Voices From Across the Aisle Returns in May to Tackle Immigration, Workforce Debate

DECORAH — DecorahNews.com is bringing back a monthly "Perspectives From Both Sides of the Aisle" feature for May and the months to follow, continuing an effort to provide our readers with balanced political viewpoints from Iowa's two major parties, especially as important national and state elections loom. Each edition highlights a timely issue through two guest columns—one from a Democrat and one from a Republican—offering readers a broader understanding of the policy debates shaping Iowa and the nation. The initiative is part of a collaborative effort among Iowa newspapers aimed at encouraging thoughtful, civil discourse while reinforcing the important role local journalism plays in informing communities. What to Expect: Two guest columns published side by side on the same day. Perspectives from both Republican and Democratic leaders on major public policy issues. A focus on respectful dialogue and community engagement. This month's topic focuses on immigration and workforce policy, asking how Iowa should approach immigration in a way that addresses border security concerns while also supporting the state's workforce needs and economic growth. Iowa Can Welcome Legal Immigration Without Accepting Chaos By: Republican Party of Iowa Co-Chair Linda Upmeyer Iowans are compassionate people. We believe in hard work, personal responsibility and following the rules. That's why most Iowans support legal immigration and welcome people who want to come here the right way, contribute and build a better life for their families. But Iowans also believe in the rule of law, that borders matter and that the public safety of Americans is paramount. For four years under Joe Biden, Washington acted like enforcing immigration law was somehow optional. Democrats across the country agreed. The result was chaos at the southern border and consequences that reached every corner of the country, including states like Iowa that sit hundreds of miles away. Under Biden, every state became a border state. While the true number may be even higher, an estimated 6.7 million illegal immigrants entered the United States during the Biden administration. Americans watched overwhelmed border communities, cartel activity, human trafficking and dangerous criminals take advantage of a system that stopped prioritizing enforcement. Iowans have seen the consequences firsthand. Sarah Root and Mollie Tibbetts were young Iowans with bright futures who were killed by illegal immigrants who should never have been in this country. Their families should never have had to endure those tragedies. In Sarah Root's case, her killer was allowed to post bond and fled the country because of a legal loophole. Years later, under President Trump, he was finally arrested in Honduras and returned to face justice. President Trump later signed Sarah's Law, championed by Iowa's congressional delegation, to help ensure no family experiences that heartbreak again. Public safety should never be controversial. That's why Republicans in Iowa have supported stronger cooperation with ICE, banned sanctuary city policies and worked to ensure law enforcement has the tools necessary to keep dangerous individuals off our streets. Meanwhile, too many Democrats continue to dodge straightforward questions about immigration enforcement. While many in his party lob insults and attack ICE, Rob Sand, the presumed Democrat nominee for governor, is silent. He has repeatedly avoided clearly stating whether he would maintain Iowa's cooperation with ICE. Voters deserve a clear answer. This debate is often framed dishonestly. Democrats want voters to believe Republicans oppose immigration entirely, which is simply untrue. Iowa depends on legal immigration. Agriculture, manufacturing, health care and construction all rely on hardworking people who want to contribute to our economy and communities. Iowa can support legal immigration while also insisting that laws be enforced and borders secured. Those ideas are not in conflict unless politicians choose to make them so. What Iowans oppose is a system where people skip the line, enter illegally and receive preferential treatment while families who follow the legal process wait years to come to this country the right way. Republicans believe immigration should be lawful, orderly and serve the interests of American citizens first. That includes securing the border, deporting criminals who are here illegally and ensuring states like Iowa can continue cooperating with federal law enforcement. The contrast since President Trump returned to office has been significant. Border crossings have sharply declined, deportations have increased and, for the first time in decades, the United States experienced negative net migration in 2025 after strong enforcement measures were put in place. That happened because leadership changed and priorities changed. Americans should not be afraid to expect enforcement of immigration laws. They should not be lectured for wanting safe communities or secure borders. And they should not be told that compassion requires accepting