is the part of Trump that is the most repellent to voters, but who’s been on display ever since he lost the election in 2020 most of all. This is the Stephen Miller wing of Trumpism, but it’s the same Trump who had a meal with Nick Fuentes, the White nationalist, far right political commentator who’s kind of the king of the groypers.

Often, you’ll see Trump post these things on Truth Social that come from the far, far right ultra mega extremist fever swamps. And some of the things that Vance talks about and the ideas that he puts forward, they come from that same fringe. I remember when I was working at MoveOn during the Trump presidency, there was one big kind of showdown around immigration. And there was this rumor, this possibility that Trump was going to support the DREAM Act.

And then at the last second, he completely ripped away from that and endorsed, you know, the worst, most far right positions, the stuff that we saw with the family separation policy. And over and over, what we would find is that Trump would dip into the well of the alt right, ultra extremist fringe conservative movement. And that feels like the swamp from which JD Vance emerged.

That version of Trump can never win a majority in this country. Cannot win a majority in Wisconsin. The Trump and the JD Vance that comes and talks about trade and talks about factories closing, that has a certain populist resonance. But this kind of seething hatred and fury, that does not appeal to people.

I have a theory on this, and I’m happy to share it, but I’m curious for your theory on why he chose Vance. Trump, I think, in a lot of ways has pretty sensitive political instincts when it counts. He’s been running away from Project 2025. He came out with a more moderate states choice position on abortion and has really pushed that in the Republican Party platform, recognizing what a vulnerability that is for him. He picked Mike Pence in 2016.

And he had these other candidates he was thinking of. I mean, the moment Doug Burgum was on his short list, my first thought was, oh, shit. Like, that’s the kind of move from Trump that would actually be quite dangerous, right? I would have never in a million years thought Doug Burgum, the completely normal Republican governor of North Dakota, would end up on his short list.

Rubio is also a pretty interesting figure from that perspective. Rubio is a very talented politician. He’s moved more MAGA-y over time, but he’s able to really do it with a smile. He knows how to run in a very big, diverse state.

And Vance is inexperienced. He’s not great on TV. He comes across as pretty mean. What’s your theory of how he ended up on the ticket?

It feels like the Trump who thought he could not lose. You know, maybe it’s the part of Trump that thinks that he can’t lose unless there’s cheating, and he wants the person who’s willing to use their muscle to overturn election results he doesn’t like. But fundamentally, it felt like an act of supreme overconfidence, of choosing the person who he just really actually liked their vibe, as opposed to the person who he thought voters would really like.

It feels to me like he was on a boat, and he thought that he was so certain to win the race that he picked up his anchor and started spinning it in a circle, and then hurled it through the floor of the boat. It’s like an act that you only do when you think that there’s no way that you can possibly lose. And yet, here he is in a totally different race. There’s rumored — or there’s reported angst within the Republican world already that he picked the wrong guy. I think that’s just going to get worse.

And I think that’s going to get worse as more comes out about JD Vance and what he’s written and what he says and whose ideas he’s most interested in. He does not represent somebody you’d want a heartbeat away from the presidency. He represents menace. And the decision to go with that might be one of the biggest political mistakes we’ve ever seen from Donald Trump.

I think that political parties, political coalitions, they have virtues and vices that are associated with them, that are sort of their light side and the dark side. I think for Democrats, all of this is perfectly true under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. I think their sort of light side is they’re thoughtful. They’re curious. They’re open-minded. They think through things really hard. They take serious things very seriously.

And the dark side is smugness, is condescension, is a kind of faculty club elitism. It came out in Hillary Clinton’s deplorables comment. I think one of the things that Democrats have had to really work on inside their coalition and their presentation in this period is not seeming smug. Not treating the people voting for Donald Trump like the sort of dying spasm of white rage, which was a real tendency in the party.

On the Republican side, I think they’ve got some virtues — patriotism, and sort of a love of country and a love of tradition. And the vice is a sort of rage and contempt. Everyone is against us. The people who are against us are un-American.

