By Josh Weizel – Editorial Editor

Immigration reform has perhaps caused the biggest divide in the Republican Party in a very long time.

Between immigration hawks like Steve King, who argue strongly against it, to Republicans who are very much open to reform like Jed Bush and Marco Rubio, the issue has caused tremendous debate in the party.

The Dream Act was a bipartisan idea by both Republicans and Democrats to give undocumented minors who have pledged allegiance to our flag and earned good grades, or have served in this country a chance to work and avoid deportation. This bill would also give these undocumented minors a path to citizenship by learning our history and culture. At the same time, the bill would strengthen border security for national security reasons. But the proposed bill has put Republicans in two groups: those who want to further anger the white working class base and Republicans who want to expand the base. This bill had the bipartisan support of Republicans like Rubio and John McCain and Democrats such as Dick Durbin.

This is such an important national issue that it requires a serious debate. Ever since the Pilgrims came here on the Mayflower, there has been a natural desire by most Americans that unite us, a belief that no matter our background or where we started off in life, we are united behind the idea of loving America the idea that if you start off impoverished, it does not have to determine your destiny and your entire life.

Americans support the idea that we can improve our conditions and that where we start of in life does not determine our future.  Just like the Pilgrims on the Mayflower were escaping tyranny and rule of the Monarch that created laws without the consent of the British people, immigrants today are escaping tyranny and countries that are against an ideology of reason.

Those on the Mayflower came seeking more opportunities. The new destination they were going to had been unknown by the European world. The individuals coming here did not know what they would find, but they were determined to come anyway to pursue their own happiness.  America was the first country where people could work for their own self-interest and it was the first country where individuals could improve their conditions in life. Immigrants who take the journey to come to the shining city on a hill today want the same opportunities that immigrants have always wanted — which is to improve their conditions and pursue their own happiness in the way they choose by working for their own rational self-interest. Immigrants today come to America to start new business and develop new ideas and innovations. This free enterprise system is what makes America great. The spread of fear and hatred from politicians and political leaders need to stop because immigrants who come here with new ideas do not destroy this country, but instead they add to it.

Unfortunately, demagogy has played a role in this debate. Those who are the strictest on immigration argue that immigrants who come here will take jobs from hardworking natives, but what they fail to understand is that it is not natives who built this country. We are a country of immigrants. Immigrants built this land into the superpower it is today. The undocumented dreamer who came here through no fault of their own could be the next Steve Jobs or the next big innovator or entrepreneur that will add to the joy of our nation. It is despicable and deplorable to advocate mass deportations of these dreamers because they are indeed our future and we should treat them with compassion.

There are some immigration opponents who have legitimate concerns about national security, which means we must strike a middle ground on the issue. We should have an immigration policy that abides by the rule of law by keeping out immigrants who want to do harm to our nation, but we should also have a compassionate immigration policy. Immigrants do not damage our country. Instead, they add to our country and to the greater American experience.

It is dangerous how political leaders on the far right and far left can become brilliant demagogues and spread hatred and fear. The most disgusting thing is that this demagoguery brings about little tolerance, and sparks hatred and racism.  In order to pass immigration reform, we need to combat this ideology of ignorance, intolerance and antiquated racial attitudes. It is the job of political leaders not to tell extremist constituents what they want to hear, but instead act like real leaders and not spread that hatred .The more our country is divided between left and right and the more politicians there are on both extremes of the political spectrum, the more we spread fear and hatred that will keep America ignorant on immigration.