Congress is reportedly considering making changes to our immigration policies. The southern border has been a running sore for years now, especially after January 2021 (what was it that happened right around that time?). It's about time Congress acted, although it's unclear what policy changes will happen with pro-open-border Democrats still controlling the Senate. But, at least there is an effort underway; that's not nothing.

Republicans say the record numbers of migrants crossing the southern border pose a security threat because authorities cannot adequately screen all the migrants and that those who enter the United States are straining the country’s resources. GOP lawmakers also say they cannot justify to their constituents sending billions of dollars to other countries, even in a time of war, while failing to address the border at home.

But many immigration advocates, including some Democrats, say some of the changes being proposed would gut protections for people who desperately need help and would not really ease the chaos at the border.

Much of the negotiating is taking place in private, but some of the issues under discussion are known: asylum standards, humanitarian parole and fast-track deportation authority, among others.

Note that claim from "some Democrats" that some of the changes would "gut protections for people who desperately need help." Let's consider that for a moment.

Never mind the typical near-hysterical tenor of that remark; that's typical for Democrats and, to be fair, politicians in general. But consider it at face value and ask yourself this: Why is it always the United States that must help every bedraggled refugee from around the world? Why must it always be our borders that are open to anyone and everyone, our taxpayers that are on the hook, and our cities whose resources are overwhelmed to deal with this influx? Why must it always be our people who deal with the side effects of this open, unchecked influx?

While we're on the topic of taxpayers being on the hook, take a look at the cost to the taxpayers of these illegal immigrants.

Americans could pay up to $451 billion to care for migrants who entered the US illegally, but have been released into the country or escaped from custody, according to a new report due out Monday from House Republicans and obtained exclusively by The Post.

“Every day, millions of American taxpayer dollars are spent on costs directly associated with illegal immigration and the unprecedented crisis at the Southwest border sparked by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ policies,” the House Homeland Security Committee interim staff report states.

Consider what this statement means; you can read "care and housing" as "welfare," for which, once again, the taxpayers are on the hook.

The bill for government care and housing could total as much as $451 billion per year nationwide for apprehended migrants and known “gotaways” who have entered the US since 2021, according to figures the House panel cites from the Center for Immigration Studies.

Here’s the thing on welfare and immigrants: You can either have a welfare state, or you can have a liberal immigration policy. You can’t have both. Unfortunately, both are what we have right now, and while plenty of immigrants come to the U.S. seeking opportunity and work, plenty more come seeking Uncle Sam’s Gravy Train of Free S***, and that just is not acceptable.

And what's more, we have very little idea who many of these people are, other than that many of them are young, military-age men. We not only have little idea who they are but no idea why they are here or what they intend to do. That makes this not only an immigration issue but also a national security issue.

Why is it always the United States that the rest of the world expects to absorb this influx?

It's a common shibboleth these days that a country with no borders is no country at all. It's common because it's true. The Biden Administration seems determined to prove that.

This seems appropriate.