Thread by @jflier

Thread on immigration/border issues after listening to totally unsatisfying policy/political debates today.
1. Context- I have been a supporter of increased immigration for 40+ yrs. both to benefit US and to assist those seeking our opportunities.

2. I do this while supporting reasonable control over borders. The goal is to permit more immigration, not to promote illegal border crossings. I used to think this was obvious and nearly universally supported. Now realize that’s not the case.

3. The Trumpist/Republican narrative on immigration and its consequences, and its link to border security has been debunked factually, and morally so many times. I will not repeat here. I find this narrative intellectually and morally bankrupt.

4. The idea of a crisis, gangs and drugs needing the “fence” as a crisis intervention is absurd on so many grounds. (I favor ending the drug war as best solution to drug issue and many downstream consequences, and have for 40+ years).

5. We obviously need a far better and more humane approach to dealing with asylum seekers coming to border, especially families etc. I don’t have a perfect solution right now, but feel confident one can be found.

6. Despite 1-5 above, those on the left who argue that barriers are immoral (whether physical walls/fences or other) are in error. I haven’t heard a clear exposition of why this would be so. Esp since we already have 600+ miles of these that most don’t seem to view as immoral.

7. Unless these folks truly believe in totally open borders as basis for uncontrolled immigration, the explanation for taking this view seems purely political. This may be understandable, but we should understand it as such.

8. I may not be a great political prognosticator, but if Dems take lead with fuzzy view on open borders, this could be great opportunity to enhance Trump or Trump-like victory. If they trade DACA fix for some border $, that would be best immediate political outcome for country.

9. In the end, we need a deeper and more philosophical debate on national identity, borders, immigration. My view hasn’t changed, it only gets stronger as in #1 above. Whether we will have this debate in foreseeable future given political context is unclear to me. END

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