The Supreme Court Just Reminded America That Laws Still Matter

For years, Americans have been told that stopping illegal immigration is either impossible or somehow inconsistent with our nation's values.

Last week's Supreme Court decision is a welcome reminder that neither claim is true.

InMullin v. Al Otro Lado, the Court read the immigration statute as Congress actually wrote it. The majority concluded that an individual standing outside the United States has not yet "arrived in" the United States and therefore is not automatically entitled to begin the asylum process simply by appearing at a port of entry.

That may sound obvious, but for years the issue has been treated as though it were settled in the opposite direction.

The ruling doesn't eliminate asylum. It doesn't end America's tradition of welcoming those fleeing genuine persecution. Instead, it recognizes something equally important: every nation has both the right and the responsibility to control its borders.

Without secure borders, immigration policy ceases to be policy at all. It becomes an invitation for whoever can reach the front of the line first.

America has benefited enormously from generations of immigrants who came lawfully, embraced our values, and strengthened our communities. What they increasingly reject is an immigration system that rewards those who bypass legal channels while leaving those who patiently follow the rules waiting for years.

The Court's decision represents an important step toward restoring that balance.

Critics warn that enforcing immigration law is somehow incompatible with compassion. But compassion and the rule of law are not enemies. In fact, they depend on one another. A system overwhelmed by unlawful entries ultimately serves no one -- not legitimate asylum seekers, not legal immigrants, and not American citizens.

Congress remains free to rewrite the law if it believes a different policy is warranted. That is exactly how our constitutional system is supposed to work. But until Congress changes the statute, courts should apply the law that exists, not the one they wish had been written.

The Supreme Court did exactly that.

America should continue welcoming those who come legally, contribute to our nation, and seek the freedoms that have drawn immigrants here for centuries.

But preserving the American Dream requires something equally fundamental: the courage to enforce the laws that protect it.

The rule of law is not an obstacle to immigration. It is what makes orderly, fair, and lawful immigration possible.