And those aesthetics really matter. And to me, the difficulty that Vance and also oftentimes Trump, which I think is actually coming out in him more and more as he feels a little bit cornered by Harris now, is that rage and that contempt. And I want to play this clip from Vance because I remember being stunned by it at the time. And I think it really shows this sort of politics.

We’re effectively run in this country via the Democrats, via our corporate oligarchs, by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made. And so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too. And it’s just a basic fact. You look at Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, AOC, the entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children. And how does it make any sense that we’ve turned our country over to people who don’t really have a direct stake in it?

Kamala Harris, I should say, has two stepchildren who they call her Mamala. It’s a very important part of her life and identity. Pete Buttigieg was in the process of adopting while JD Vance was saying that. But even putting all that aside, like, how does that vibe play, in your view, in Wisconsin?

To hell with that guy. You know, wherever you go in Wisconsin — and Wisconsin is small towns. It is factory towns or water tower towns as they’re called. It has bigger cities, no huge cities. Milwaukee is well under a million people. It has a ton of rural areas.

But wherever you go in our state, there’s all kinds of families. That is part of the American story now. There are families with stepkids. There are single people. There are people who’ve divorced and remarried and blended their families together. There’s all kinds of different family structures. And everyone knows people who have different ways that their lives are proceeding. That is just a universal experience in Wisconsin, in Michigan, in Pennsylvania. It’s the human condition now that not everyone follows the same script.

And part of living in our society is honoring everyone making their own decisions about their own personal lives. Like, that is the essence of freedom, right, is the idea that each of us should be able to make the most important decisions in our lives for ourselves. And I think that Vance clip kind of illustrates the core of this.

Abortion is a big deal. It is a part of that freedom of making your own decisions about your own body. Vance wants to control people. He wants to shame people for being different. And he wants to create a system of control so that people follow the script that he wants them to live. That doesn’t actually sell.

So many inconsistent voters and swing voters, what they really don’t want is politicians getting so interested in their lives that they want to make their big decisions for them. That is voter repellent, more powerful than bug repellent is to bugs. And it is not something that wins you an election.

And we are going to make sure that voters know that if they want to be controlled and dominated by people like Donald Trump and JD Vance, they should vote for Trump and Vance. If they want the freedom to live their own lives, then they should vote for Kamala Harris. That is a crystal clear message that results, I think, in a victory that will end the MAGA era in American politics.

I want to read something you said to me for an article I wrote back in February about the Democratic Party. You said, quote, “When you talk to inconsistent voters and swing voters, you see a very high level of cynicism the government can ever deliver. To be persuasive to them, you need to credibly describe what kind of change you can generate and on what kind of things. And it tends to be on things that people know the government already does. That’s how you wind up with Whitmer and Evers running on fixing the damn roads in 2018. Then, they did fix the damn roads, and then they got re-elected.” Tell me about that theory of winning over swing voters.

So it starts — there’s a book, which I preview, we’ll recommend later, by a political scientist named Samuel Popkin. And it’s called “The Reasoning Voter.” And his argument is essentially a lot of people in politics and political science and pollsters talk about low information voters, but he argues for low information rationality, which is to say people who don’t want to think about politics much, the way that I don’t think about Olympic sports when it’s not the every four-year Olympics very much, those voters, they often do vote. They don’t have a ton of information, but they connect the dots based on the information that they do have.

They have ideas in their mind about what the government does and what it doesn’t do. And they don’t get mad at politicians for things that they don’t think are affected by those politicians, but things that they do identify as the work of government, as the domain of public policy, they do look at what they see and then hold politicians accountable for it. So governors and roads is a great example.

And it was the case for a while that people felt like abortion probably was not going to be determined by presidents. It just didn’t seem real. But then Dobbs happened. And for 451 days in Wisconsin after the Dobbs decision came down, every abortion provider in Wisconsin stopped providing abortion care because of a 19th century law.

