Misam Abidi on Immigration

Earned pathway to citizenship for immigrants

A: Support an earned pathway. A nation has both the right and responsibility to secure its borders and enforce its laws. But enforcement should concentrate on trafficking, violence, exploitation, and genuine threats--not on creating fear among peaceful families who have worked, paid taxes, raised children, and contributed to their communities for years. An earned pathway should not be automatic. It should require background checks, no serious criminal history, payment of taxes or lawful obligations, and fulfillment of clearly defined requirements. Children should remain able to attend public schools regardless of status because keeping a child uneducated makes neither Tennessee nor America safer. Law and compassion are not opposites. A confident nation should be capable of maintaining an orderly border while still recognizing human dignity.