OPINION:
Employment is not merely an economic metric; it is also the foundation of dignity, stability and national strength.
Under President Joe Biden, Democrats abandoned that principle by opening our southern border and allowing millions of illegal aliens to flood into our country. The consequences were predictable and devastating: Wages were suppressed, jobs were displaced and American workers were pushed aside.
When millions of illegal workers are injected into the labor market, willing or forced to work for below-market wages, Americans are priced out of their own jobs and businesses. That was what happened under Mr. Biden. Communities lost stability, and law-abiding American workers had to compete against a system stacked against them.
No society can long function or survive under those conditions.
President Trump returned to office with a clear mandate from the voters: Put Americans first. In just one year of his second term, that promise is no longer rhetoric; it’s reality.
Through decisive border enforcement and mass deportations, Mr. Trump has restored the rule of law and relieved American workers from the crushing burden of unchecked mass migration. Last year marked the first time in half a century that the U.S. had negative net migration. In one year, 622,000 illegal aliens were removed and 1.9 million illegal aliens self-deported.
From January to December 2025, 2 million native-born Americans gained employment while 662,000 foreign-born workers lost jobs. During that same period, 1.8 million native-born Americans entered the labor force and 881,000 foreign-born workers exited it.
These results expose a long-standing lie pushed by Democrats: that Americans are unwilling to work and/or that our economy depends on illegal labor. Nothing could be further from the truth. American workers have built this nation, and when the government stops undercutting them with illegal labor, they do exactly what they have always done: show up, work hard and thrive.
Mr. Trump understands this fundamental truth, and his “America First” policies prove it.
Beyond restoring jobs, the Trump administration has worked to protect resources that were abused egregiously by illegal aliens. Now, housing, health care and social services are once again being directed toward American citizens.
One industry in which the damage from illegal immigration has been especially severe is trucking. For years, the sector has been plagued by illegal drivers taking over the workforce. Many of them are unable to speak English and are improperly licensed or unqualified to operate massive commercial vehicles.
The consequences have been tragic, and sanctuary states such as Illinois have been complicit in allowing commercial driver’s licenses and driver’s licenses to be granted to illegals. I have introduced the SAFE Driving Laws Act to hold them accountable.
Mr. Trump has made it clear: These jobs belong to Americans, and safety is non-negotiable. His administration is cracking down on illegal trucking operations that knowingly exploit illegal labor.
With standards enforced and English-language requirements upheld, lawbreakers are finally being removed from the road, strengthening the trucking industry and making our highways safer for American families.
Mr. Trump’s second term is restoring what Democrats dismantled. After years of deliberate chaos and neglect, the American people are no longer being left behind. Our nation is regaining its confidence under leadership that is decisive and unafraid to act. This renewed strength marks only the beginning of what is ahead.
• Rep. Mary Miller represents Illinois’ 15th Congressional District and serves as chairwoman of the Congressional Family Caucus.
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