Voters experienced in their own lives and the lives of people that they knew crises, usually happening in private, where people got pregnant. They needed emergency care. In some cases, they had ectopic pregnancies. There were doctors who were terrified of providing that care because they thought they might be sent to jail. Those stories spread.

Going back to the quote that you just read me, the question of whether women or politicians make decisions about abortion, whether it’s the person who gets pregnant, or the politician who passes a law, that is clearly in the domain of politics now. One of the arguments that is in this book and in political science broadly is that people make inferential shortcuts from the things that they can see, the information that they have close to hand, and what people’s positions are likely to be.

The more a campaign puts a highly charged issue front and center the more voters distinguish between the different candidates and what their positions are. But now, we have a very handy, easy shortcut on who is going to defend your reproductive freedom and who isn’t. Trump has been trying to take abortion off the table. Chris LaCivita did that with Ron Johnson as well. They tried to dodge the issue completely, but it’s clearly there. JD Vance makes clear it’s there. Project 2025 makes clear it’s there. And Kamala Harris makes clear that it’s there. And this is the most potent issue in American politics right now. Not the first issue people name, but the issue that moves swing voters and even some Republicans to vote for Democrats and the issue that gets people off the couch and into the ballot box. And it is now unignorable in 2024.

I’m glad you went there with it, because the question I was going to ask you is, what is the equivalent of roads for federal politicians? So abortion is one. I actually think that’s a very sharp point that it has moved out of this realm of things you don’t really think the president is going to do anything about either way to things that you do. Are there other things like that for you?

Roads and Roe are two pretty big ones, so I’m glad that we’re noting those. There’s another kind of broader one, which is, are you on the side of the people or special interests? And Kamala Harris, as a prosecutor, she went after the big banks. She got $18 billion for consumers in California.

She embodies this sense of protecting and standing up to bullies and to predatory wrongdoers like Donald Trump. Her life of public service as a prosecutor, as attorney general, as a Senator, I worked with her very closely in the fight against the repeal of the Affordable Care Act when she was in the U.S. Senate, and I was at MoveOn in my previous job. And she’s very credible as a messenger of someone who will take on special interests and corporate criminals on behalf of the people.

And Trump is pretty obviously a guy who loves being friends with billionaires. He had that meeting with oil company executives and told them that he’d give them whatever they wanted if they funneled $1 billion to his campaign. And so there’s a set of things that all touch on the same kind of emotional core of whether you’re for the wealthy or whether you’re for the people. Whether you’re for big, powerful special interests who are gouging regular folks, or whether you’re someone who will stand up for regular folks. And Kamala is a very strong messenger on that.

There’s also another thing that is more complicated in terms of how it plays out, which is this idea of democracy. And the weird thing about it is that for people that are highly motivated, high information voters, democracy is often the most important thing, the sacred idea that the people should decide rather than politicians overturning election results that they don’t like.

The reason why it’s a little complicated is that if you’re a cynical voter, you might already think the system is rigged. You might already think that your vote isn’t powerful. The idea that you’re going to vote for someone because they’ll save democracy if you think democracy is already broken is not super credible. And yet, it is a really potent and really important and really powerful issue because it motivates people that do the work and become messengers. It’s the people who think that it’s worthwhile to go out and knock on doors. Those people believing to their core that democracy is under threat, which it manifestly is from Donald Trump, that is a powerful motivator.

And for a slice of high information Republican voters, it’s actually a deal breaker for Trump. There’s a slice of people who voted for Trump twice who are going to vote for Kamala Harris this fall because of Jan. 6th and because of Trump’s continued insistence that the last election was stolen and the next one will be stolen. He won’t accept election results. There’s a meaningful number of those voters.

And Wisconsin went for Trump by 22,748 votes in 2016. It went for Biden by 20,682. This is a small margin state. Those voters, the voters who believed to their core about democracy, even if they disagree with Democrats about a lot of other things, those voters can tip the election as well.

