Jonathan Blitzer on Immigration as a Democratic Stress Test
JUDJ-Prepared Summary from January 21, 2026 | Getting Beyond the Border: How Immigration Became a Political Crisis. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the speaker.
In a recent America at a Crossroads discussion, Jonathan Blitzer—a staff writer for The New Yorker and author of Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis—joined moderator Pat Morrison to explore a pressing question: how immigration became a political crisis, and what today’s enforcement tactics reveal about the health of American democracy.
The “Crisis” Isn’t Immigration—It’s the Politics Around It
Blitzer began by challenging the premise that immigration itself is inherently a crisis. By many measures, he noted, immigration is a net positive—strengthening the economy and civic life and reflecting a foundational part of the American story. What has changed most dramatically, he argued, is the political environment around immigration: it has become increasingly hostile, distorted, and theatricalized, especially over the last two decades.
That transformation, Blitzer suggested, accelerated when Donald Trump elevated immigration from a difficult policy issue into a central organizing political myth—one built on claims about crime, chaos, and “invasion” that are often easily disproven, but powerful when repeated.
From Slogans to Human Consequences
One of the conversation’s sharpest themes was the gap between abstract rhetoric and real-world impact. Blitzer expressed skepticism about how polling framed support for “mass deportation” during the campaign—arguing that many people may not have grasped what those words would mean in practice.
He pointed to what becomes visible when policy turns into action: masked agents, aggressive detentions, limited access to attorneys, families unable to locate loved ones, and removals that upend lives overnight. In Blitzer’s view, the emphasis isn’t simply on the number of deportations; it’s also about optics and intimidation—a demonstration of power that can condition the public to accept escalating measures.
“No One Is Safe”: The Expansion Beyond Immigrants
Blitzer drew a stark contrast between the first Trump administration and the current moment. Previously, advocates often advised people in precarious status to “plug into” the legal system—file applications, attend appointments, and pursue lawful pathways—because pending cases offered some protection.
Now, he argued, that premise has eroded. People who are actively engaging the legal immigration system—including individuals with work authorization and family ties to U.S. citizens—can still be detained. He described the weaponization of routine processes and a growing climate of fear that reaches into workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities.
Rule of Law on Trial
The conversation repeatedly returned to democratic norms. Blitzer warned that the immigration arena can become a proving ground for broader institutional erosion: when court injunctions are ignored, when legal filings are filled with misrepresentations, and when enforcement expands through aggressive legal interpretations, the question becomes not just immigration policy—but whether the rule of law remains binding.
He also discussed the chilling effect of targeting critics: protesters, witnesses documenting enforcement activity, lawyers representing clients, and even public officials conducting oversight. In this framing, immigration is not a siloed issue—it becomes a template for widening pressure across civil society.
What Resistance Can Still Look Like
When asked what remedies exist, Blitzer acknowledged uncertainty. Courts remain a key channel for resistance, but outcomes depend on continued legal challenges and institutional resolve. Still, he emphasized that public response matters—especially in shaping whether elected leaders feel empowered to push back.
As the discussion concluded, Blitzer offered a note of historical perspective: moments of intense government overreach have, in the past, sparked civic movements that ultimately reshaped policy. The takeaway was sober but clear: how the country treats immigrants is inseparable from how it treats democracy itself.
About America at a Crossroads
Since April 2020, America at a Crossroads has produced weekly virtual programs on topics related to the preservation of our democracy, voting rights, freedom of the press, and a wide array of civil rights, including abortion rights, free speech, and free press. America at a Crossroads is a project of Jews United for Democracy & Justice.
