Ruben Navarrette Jr. is right to point out the value of low skilled immigrants. However, he conveniently overlooks the late Milton Friedman’s warning that you cannot have both open borders and a welfare state. These people must not be allowed to get on the dole. This unfortunately is almost impossible to prevent because many immigrants give birth to children born in the United States who automatically become citizens—and eligible for welfare benefits. One can mostly agree with Navarrette’s central argument without justifying illegal immigration. This most important distinction cannot be ignored. He also fails to even mention the pervasive anti-intellectualism, growing illegitimacy rates, and high criminal involvement of the more recently arrived immigrants. An incredibly high number of them are contemptuous of education.
Victor Davis Hanson, Heather Mac Donald, Steven Malanga, and Myron Magnet wrote, The Immigration Solution: A Better Plan Than Today’s. This book should be on your must read list. Pajamas Media may even want to contact Heather Mac Donald and have her write an article concerning illegal immigration.
