Mass deportations shouldn’t have to be a national conversation – but here we are.
And it’s not because everyday Americans want to round up their neighbors. It’s because Congress, especially Democrats, have kicked the can down the road for decades and refused to fix a broken immigration system.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich warned about this mess years ago.
And unlike many in Washington, he offered real solutions – ones that didn’t require deporting millions of people overnight, but also didn’t reward those who broke the law.
In a 2011 Republican debate, Gingrich said what many Americans were already thinking:
“You’re not going to deport 11 million people. It’s not realistic, and it’s not who we are.”
But he didn’t call for blanket amnesty either. Instead, he pushed a common sense, conservative plan that started with securing the border and enforcing the law.
The Real Root of the Problem
Let’s be clear. This crisis didn’t start under President Trump. It’s been building for decades while both parties in Congress looked the other way.
But the worst of it falls on Democrats, who keep insisting on giving citizenship to people who entered the country illegally. They’ve blocked nearly every serious attempt to fix the system unless it comes with full amnesty.
That’s like giving a speeding driver a trophy instead of a ticket. It rewards bad behavior and encourages more of it.
Meanwhile, Nevada is seeing the effects firsthand.
In Clark County, the school district has been overwhelmed. Hospitals in southern Nevada are under pressure. And our law enforcement is stretched thin.
These aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet. These are real impacts on families, workers, seniors, and struggling communities.
Gingrich’s Plan: Strong but Fair
Gingrich’s ideas still make a lot of sense today.
He didn’t sugarcoat the need to enforce the law. First step? Secure the border. That means more agents, better technology, and finishing the wall in the places that need it.
That part has been covered in the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
He also pushed for an entry-exit tracking system to stop visa overstays – one of the biggest holes in our system.
It’s shocking how many people come here legally and just never leave. Yet no one tracks them. That’s insane.
Gingrich also called for E-Verify to make sure only legal residents can get jobs.
That’s just common sense. If there are no jobs for people here illegally, fewer will come in the first place.
But where Gingrich really stood out was in offering a plan for people who’ve been here a long time – those who’ve raised families, paid taxes, and stayed out of trouble.
Nevada News & Views writer Brittany Sheehan featured one such example she’s aware of from personal experience yesterday. Click here.
Instead of granting them citizenship, Gingrich proposed a local review process to offer legal residency, case by case. That way, no one skips the line, and we don’t tear apart communities.
Why It Matters in Nevada
Nevada is a border-state neighbor, and we feel the ripple effects of weak immigration enforcement.
Our public resources are strained. Law enforcement officers, like those in the Las Vegas Metro Police Department, have had to pick up the slack when federal agencies are overwhelmed or restricted from doing their jobs.
In 2023, Nevada saw a rise in drug trafficking cases linked directly to border cartels. This isn’t just a federal issue anymore – it’s hitting us at home.
And with the 2024 election behind us, immigration is back on the front page.
Trump’s renewed focus on deportations is making headlines, but it wouldn’t even be necessary if Congress had done its job. Instead, they played politics, blocked reforms, and let things spiral out of control.
The Bottom Line
Mass deportations aren’t ideal. Nobody wants to see families torn apart. But ignoring the law – or worse, rewarding those who break it – isn’t the answer either.
Speaker Gingrich got it right over a decade ago: secure the border, enforce the law, and deal with those already here in a fair but firm way.
It’s time for Washington to stop the grandstanding and start listening. Nevadans are paying the price. And it’s long past time for real leadership.
P.S. Here’s a photo my dad took of me and Speaker Gingrich more than 15 years ago. My, how time flies!
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