You said that Wisconsin is a small margin state, and it has been in recent presidential elections. But Tammy Baldwin, Senator Baldwin is on the ballot this year. She is leading her Republican opponent in the latest Marquette poll by five points. In 2018, she won by 11 points.

Wisconsin is unusual in this. It is still a state that is sending a Republican and a Democrat to the Senate. But unlike Johnson, I mean, Baldwin has been winning by pretty big numbers. I don’t think she’s seen in general as an easily beatable figure. So what is behind her success? What lessons are there in it?

Tammy Baldwin is a dynamite Senator. She’s a dynamite campaigner. I feel very lucky. I got to know her when I was in high school, and she was a state representative. And I volunteered on her first Congressional campaign when I was a senior in high school.

In the primary, she won thanks in part to the strength of a huge turnout at the University of Wisconsin campus. The newspaper headline the next day was “Youthquake.” And she went to Congress. She did a great job there.

When she ran for Senate, a lot of people were having this conversation — can Tammy Baldwin become the first out lesbian woman elected to the United States Senate? Could she win a state like Wisconsin? She was up against Tommy Thompson, who was the legendary four-times elected Republican governor of the state, who then went to Washington, D.C. to work for George W. Bush.

And she housed him. She won in a big victory in 2012 and then was number one target by the Republicans going into 2018. And then, she won in an 11-point landslide.

There are some key lessons to be drawn there. First of all, she does communicate all over the state, and she travels all over the state. And she connects with voters in rural areas, in small towns, in suburbs, in cities. She listens to people. They can tell that she likes them. She has this record. And if you listen to her stump speech, there’s a lot about how she stands up to the big drug companies. She stood up to the insurance companies. She wrote the law that allows people to get on their parents’ health insurance until age 26.

Her current opponent is a guy named Eric Hovde. Eric Hovde is a mega, mega millionaire, hundreds of millions of dollars who runs a bank in California. He grew up in Wisconsin and then left, came back to run for Senate, and lost to Tommy Thompson in the primary in 2012, and then left again. And then, has come back to run for Senate again.

And he said all these different things that convey that he doesn’t actually like Wisconsinites. He has a little bit of that JD Vance problem of contempt for a lot of people. And Tammy Baldwin is able to show people that she’s on their side and that she’s effective. And she’s showing that her opponent is not on the side of regular folks.

I think there’s a lot to learn from that. And there’s a lot to learn from the way that she drives a crystal clear message that is rooted in her story and that connects with the lives of voters all over Wisconsin. And in some ways, the most powerful thing in politics is the messenger. Having a messenger who instantly makes clear that you’re for real, that you can deliver on what you’re saying, that this is what the election is about.

I want to pick up on that issue of enthusiasm going back to the early Tammy Baldwin races. As long as I’ve been in politics, there’s been this idea that Democrats benefit from high turnout, high enthusiasm elections, and Republicans benefit from lower turnout. And that reflected compositional differences in the parties, that Democrats were stronger among young people, stronger among Black and Hispanic voters, stronger among voters who don’t turn out that often.

But the belief was that if this was a high turnout election in 2024, given the surprising strength that Trump seemed to be showing among more marginal voters, younger voters, Black voters, that that would be good for him. Now, all of a sudden, there’s this huge, what at least feels like — I mean, we don’t know the polling really yet — but a huge shift in sentiment around Harris, and particularly around these very same voters.

And so I guess I’m curious from your perspective, if you feel the race has changed around this question of turnout and enthusiasm, if this is just all across the board a really high energy, high turnout clash. Has that shifted in the Democrats’ favor? Is that something Democrats should now want?

There’s a lot of theories around this. There’s a lot of different ways you can slice the data. Mike Podhorzer runs a Substack called Weekend Reading, where he maps out in 2016, a lot of people voted. 2020, a lot more people voted. Biden won the people who had voted in 2016 by two points. He won the people who had not voted in 2016, but did in 2020 by 12 points.