disorder and chaos. Iowans are compassionate people. But compassion should never come at the expense of public safety, the rule of law or the citizens whom the government is elected to protect. As this election approaches, voters should ask themselves a simple question: Which party is willing to enforce the law, support legal immigration and protect Iowa families at the same time? Border Control to Stop Illegal Immigration is Necessary to Protect the U.S., but Legal Immigration is Important Too Without immigration, Iowa's economy and services would stagnate and weaken By: Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart Immigration and border control are a couple of the most serious issues facing the U.S. The debate over how many legal immigrants should enter the country, how to improve the legal immigration process, who should be granted legal status and how to address the folks who break the rules is never-ending. It's easy to fall into the trap of having the "answers" to long-running questions like these be black and white. Some would say let everyone in. Others would say let no one in. Grant amnesty to every illegal immigrant or deport them all back home. These options are the wrong fit for the U.S., and they're definitely the wrong fit for Iowa. The true solution, like everything in life, is going to be more complicated and requires leaders to work out common-sense solutions. That has obviously not been happening. Let's be clear. We need a secure border. Violent criminals should not be admitted, and those who commit violent crimes after they are here should be deported. Iowans need and have the right to feel safe in their homes. The questions we are facing are complicated by the reality of what's happening in Iowa. Iowa has an aging population. People are having fewer babies. If health care becomes better, if jobs paid better, if child care becomes more accessible and affordable — maybe that would turn the situation around. Our reality right now, though, is that Iowa's aging population puts more pressure on government services because a greater percentage of our citizens rely on them. At the same time, we have fewer young people who fund and work to provide these services — a double whammy that has a strong potential to reduce the quality of life in our state. The reality is that Iowa has alleviated some of these issues with immigration into the state. More than 7% of Iowa's labor force is foreign-born. An estimated 20% of doctors in Iowa were born outside the United States. Iowa has a history of helping immigrants, as evidenced by Republican Gov. Robert Ray's program to welcome immigrants from Southeast Asia, particularly Tai Dam people, who were fleeing war in 1975. Iowans are compassionate. We understand the human reality that people do what's best for their families because that's what we do ourselves. So, we understand when families choose to flee from violence and starvation to protect their family members, and Iowans have been proud to help those folks in the past. However, we need to keep our own borders safe and secure in order to protect our own families. Banning all immigration would be a detriment to Iowa. Allowing the immigration of everyone who wished to cross our borders would also be a detriment to Iowa and to the country. Right now, the path to legal immigration takes too long and costs too much money. The solution must be found in the middle. We need a solution that acknowledges our aging population, allows us to provide a safe haven for those who truly need it, fills the need for younger people in the workforce, streamlines and lowers the cost of legal immigration and recognizes and celebrates the contributions immigrants have already made and will continue to make to our communities and state. It's nonsense that Democrats want to open up the border and let undocumented citizens access programs like SNAP and Medicaid. This is fearmongering and politics at its worst and it is just not true. Bigotry and hatred have no place here. We're perfectly capable of policing our borders without fearmongering about the 'other' that lies in wait just outside the lines drawn on our maps, just as we're completely capable of crafting an immigration policy that's merciful and effectively addresses our economic needs and realities. Iowans are tired of the grandstanding and inaction on an issue that truly divides our society. The way to change our immigration system is by electing people who have thoughtful solutions and are willing to work across the aisle to find compromise so that good, common-sense immigration policy can become our new reality. I have an inkling that Bob Ray would've been able to do this, and we have politicians today who can follow in his wise footsteps. It's time for change because we've been divided by this issue for too long. The immigration debate won't end with this column, just as it won't end with this election. But the debate should be grounded in reality and treated like a serious discussion, not as a way to whip people into a frenzy and never provide solutions that unite us rather than divide us. Iowa is better than that. Iowans are better than that.