Nations admit immigrants for two reasons:
They’re experiencing a labor shortage.
Humanitarian reasons.
About that labor shortage: The US desperately needs additional workers. This is fueled by decades of a declining fertility rate (too few babies being born), a declining labor participation rate and pockets of tech growth requiring STEM-trained workers. Between 1990 and 2010 this labor shortage was principally fueled by Mexican immigrants. Since 2010 more people have been moving back to Mexico than coming here! Surprised?
About that humanitarian crisis: 2.5 million illegals have been caught crossing our Mexican border during the Biden Administration. Many more weren’t caught. If they aren’t Mexicans who are they? Essentially folks from Guatemala, El Salvador, Venezuela and other banana republics ruled by tyrants. Prior to Biden (2016-2020), our gov forced Mexico to keep them “out” by using the hammer of restricting trade & foreign aid. That all changed in 2020 when the floodgates were opened.
Where did they go? Most have settled in border states including Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. These states desperately wanted to secure the border and stop the flow of illegals but Biden, Congressional Dems, and Northern City Dem Mayors weren’t having it. Opening our border had become an IMP political narrative for The Dems.
That is until the border states started busing some luv up North. Of course, the number of illegals bussed still amounts to less than 5% of the total but that’s enough to have caused the Mayors of Chicago, New York, and a host of Cities to declare states of emergency. Plus, most of these Dem-run places are seeing funds and resources once reserved to help their poor and indigent populations go to this foreign-born cohort (that isn’t popular among the locals).
Catch and release? If the police caught someone breaking into your home would you invite them to live with you while they awaited trial (which routinely takes several years)? Yup, our immigration courts are hopelessly backed up? God forbid sending them back.
Is there a solution?
#1 We need a secure border which means again enlisting (with a big stick) Mexico’s help.
#2 Allow skilled workers to enter our country legally. That includes not only hi-tech workers but manufacturing workers, seasonal migrants etc. Ergo, skill-based immigration approval.
What about offering asylum (humanitarian assistance)? Mexico as a positive example. Our country has supported Mexico’s GDP growth to the point where it’s a vital manufacturing trade partner. As their nation gained economic gravitas, its residents needed not escape its border to find prosperity. That caused net immigration from Mexico to drop to zero. In the alternative, could the US absorb a meaningful share of Mexico’s 130 million residents? No!
The same is true for other South American Nations (400 million people). Our ability to absorb their downtrodden population is fairly minimal. Working with their governments and bringing them into our sphere of influence (providing economic support/incentives) is the best chance to help the largest number of people. It’s not perfect but it’s the best we got. Does that mean using covert force and some dirty trick to cajole corrupt govs into doing the “right thing”. Yup.
Should we admit asylum seekers? Yes, but the world is a big place. Our ability to import folks without work skills is pretty slim. What’s the number? Hard to say but most Americans probably don’t place the number in the millions.
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