Nobody Asked Me, But Here Are My Answers to the National Immigration Forum’s Candidate Questions

It isn’t often that FAIR gives a tip of the hat to the open borders National Immigration Forum (NIF). This is one of those rare occasions.

Ahead of the first of (far too many) Democratic presidentialdebates scheduled for June 26-27 (two days?), NIF notes that only twocandidates, Julián Castro and Beto O’Rourke have offered detailed plans forimmigration reform. They both amount to open border and immigration on demand,but at least they are plans. NIF then challenges the remaining candidates (I’velost count) to step forward with some answers to questions that might be on theminds of voters.

They’re good questions, and deserve answers. And, while noone has actually asked for my help, here, free of charge, are some shorthandideas for the remaining Democrats not named Castro or O’Rourke in response toNIF’s five questions:

SECURITY: How will youreduce illegal immigration and increase security along the border, at ports ofentry, and in American communities?

First, and foremost, we must end the numerous incentives we provide for people to violate our immigration laws and abuse our humanitarian policies. That means securing the border, including construction of border fencing that most Democrats supported until just a few years ago, and which 55 percent of voters think would be an effective deterrent. We must also stop people from abusing our asylum system and our inclination to protect children. Fully two-thirds of voters believe “people with questionable asylum claims” should be barred from entering the country.

We also need to do things to make it clear to illegal aliensthat they won’t benefit from violating our immigration laws. Making E-Verifymandatory, ending sanctuary policies, and ending perpetual talk of amnesty aresome other good ideas.

TALENT: PresidentTrump wants more talented workers coming to the U.S. What is your plan toattract and retain the skilled engineer and the skilled farmworker?

The umpteen declared candidates who are currently members ofCongress could beat the president to the punch and offer a bill that moves usto a merit-based immigration system that objectively assesses the country’slabor needs and provides those, and only those, workers who fit thedescription. Heck, they could even point out that it was a Democratic idea inthe first place – proposed by a commission chaired by Barbara Jordan (aDemocrat).

CENTRAL AMERICANMIGRANTS: Given the increase in the number of migrants coming to the southernborder in recent months, primarily from Central America, what will you doaddress the challenge both in the near term and long term?

Short-term, see Question 1. We can expedite the terminationof meritless asylum claims and require that people who are eligible for asylum requestit at a legal port of entry and expect to await a decision on their claimoutside the U.S. or in an immigration detention facility.

Long-term, we need to hold the governments of sending countries accountable. The most basic economic and security interests of people in those countries have been systematically neglected by the ruling oligarchs for generations. Those corrupt political leaders are only too happy to have their people come here and send back remittances. The surge of migrants is not just a humanitarian problem. It is a multifaceted social, political and economic crisis that requires a menu of sanctions and rewards based on the willingness of foreign ruling elites to correct longstanding problems in their own countries.

THOSE ALREADY HERE:What is your specific plan, that could win GOP support, for undocumentedimmigrants already in the U.S., Dreamers, Temporary Protected Statusrecipients, and those here via the Deferred Enforced Departure program?

Right now the house is on fire. The first responsibility ofour government, regardless of which party is in power, is to honor countlesspast promises to the American people that our borders will be secured and ourlaws will be enforced. As far as those who are here because they, or theirparents, consciously broke our immigration laws, or accepted temporary protection under falsepretenses, talk to us after our government has demonstrated an ability and awillingness to enforce laws that have already been enacted and uphold promisesthat were made to the American people.

DEMOGRAPHICS: Lastyear immigration accounted for nearly half of population growth in the U.S. Andin the face of the administration’s hardline policies, economic growth isstarting to outpace growth in the labor force in parts of the country,producing acute labor shortages. How would you address this challenge?

As the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” A tight labor market is good for American workers. Democrats are supposed to be the friends of the working people, while the Republicans are supposed to be the party of Wall Street, right? Real wages are rising for the first time in a long time, so why mess with it by importing more labor? And, if there are actual “acute labor shortages,” they’re likely to be very short-lived. According to a recent (Democratic-leaning) Brookings Institution report, “one-quarter of American jobs are at a high risk of automation.” Importing large numbers of foreign workers whose services may very soon be unnecessary is not a good political or economic strategy.

So, there you go, Democratic candidates. Good luck, and ifyou feel the need to thank me, you know where to find me.