Description

In keeping with the League’s long history of level-headed, nonpartisan information we are offering a new presentation outlining the unique challenges facing our country with regard to immigration. In this presentation, we discuss how the United States has always been a nation of immigrants and review a brief history of that process. Today immigration remains central to the country’s population growth, economy, and democratic life. Immigrants contribute trillions of dollars in income, pay substantial taxes, strengthen key industries, and are less likely than U.S.-born citizens to commit crimes. Yet the immigration system is outdated, complex, and overwhelmed by years of congressional inaction, fueling polarization and controversy, particularly around undocumented immigrants who nonetheless are deeply rooted in U.S. communities. Since January 2025, federal immigration policy has shifted sharply toward expanded enforcement, reduced legal pathways, increased detention, and accelerated deportations, raising serious concerns about due process and humanitarian protections. Courts are under severe strain, major legal challenges are underway, and the national debate is intensifying. At the same time, bipartisan proposals such as the Dignity Act of 2025 point to possible reforms that balance border management, economic needs, family unity, and constitutional rights—underscoring the critical role of informed voters in shaping the future of U.S. immigration policy. We close with suggestions for how voters can take action in this area to make a difference.

Immigration Talk Presenter Gina Gianzero is an active member of the LWV’s Speakers Bureau and a co-author of the Immigration Challenges presentation. She recently stepped down as the founding Executive Director of a local nonprofit organization focused on supporting early literacy development in southeast San Diego public schools. Her prior professional endeavors include serving as an Executive Coach with the National Center for Urban School Transformation based at SDSU and an Education Research Fellow with the San Diego Dialogue based at UCSD. Her early professional life involved working in developing countries on a variety of economic programs. Gina earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from SDSU, a master’s degree in economics from University of Texas Austin, and a BS in International Politics from Georgetown University. A mother of three adult children, she resides in Kensington with her husband.