Trump’s 2025 Wins Dimmed by Omission of Immigration Reform
WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 29, 2025 – Despite a series of legislative victories in his first year of a second term – including tax cuts and infrastructure spending – President Trump’s 2025 agenda is being viewed by many as incomplete due to the conspicuous absence of extensive immigration reform. A key promise throughout his campaigns, the issue remains a significant hurdle, leaving businesses and millions of individuals in a state of uncertainty.
As a business owner and advocate for small and midsize businesses,Gene Marks,writing today,argues that immigration reform represented the most impactful economic legislation the Trump management could have achieved.”We all know we live in a polarized political habitat, but as Americans, we also know that we share one thing in common: We are all the sons and daughters of immigrants,” Marks writes. “Not a single member of Congress would say our current immigration system is working. Every politician I meet agrees that the system needs serious reform.”
Marks’ proposed framework, outlined in a recent analysis, centers on a multi-tiered approach. He advocates for allowing the millions currently in the United States without documentation to remain permanently, offering a pathway to citizenship, acknowledging the inherent unfairness to those who followed legal channels but arguing, “life is unfair…to move things forward, something has to give.” He specifically calls for these individuals to fill critical hourly labor gaps, allowing them to “emerge from their homes without fearing being rounded up” and contribute fully to the economy.
Beyond addressing the existing undocumented population, Marks proposes prioritizing immigration based on business needs. He suggests expanding opportunities for skilled workers in high-demand fields, alongside a system for training potential immigrants for specific employer needs. He also believes space should be reserved for those seeking religious or cultural freedom, and for individuals with family sponsorship opportunities, establishing “a clear pecking order…flexible to change year after year.”
A key component of Marks’ vision involves foreign students. He proposes allowing them to study in the U.S. with the stipulation that they work for American companies for a period of five to ten years post-graduation, maximizing the benefit of their education and skills within the U.S. economy. “Those are the kinds of immigrants we want to keep on American soil,” he states.
Marks directly appealed to President trump’s reputation as a dealmaker, suggesting that achieving immigration reform would “set his presidency apart from many others” and “enormously impact businesses and the economy overall.” He concludes with a direct plea: “Mr. President, let’s make a deal.”
The failure to address immigration reform casts a shadow over the administration’s economic achievements, leaving a critical piece of the puzzle unresolved and perhaps hindering long-term economic growth. The issue is expected to remain a central point of contention as the administration moves forward.
