David Bier and Chad Wolf clashed over the hotly contested issue on Tuesday, arguing over ICE tactics and targeting, sanctuary cities, and legal immigration.
David Bier (left) and Chad Wolf (right) at the debate. (Source: Jason Cao)
Jason Cao
Staff Writer, The Buckley Beacon
On Wednesday afternoon, former Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf and Cato Institute Director of Immigration Studies David Bier debated the resolution “Mass Deportation is Necessary” at the Buckley Institute’s first ‘Firing Line Debate’ of the semester.
Chad Wolf, who served as acting Homeland Security Secretary between 2019 and 2021, argued in the affirmative. During his tenure in the Department of Homeland Security, Wolf was the architect of the first Trump Administration’s controversial family separation policy, which separated migrant parents and children at the border with the objective of deterring illegal immigration. He now serves as the chair of Homeland Security and Immigration at the America First Policy Institute (AFPI).
David Bier, the Director of Immigration Studies at Cato Institute, a major libertarian think tank, argued in the negative. Bier’s research regularly appears in major news outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post, and he frequently testifies in front of Senate and House committees. Bier is a major proponent of expanded legal immigration, contending that increasing legal pathways would address the issue of illegal immigration.
Secretary Wolf began the debate by citing a passage in President Barack Obama’s 2014 address to which announced his administration’s Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) program, which did not end up taking effect.
“I’d like to start the opening here with a quote: ‘even as we are a nation of immigrants, we’re also a nation of laws,’” Wolf said. “‘Undocumented workers broke our immigration laws, and I believe that they must be held accountable -– especially those who may be dangerous.’ I agree with President Obama, and with President Trump who has called for the exact same thing, except to a greater degree.”
Wolf argued that mass deportation of illegal immigrants is a fundamental part of protecting American sovereignty. “The ability to choose who can immigrate, visit, or naturalize into the country is a fundamental right of America, and virtually any other country on earth. Without immigration enforcement of those who cross our border illegally, protecting our sovereignty becomes impossible.”
He proceeded to argue for the practical necessity of mass deportation following the migrant crisis during the Biden Administration, which commentators across the political spectrum have criticized. “Mass deportation is the only legal and logical response to a mass illegal entry. We had a historic border crisis for four years under President Biden, and that must be met with a historic response.” He added, “most estimate that about at least 11 million individuals entered the country illegally during those four years—that’s three times the population of Connecticut, including thousands of known and suspected terrorists, gang members, and other violent criminals.”
Finally, Secretary Wolf argued that mass deportation is an integral part of President Trump’s platform, and that he has a mandate following the 2024 presidential election to deliver on his promise. “The American people spoke loud and clear, and they wanted mass deportation.”
David Bier, by contrast, argued that mass deportation is not only unnecessary, but actually harmful to the economic interests of the United States. “Mass deportation entails the indiscriminate removal of anyone who can be deported without regard to their current legal status or individual merit. We’d be better off letting Elon Musk blast all the money into outer space.”
“American managers and supervisors would be forced to do more dangerous and lower-paid work now performed by immigrants,” Bier continued. “Without as many consumers, many businesses will close. Without as many workers, many businesses will move overseas.”
Bier emphasized that there are far greater priorities for law enforcement than arresting illegal immigrants. “Why would we want law enforcement to waste any time at all on arresting peaceful people when half of all murders, most rapes, and nearly all property crimes in the United States go unsolved. When you waste money deporting a gardener, you’re stealing justice from victims of serious crime.”
Finally, Bier contended that mass deportation violates civil rights. “Every day, DHS deports spouses and parents of U.S. citizens, deports our employers, employees, renters, landlords, customers, clients, neighbors, and friends. Mass deportation is a war against us as much as it is against immigrants.”
Bier presented expanded legal immigration as the solution. “Just three percent of people applying for green cards in 2024 actually received one. We could just let people come and stay legally as we did for generations before the 1920s.”
The speakers differed further when responding to a question on whether mass deportation is feasible. Secretary Wolf argued that sanctuary cities are the root of the feasibility problem, and that in states without sanctuary policies deportations can happen smoothly and effectively. “In sanctuary jurisdictions where they put policies that impede ICE [Immigration Customs and Enforcement] from doing their jobs, it requires ICE to go outside of a jail setting into a neighborhood more aggressively.”
In contrast, Bier contended that mass deportation is infeasible because it promises little returns with an immense budget. “Right now, four out of every five federal law enforcement dollars is going to this deportation-border policing complex. That is completely out of whack compared to the importance of what they’re doing.”
Both speakers could agree on a few things. Bier conceded that the mass influx of migrants under the Biden administration was a massive blunder. Wolf conceded that immigration reform from Congress is necessary.
After the event, both speakers spoke to the Beacon to share their thoughts on post-debate. David Bier stated, “I thought it was a great event. I think students were engaged and the debate was robust.”
Secretary Wolf shared similar sentiments. “It was a very civil debate, good debate. Different ideas about mass deportation, but I had a good time.”