This is new voters who turned out to defeat MAGA. And a lot of those voters voted in 2018. And in the battleground states specifically, not so much in California and New York, those voters turned out in 2022 and helped to reelect Governor Evers and Whitmer and Shapiro and dealt this huge blow to MAGA politicians who’d wanted to create the conditions for success in the 2024 coup that they had failed to execute in 2020.

And that anti-MAGA coalition I think now has a very clear reason to show up. A lot of what we saw in the polls was a striking absence, especially of young voters. And this is, you know, as a lot of people have discussed, this is also true of Black and Latino voters, which I want to emphasize a lot of Black and Latino voters are young voters. So all these things layer on top of each other.

And a lot of those folks just were not opting in to voting. The level of voter interest and enthusiasm had waned. The people who were left, the people who said that they might vote, a lot of those were more MAGA folks who were ready potentially to vote for Trump.

Going back to something you were saying earlier, if you look at the polling just recently in Wisconsin, there was a public poll by YouGov that found that Tammy Baldwin had 50 percent support. Eric Hovde, her Republican opponent, had 43 percent support. Trump had 43 percent support. Biden in that poll was at 38 percent.

So it’s not that Tammy was defeating her Republican opponent because her Republican opponent was less popular than Trump. Trump and Eric Hovde had exactly the same level of support in Wisconsin. It’s that there were a whole bunch of people who were not sure if they would vote in the presidential election. And they were sure that they would support Tammy, if they did vote. And I think that changes now.

So much of what was happening was people who felt frustrated that they were seeing a rematch of a choice that they’d had to make before. They’re fed up with things. They want to change, and they didn’t feel like they had a way to express that through their votes. And now, they do. That, I think is part of the shift for a lot of those voters.

I also want to say for Democrats, we’ve had weeks where Democrats, every time they gathered, they were talking about what should happen, what was going to happen at the top of the ticket. And now, they can direct their attention to making the case for our nominee and against the Republican nominee. And that kind of clarity, it’s kind of liberating. It allows people to focus on doing the things that will actually affect the election result. It’s the best cure for political anxiety is taking action.

So there’s a ton of that kind of energy that is bursting forth as well. People who felt like the family was having a fight, instead of the family standing shoulder to shoulder and going out there in the world to win.

One thing that feels constant around me is people who say to me, you know, I know my vote doesn’t matter, right? Like, where they are, the Democrat is going to win. But I know people who live in red states who care a lot about this election. And to them, where they are, their vote isn’t going to matter because Donald Trump is going to win.

What is going to matter — and it almost seems like this amazing privilege — is living in Wisconsin, in Michigan, in Pennsylvania and Arizona, maybe in Georgia, maybe in North Carolina. Whatever side of this you’re on, if you are in a state where the person you support is going to win it overwhelmingly and you want to be useful, you want to be involved in the places where the election matters, where the election might tip, as it has in Wisconsin, 20,000-ish votes, what is useful? As somebody who I’m sure gets a lot of this question incoming, like what is valuable for you beyond just money from people who don’t live in your state?

I have a list of five things that people who live outside of a battleground state should do. They are, one, donate. Two, recruit other people to donate. Three, volunteer. Four, recruit other people to volunteer. And five, move to a swing state.

And I say this in all seriousness, especially the first four. Money does matter. And you can see that in some of the races that we’ve talked about here. There’s a certain point at which it stops mattering. But my general philosophy is we should use better messages to out-communicate the other side in every time period and every medium all the way through.

And posting wasn’t on your list. Just being on X or Threads or TikTok all the time. That wasn’t one of the five?

I will say that it actually doesn’t hurt to post. It used to be that there was a kind of stigma that Republican voters talked about for announcing that you supported Trump. More recently, it’s felt a little weird for some people to say loud and proud that they supported Joe Biden. And for Trump world, there’s just this level of enthusiasm where people have started to overestimate Republican support. So I think that does help.

But one thing I will strongly say is that if you amplify the other side’s messages when you’re trying to respond to them, that is counterproductive. There’s now a lot of research about how lies spread. And if you repeat the lie before you debunk it, people remember the lie more strongly.

