Why not do the math better on immigration?
The recent immigration crisis in Spain made me think about our immigration policy, especially given the current environment. Like most Americans, I don't believe in open borders. I also respond to the calls of “get in line” with “where's the line?” There is none that allows us to fill economic needs. We need a secure border and immigration policies responsive to the demands of population growth and socioeconomic needs.
Immigrants fill vital niches in our economy. Haitian immigrants brought an Ohio town back to life by taking much-needed manufacturing and food processing jobs. Removing their TPS status is causing a serious crisis of confidence in the caregiving industry, not to mention the economic harm crackdowns are causing in construction, agriculture and other sectors filled by immigrants — documented or otherwise.
Our population growth is below the replacement rate. By 2034, adults aged 65 and older will outnumber children under 18 for the first time. This shifting demographic will almost certainly result in labor shortages and serious strains on our social safety nets. I know Stephen Miller and JD Vance want us all to start having babies — not a bad idea — but maybe we should figure out why birth rates are slowing. If you fixed that today, those increased births won't hit the job market for 20 years. In the meantime, a young, hungry, risk-taking population is standing at the door, waiting to fill the gap. And I'll just add: America has historically been bad at welcoming newcomers but good at turning out future generations that completely buy into our experiment.
I don't know why policymakers can't look at the numbers and socioeconomic trends to figure out the right number based on clear national interests. That number is clearly bigger than it is right now. The economic and population statistics clearly bear that out, but Stephen Miller doesn't care about that. And sorry, Joe Biden, we don't just open up the border to score points with the progressive left.
Roger Tucker, Mundelein