Legal and Illegal ImmigrationMike Rappaport

Ilya Somin argues that Ronald Reagan was in favor of immigration and did not seek to demonize illegal immigrants.  I think that is right.  And while this argument is a powerful one against some people who oppose legal immigration and focus excessively on the costs of the illegals, it hardly suggests that Reagan would support the kind of compromise currently being considered by the Senate.   Somin’s post comes close — but does not reach the position — where one favors all immigrants, legal and illegal.  But I simply don’t believe that was Reagan’s position in 1986 or would be his now.  My guess is that Reagan would have appreciated the unfairness of favoring those who broke the law over those who play by the rules.  And my guess is that Reagan would have learned something from the fact that the 1986 amnesty for 3 million has led to 12 million today.

In the end, we don’t know how Reagan would have reacted to the current legislation.  While he certainly would have embraced legal immigration, I don’t see much in his record to lead me to conclude that he would favor a bill that failed to do more to secure the borders.