The Internal Republican Fight Over Immigration Isn t Really About Racism

Nationalism, and in particular the protection of American jobs from foreign competition, has been central to Trump s appeal and to his transformation of the Republican Party since 2016. Americans elected Trump to protect them from the effects of mass migration, in large measure for economic reasons, out of recognition that open border policies drive down working-class wages. It s true that immigrants have always played a large role in shaping American culture and driving innovation. At the same time, many citizens have reasonable concerns about the economic effects of globalization on both the working and middle classes. The foreign-born share of the American population is at its highest level in over a century, and MAGA voters have repeatedly shown that they will not fall in line with the views of the party s business leaders for the simple reason that they view mass migration as an existential threat to America s future.

Support from the business community in general, and the high-tech community in particular, was crucial to getting Trump elected. Republicans need to maintain that support, both if they are to stay in power and if they are to govern. Democrats outspent Republicans in the 2024 elections, thanks to their support from unions, government employees, and much of the business world. Republicans thus need to expand, not shrink, their influence among entrepreneurs within the business world.

In office, Trump will need to find a way to bridge the intraparty divide over the specific H-1B visa question. The Musk and Sacks compromise may satisfy Trump s nationalist base, particularly if he follows through on the other commitments he has made to them. Or, given the harshly negative reaction among Trump supporters to H-1B supporters, and the continued accusations of racism directed toward the MAGA base, the problem may prove more difficult to solve.

via www.public.news

Alex Gutentag and Michael Shellenberger

I’m with Elon and Vivek on this issue. I hope they sort it out. My simple minded view is that anyone can become an American if they’re willing to sign up for the program, so to speak.