Senator Alex Padilla

Weather-related disasters increase with U.S. population growth

Florida is now America’s third most populated state at 21 million people (2020). Last week the state was, once again, set upon by a massive hurricane — Hurricane Ian. This was Florida’s most costly storm ever, with storm-related costs estimated at $66 billion in property damage, and almost 100 deaths. It’s simple — more people mean more houses and infrastructure, which makes hurricanes more costly and destructive.

Democrats should not use immigration to cut wages

It troubles me that the Democratic party is intent on sabotaging U.S. workers through mass immigration.

Tight labor markets give workers a fighting chance

As the liberal labor economist Vernon Briggs, Jr. has noted, we are now in another era of large-scale immigration that works against U.S. workers:

You must confront the adverse impacts of U.S. population growth

Our ecologically-illiterate immigration policy is pushing us towards half a billion Americans by the end of the century, with some arguing that we should be aiming for a billion to ensure our power and prominence on the international stage.

DACA ruling should not distract you from the historic border crisis

DACA recipients are still protected, and can work in US. In the meantime, the border remains open, and a record number of migrants are entering (and too often perishing) in the hope of getting jobs. Border enforcement, not DACA protections, must be Congress’ priority.

End the ‘Optional Practical Training’ program

I’m very disturbed by a D.C. court ruling against American tech workers, not least because the Optional Practical Training program is a blatant attack on the American middle class. Moreover, the OPT program unfairly disadvantages Americans in competitive STEM fields where Blacks, Hispanics and older workers often struggle to find opportunities.