But I do think that posting is helpful. It’s not the case that arguing with Republicans on X is going to win this election, but reaching out to people who are not thinking about politics much, who you know if your life, who are in your timeline, that can help. And that adds up. I mean, this might be a blowout election. I want it to be a blowout election. It might be another razor thin election. And just in case it is, don’t act like this is a spectator sport for the next 102, 103 days. Put yourself in the game and get involved so that the day after the election you wake up either feeling like you are a part of the victory or knowing that you did everything you possibly could.

Ben, always our final question — what are three books you would recommend to the audience?

So the first book is one that I mentioned that I cannot recommend strongly enough, “The Reasoning Voter.” And I think what’s so helpful about it is that it is so cheap and easy and cynical to think that nothing matters, to think that voters go off vibes in a way that is meaningless. In fact, people do think about this stuff, but a lot of them don’t pay attention much to politics.

And “The Reasoning Voter” goes through a huge amount of evidence and data and a theoretical way to think about people who don’t think about politics much, which no listener to this podcast are members of that club. No one who reads “The Reasoning Voter” is a member of that club, but it helps to put your mind into the place of someone who is picking up little bits here and there and then earnestly trying to figure out who’s on their side and who will make their lives better. So “The Reasoning Voter” by Samuel Popkin.

The second book that I recommend is a Wisconsin book that when I read it, it made me want to pump my fist in the air. It’s a book called “Finding Freedom: The Untold Story of Joshua Glover, Freedom Seeker.” It’s by Ruby West Jackson and Walter McDonald. Ruby West Jackson is an amazing Wisconsin original woman, an African-American woman from Beloit who became a kind of historian of slavery and of the Underground Railroad and of African-American history in Wisconsin.

And it tells a story of a man who escaped slavery in Missouri, came to Wisconsin on the Underground Railroad, and then was tracked down. They put him in detention in Milwaukee. And then an uprising, a kind of a riot broke out, broke him out of jail, helped him get on a boat and escape to Canada. The people involved in that protest were tried and their case went to the state supreme court in Wisconsin, which unanimously decided before any other court had ever reached this conclusion that the Fugitive Slave Act was unconstitutional. It helped lead to the Civil War and the secession of the Southern states.

And it’s a story about people organizing, fighting for justice. It has these speeches by Black abolitionists in Racine that will make you just jump out of your seat and want to run through a wall in the fight for a better world. And it is rooted in the state that I love. So that’s my second book.

The third book is a book that led to a movie that is a key part of my life. I grew up watching “The Princess Bride” over and over. I memorized the movie. I quoted it in my toast at my sister’s wedding, the part about maw-widge.

The high point of my time as a Democratic state party chair in terms of fun was original cast reading of “The Princess Bride” script as a fundraiser during the pandemic. I now watch “The Princess Bride” regularly with my kids, but it wasn’t until I was an adult that I read the book.

“The Princess Bride” is by William Goldman. It is hilarious. It’s a kind of a book that pretends to be an abridged version of a different book. It started with William Goldman telling stories to his own daughters when they were kids. And in a moment when there’s so many things that make your head spin, it is, I think, an important part of finding joy to go back to that theme in this conversation, to read things that just make you laugh and make you glad that we live in the world that we live in.

We’re so lucky to be alive in this moment when we have the power to change the future, where we have the power to vote for our highest aspirations. And it’s a world that has freedom. It’s a world where we can laugh.

Ben Wikler, thank you very much.

Thanks so much for having me on, Ezra. [MUSIC PLAYING]

This episode of the show is produced by Rollin Hu. Fact checking by Michelle Harris with Kate Sinclair. Mixing by Isaac Jones. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld. Our senior editor is Claire Gordon. The show’s production team also includes Annie Galvin, Elias Isquith, Kristin Lin and Aman Sahota. We have original music by Isaac Jones, audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser, and special thanks to Sonia Herrero.

EZRA KLEIN: From New York Times Opinion, this is “The Ezra Klein Show.”

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