I’d like to revisit the issue of illegal immigration, but let me make two points at the outset:<\/p>\n
First, I am addressing illegal<\/em> immigration. Like most Americans, I believe immigration is a good thing when managed properly. We can debate issues around legal immigration, but that\u2019s a different topic.<\/p>\n Second, opposing illegal immigration has nothing to do with racism. The idea that anyone who supports immigration law enforcement doesn\u2019t like people of a certain racial or ethnic background is nonsense. It\u2019s a charge designed to gin up fervor on the left and avoid the real discussion. the You could just as easily argue that those who favor open borders are racist because they want to create an ethnic underclass in American society. I\u2019m sure there are a few racists on both sides of this and any issue, but it doesn\u2019t mean that one\u2019s position on the issue is based in racial, ethnic, or religious ideology.If you are not willing to accept these points, then we can\u2019t have a conversation. If you are, let\u2019s talk.<\/p>\n My views are fairly libertarian, so I generally favor individuals moving freely across borders. But several realities must be checked. First, the ongoing terrorist threat is real, and I expect my country to take action to restrict immigration that could create a threat. Doing so requires difficult judgment calls that might not always be the perfect ones, but we must be diligent and take this responsibility seriously.<\/p>\n Second, illegal immigration results in massive cost shifting. Businesses claim that illegal immigrants do the jobs that Americans won\u2019t do<\/em>, but they don\u2019t finish the sentence\u2014at the wages they are offered<\/em>. Americans would be willing to do any job at the right wage. Illegals are willing to work for less because they lack job skills and their prospects for employment are not attractive in their native countries. For this reason, they will always<\/em> be willing to undercut Americans for any jobs they can perform.<\/p>\n