Friends,
The immigration debate is one of the most politically charged discussions in North America – but what if we stripped away the noise and just looked at the facts? That’s exactly what I aimed to do in my conversation with Jessica Vaughan, Director of Policy Studies at the Center for Immigration Studies.
Jessica has spent years studying immigration policy, analyzing labor markets and cutting through the rhetoric to expose the special interests that shape immigration law. Our conversation was eye-opening—not because it was about right vs. left, but because it tackled a fundamental question: Who actually benefits from mass immigration?
One of the most striking takeaways was how businesses, not workers, often drive immigration policy. Jessica explained how corporations—especially in industries like agriculture, tech, and manufacturing—push for more immigration under the guise of “labor shortages.” But what they really want is cheaper, more compliant labor. Instead of investing in American or Canadian workers, they turn to staffing agencies that import foreign labor at lower wages, creating a system where exploitation thrives.
We also explored the role of border enforcement—a topic that has become even more relevant with Trump’s latest executive orders. Jessica argued that border control isn’t just about physical barriers but about sending a message. When the U.S. takes a tough stance on illegal immigration, crossings drop—not just because of policies but because of perception. The Biden administration, she noted, has had the opposite effect, signaling an openness that resulted in record migration numbers.
This conversation was a real deep-dive into how immigration policies shape our economies, our communities, and even our elections. And based on the overwhelming response from listeners, there’s still so much more to discuss.
Which is why we’re bringing Jessica back for Part 2. With Trump’s new immigration policies making headlines, we’ll explore what’s actually changing, what’s just political theatre, and what the long-term implications could be.
If you missed our first conversation, go check it out—because the real immigration debate isn’t about slogans. It’s about who’s winning, who’s losing, and why.
