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What if America had a leader who could serve as a trusted broker on immigration, who could bring together members from both major parties in dialogue, who could work out a plan that honors our shared values — offering refuge to the persecuted and opportunity to those who strive for a better life — while still protecting the country from overwhelming numbers of new people? To suggest such a thing may seem outrageous and impossible right now as President Donald Trump ramps up his effort to carry out mass deportations, including of people here lawfully from countries struck by natural disasters and political crises. Yet, we've had such a leader before.
Houston's own Barbara Jordan, a lifelong Democrat and the first Black woman from the South ever elected to Congress, led a bipartisan commission some 30 years ago that produced a comprehensive set of recommendations to reduce illegal immigration as much as possible and bring down legal immigration as well while expediting the unification of nuclear families and protecting the refugee program. After Jordan died of complications from leukemia, the recommendations didn't make it into law, but her leadership remains an inspiration. Our Sunday editorial delves into that history, not to back the exact details of Jordan's report, but as a reminder that redesigning the immigration system is possible, and it can work for both newcomers and those of us already here.
We'd like to know what you think and what you are experiencing when it comes to immigration, or other pressing issues of the day. Send us a letter to viewpoints@houstonchronicle.com.
Our picks
Photo by: Kirk Sides, Staff Photographer
By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board
It may be hard to imagine now but there is an alternative to endless discord over immigration. A Texas politician showed how to lead a sincere effort.
 Photo by: The Washington Post, The Washington Post Via Getty Im |
By Christopher Koopman A California-like approach could throttle an industry that's already poised to bring hundreds of billions to the state. |
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 Photo by: Sharon Steinmann |
By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board Texas had enough electricity to survive the snow storm, but there's only one way we can protect power in future freezes as our energy usage grows. |
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 Photo by: Sharon Steinmann |
By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board Also: MLK Day plus snow = dream. Give doughnut-driving cops a break. Gators can survive a freeze can Democrats? Sid Miller rehires corrupt aide and is proud of it. |
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 Photo by: Ishika Samant, Staff Photographer |
By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board Recruiting students from underrepresented backgrounds to apply to universities isn't affirmative action or DEI. It's essential to a prosperous Texas. |
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 Photo by: Evan Vucci, Associated Press |
By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board No, Trump's pardons of violent rioters aren't the same as Biden's pardons of patriots. In Trump's America, insurrectionists are heroes; those who held them accountable are enemies of the state. |
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 Photo by: KENNY HOLSTON/THE NEW YORK TIMES, AFP Via Getty Images |
By Tony N. Brown An 1852 Frederick Douglass speech about racism in America remains painfully relevant today — and offers a way forward. |
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From our readers
 Photo by: Paul Stephen/Staff |
We've got dinner covered. |
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 Photo by: Jim Bennett/Getty Images |
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 Photo by: Jose Luis Magana, AP |
Is the U.S. headed for a kakistocracy? |
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 Photo by: Pool, Getty Images |
And where was Gov. Greg Abbott? |
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Send us your letters and op-eds
We want to hear from you! Have an opinion or a response to one of our stories? Learn how to submit your op-eds or letters here or shoot us an email at viewpoints@chron.com. |
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