AUSTIN— During a recent a recent interview with Texas Politics. Rep. Gene Wu (D-127) discussed the current state of immigration, both in Texas and across the nation. With years of experience serving in the Texas House of Representatives, Rep. Wu has served as a progressive voice in the debate surrounding immigration reform.
Rep. Wu has been the Representative of District 127 in Houston, and with years of experience serving in the Texas House of Representatives, he has served as a progressive voice in the debate surrounding immigration reform.
Rep. Wu began by discussing his opinion on the recent Bills passed by the Texas Senate, Such as SB 9, which eliminates cashless and low-cost bail options, for undocumented immigrants believed to be felons. Wu expressed how the system has “Attempted to reform the bond system for nearly two decades,” but the faction who makes profit from incarceration does not want the system to be reformed.
“The Legislative System has attempted to reform the bond system for nearly two decades and the problem is that the faction who makes profit from people being incarcerated want to prevent us from actually reforming the system and making the system safer because they would lose their industry,” said Rep.
Rep. Wu went on to discuss the persistent issue of immigration reform, and the failure of lawmakers to pass comprehensive solutions at the federal level. He argued that immigration has become a political tool, often used to stir fear.
“Texas doesn’t need to do anything. The United States needs to reform their immigration system, and this request has been made for nearly 30 years. Unfortunately, Zealots and Hardliners blocked it and kept it from happening because it is a good political weapon. Driving fear about immigration is a successful political weapon for the right.”
Wu continued, explaining that political leaders have used the issue to rally their base, and fuel divisions in the country, especially among conservative constituents. He made it clear that the challenge of Immigration reform is not only a matter of policy but of political will.
“Immigrants make up the United States, we are a country of immigrants. There is nothing else.” Wu said, emphasizing the need for a more inclusive approach to policy.
Shifting from state legislation to the broader national context, Wu spoke about the Trump administration’s approach to immigration where he expressed concerns about the administration’s tactics.
“No, because again what they’re doing right now is causing major disruptions for Americans,” Wu responded when asked if the administration was effectively dealing with deportation and illegal immigrants. Rep. Wu Expanded “It’s going to disrupt our food supply. It’s going to disrupt our manufacturing and construction. It’s going to disrupt housing. There were sensible and rational ways to do this if you wanted to do it, they chose none of those.”
While Rep. Wu emphasizes the need for comprehensive federal immigration reform, his focus on balancing security and humane treatment is an important reminder of the complexity of the issue. As the debate continues, it’s clear that finding common ground will be key to addressing immigration effectively, ensuring policies that respect both the rule of law and the rights of individuals.
