Immigration Is Complex

We have experienced a truly unprecedented surge in illegal immigration over the last few years, sparking wider debate about the impacts of immigration generally.  A shallow perspective is that it is uniformally beneficial.  I say shallow because the fact is that illegal immigrants in particular, and immigrants from certain areas of the world, tend to be net drains on public finances for a long time–their presence costs more in government aid than any benefits, such as taxes paid.  And they fail to effectively integrate into their new country and society, preferring to pretend that they still live in the place they fled.  See this recent report on Britain’s experience.  (CPS Study)  On the other hand, legal immigrants, particularly those who have to demonstrate some particular work skills or experience, can be immediately beneficial to an economy.  The US has benefited tremendously from immigration by those skilled in technology.

I am completely in favor of legal immigration which allows a large number of skilled workers and their families to come to the US, so long as those who come from areas or backgrounds which suggest clear support for values and ideologies inconsistent with democracy are excluded.  We have far too many slackers and malingerers in this country, so we actually do need to import workers until we fix that problem by stopping widespread leeching off the citizenry.  I would happily swap legal immigrants for slackers–allow the hard-working immigrants in and send the slackers out.  I am completely opposed to illegal immigration for two basic reasons.  One is that it is just that–illegal.  We either have laws that we enforce or we are essentially lawless.  We either have a border that defines who is allowed into our country or we don’t.  And the second reason is that we don’t know who is coming into our country when massive illegal entry occurs; and there is every reason to believe that among all those who have good intentions, are many who are sent by foreign governments or criminal organizations to do us harm.

Fortunately, the public seems by a large majority to be opposed to the rampant illegal immigration we have experienced during Bidementia.  Just as fortunately the vast majority are fine with large numbers of legal immigrants coming in, which I do believe is beneficial to our economy and our society.  This is going to be a defining issue in the coming election and I am hopeful that the results will allow a return to a saner immigration policy.