Jamee Decio
Elkhart native | Trailblazer | Child advocate | Justice seeker | Proud union memberPolicy Platforms
Immigration
As we celebrate our country’s 250th birthday, we must remember that we are a nation built and sustained by immigrants.
Immigrants boost the American economy, contributing almost $580 billion annually. We are the leaders of the free world, and it is time for us to live up to the values we preach to the world. Neither the color of your skin nor your status in this country should dictate your protection under the law.
I support a humane and practical approach to border security and immigration reform that honors American traditions while realistically addressing modern challenges and the economic needs of American businesses that rely on immigrant labor.
The Problem
The American immigration system is broken
- American businesses face critical labor shortages in industries like construction, hospitality, and agriculture, and have no legal options to fill the gap. Indiana’s manufacturing and farming sectors rely on undocumented workers, but they do so in legal limbo.
- While the passage of DACA during the Obama administration was a step forward, we have not had comprehensive immigration reform in decades.
- Millions of undocumented workers have lived here for years. They’ve bought homes, raised families, and paid taxes here. Undocumented immigrants paid $97 billion in taxes in 2024 alone. The vast majority have committed no crimes and contribute significantly to the American economy, but have no pathway to legal status.
ICE has failed its mission
- ICE was originally created after 9/11 to protect Americans from terrorists.
- Today, corruption is endemic to the organization. ICE operates as improperly trained agents acting outside the law. They terrorize immigrants and US citizens alike, demanding papers in the street and violating due process daily while targeting people of color (no matter their status) without warrants or just cause.
- Billions of taxpayer dollars have been wasted on enforcement efforts that have yielded neither safety nor economic benefits.
The current approach undermines both safety and economic prosperity
- Indiana businesses that currently rely on undocumented workers can’t plan or grow when their workforce lives in constant fear.
- The data shows that undocumented immigrants commit crimes at much lower rates than both legal immigrants and citizens.
- ICE raids make communities less safe by inciting violence and destroying trust between community members and the local police, while doing nothing to secure our borders against bad actors or ensure that problems abroad do not become problems at home.
Proposed, Actionable Solutions
Secure the borders
Smart border security requires implementing effective strategies that emphasize intelligence, advanced technology, and international cooperation. Instead of resorting to chaos or cruelty, we must focus resources on preventing the entry of dangerous criminals and contraband. The United States should also work closely with neighboring countries to address the root causes of migration before they escalate into crises at our borders.
Streamline and secure the immigration process
Create a clear pathway to citizenship with a functional visa system
This includes establishing a safe, secure, and simple visa system that allows immigrants to work in areas with critical labor shortages, while also providing a clear pathway to citizenship for people who have contributed to our communities, paid taxes, and have no felony convictions.
Additionally, we must fully fund the vetting process and ensure fair and timely case review by rehiring the immigration attorneys cut by Rudy Yakym and the Trump administration.
Repeal and replace ICE to restore professionalism and constitutional integrity to our immigration system
Return to constitutional, professional immigration enforcement not biased by politics by reinstating the INS and U.S. Customs and Border Control as separate agencies outside the Department of Homeland Security. ICE’s budget should be eliminated, and the agency disbanded, with any agents who have committed crimes held fully accountable under the law.
Why This Matters for Hoosiers
Secure borders and a strong Indiana economy require order and fiscal accountability
Order and fiscal accountability are two things Washington is utterly failing to provide. Right now, hundreds of millions of Hoosier taxpayer dollars are wasted on a bloated federal bureaucracy that has failed its mission and actively hamstrings our local police departments by silencing crime victims and witnesses.
True rule of law doesn’t mean throwing good money after bad. It means creating a functional visa system so we know exactly who is working on our farms and in our factories, ensuring they pay their fair share in taxes, and allowing Indiana businesses to hire legally and invest confidently in the future.
Securing our borders and protecting personal liberty are not competing values
We can stop dangerous contraband and criminals at the border while still honoring the hard work and determination that define the American story. Washington’s overreach has rejected common sense, opening the door to un-American mass surveillance and government harassment on our streets.
Hoosiers deserve a streamlined framework that supports our agricultural and business interests by cutting federal red tape, backs our local law enforcement, and preserves the fundamental right of every American to live free from government interference.
