Rational Immigration Reform

Years ago, I watched one of those Sunday political programs and there was a debate between two people on immigration.  This may have been during the uproar about Pat Buchanan saying something along the lines of Europeans can more easily integrate into American society than Zulus so we should give preference to Europeans.  The two guests were pitted against each other, one arguing for open immigration and the other for limited immigration.  When the debate began, I was entirely on the side of limited immigration but by the end I was mostly on the other side.  What happened there?

People are capital.  More people equal more capital and more production.  The brain drain from Europe to North America after WWII was a boost to our economy for exactly that reason.  Thus, immigration is wealth migration.  At least, it should be.  This is where we run into another side of the argument.  If immigrants had to completely support themselves, there is no question that open immigration would be the policy to choose, arguably limited only by the ability of the country to absorb and assimilate them.  However, thanks to our numerous government assistance programs, many low-skilled immigrants and even citizens do not support themselves and instead become a drag on the economy.  Instead of being assets, they are liabilities.  Why import liabilities?

Many would argue that these immigrants do jobs Americans won't do.  Even if that is so, the money they earn in these low-skill jobs often does not make up for what the immigrant costs in healthcare, education of their children, etc.  If immigrants paid these costs, I would open the floodgates.  Come on in, the water's fine.  So, it is not a matter of racism as the Democrats paint it but a matter of cost-benefit.  Who hires an employee for $20 an hour when they only produce $10 an hour of product?  That's a $10 an hour loss.  The same argument applies to immigrants who often earn less housecleaning and doing yard work than they cost in social services.

My preferred immigration policy would be to abolish government welfare programs and then allow immigrants to come in droves.  Those who make it will add to the country while those who don't can migrate back to their home country and not become a liability to us.  For those who still want an influx of non-self-supporting immigrants, I would not prevent them from writing a check to the charity of their choice and thereby privatize the safety net.