I commend The Free Press for pointing out the harm of grandstanding on immigration in the coming political campaigns.

We need a comprehensive policy, not just a fence. The radical Republicans in Congress blocked their own president’s plan to finally address this issue after seven years of inaction.

The Democrats are trying to work with the president to build a policy that will work, but radical Republicans have the votes to defeat this effort.

Congressman Tim Walz has a basic plan on which to build consensus and make progress. His plan, similar to the one passed in Congress, is a good place to start, but even that plan is being blocked by opponents who offer only expensive fences, which are bound to fail.

I urge Walz to press ahead with his plan: Make our borders more secure by increasing the number of border patrol professionals, require those here illegally to return home, pay a fine and get in line for legal immigration, and help employers deal with workplace reality by providing better IDs.

Immigrant employees help to get the country’s work done, and Walz knows that we need to provide a better system for legal immigration to ensure our businesses have the labor resources they need.

Walz has a plan that respects immigrants’ work and respects the law.

Ruth Johnson

St. Peter