Biden has been a leader on immigration reform

Too much of the immigration debate that is happening in Washington, D.C., has devolved into partisan politics and does not actually address the reality that we live with in Nevada. Thankfully, President Joe Biden and his administration have stepped above the fray to offer earnest solutions.

If politicians in D.C. would listen to Nevadans about the challenges we face and the solutions we need, they would find that there is actually broad and bipartisan agreement on the path forward. Frankly, it is a lot simpler than cable news would have you believe: There must be order at the border and a more humane system that allows immigrants — both newly arrived and long-settled — to become a part of the American fabric.

We know the importance of prioritizing safety and security at the border, including the need for increased screening capacity and modernized technologies to stop the dangerous flow of fentanyl and other drugs.

And we also know that American families and economies are dependent on and made richer by hardworking immigrants. Dreamers, parents, friends and other immigrants who have worked hard and paid their taxes for years deserve a path to citizenship.

But with Donald Trump and his extremist allies in Congress blocking any bipartisan compromise, Biden continues to step up for our communities. In the past month, the president has taken executive actions to address border security and help half a million hardworking undocumented immigrants who are married to U.S. citizens keep their families together.

In addition to the sense of relief felt by families across the country who can sleep soundly without the fear of deportation or family separation, Biden’s executive action on immigration is also extremely popular. Polling from Global Strategy Group and BSP Research shows that voters across battleground states, including Nevada, agree with Biden’s balanced approach to immigration — and his decision to bypass congressional gridlock to act.

In Nevada, undocumented immigrants make up 7% of the state population. Eighty-two percent of voters support Biden creating pathways to citizenship for those who pay their taxes and pass a background check. These immigrants are essential to their communities and to their families.

People are also very clear that they don’t want a return to the extreme immigration policies of the Trump administration, with 58% of voters opposing his infamous practice of family separation. There is also big backlash to Trump’s plans to launch mass deportation raids using the military and national guard to deport long-term immigrants if he wins in November.

It’s fair to question whether Trump and his extremist followers actually want real immigration solutions, especially after the former president blocked a bipartisan immigration bill earlier this year. Their actions point to a party that wants to demonize immigrants for political gain.

The contrast between Biden and Trump on immigration couldn’t be any clearer. As Vice President Kamala Harris explained so clearly last month, “Joe Biden and I believe very strongly that we should keep families together. Unlike the previous president who was into separating families.”

And that choice between keeping our families together or letting Trump rip them apart is what’s at stake in November.

Fabian Doñate is a Democrat who represents the 10th district in the Nevada Senate.