Opinion writer Liz Peek argues that President Donald Trump can still secure a place among the country's presidential greats, but only if he changes course on immigration, an issue she says has eroded his standing after a major midterm defeat in which Democrats won a landslide. She points to polling that reportedly shows Trump's handling of immigration underwater by more than 10 points.
Peek acknowledges that the early months of the second term were popular. The border closure and the deportation of gang members initially drew broad support. Those gains, she writes, were undermined by Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in immigrant communities, which reportedly fueled fear and, in some cases, violence. She argues that most Americans support legal immigration and that the administration's approach has put a wide public consensus at risk. The naming of Stephen Miller as chief of staff, she notes, was widely read as a signal of a harsher approach.
Her proposals start with a merit-based points system modeled on Canada's, which would select newcomers according to skills and other criteria. She also recommends creating a path to legal status for long-term residents who have not committed serious crimes. To strengthen enforcement at the workplace, she calls for mandatory use of E-Verify by all employers. She notes that about half of the country's undocumented residents overstayed visas rather than crossing illegally, a fact she cites as a reason to tighten visa controls.
Peek also urges the administration to end benefit incentives that draw illegal immigrants to the country, including birthright citizenship, which she says should be changed by Congress. She acknowledges that the Supreme Court has ruled Trump's birthright citizenship executive order illegal, which is why she directs her proposal to lawmakers rather than the courts. She further proposes excluding illegal immigrants from census counts.
In a second piece, Peek turns to the judiciary, where she sees a narrowing opportunity. Republicans are expected to lose control of the Senate in January, leaving a shrinking window to confirm Trump's judicial nominees before Democrats take over. As of November 8, there were 28 federal judicial vacancies and 16 nominees pending. Peek highlights the age of the court's conservatives: Justice Clarence Thomas, 78, and Justice Samuel Alito, 76, are the oldest on the bench. Alito has said he has no plans to retire this term, and neither justice has signaled retirement.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune reportedly lacks the support needed for a rushed confirmation, leaving open whether Republicans can confirm a Supreme Court nominee before January. Peek draws a comparison to Ruth Bader Ginsburg's tenure from 2014 to 2020 and to Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation in 2020, both of which show how quickly a seat can be filled when the political conditions align.