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Much anti-immigration sentiment is motivated by racism. But we should not neglect the impact of partisan politics. Republicans fear that immigration = importing votes for the Democrats.
marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolu…
marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolu…
Note that this was a big reason for anti-immigrant sentiment in the 1800s. Federalists and Whigs feared that immigration = importing votes for the Democrats.
But immigration restrictionists never succeeded in the early 1800s.
Why?
Because immigrants got naturalized, registered to vote, and voted...for the Democrats.
Why?
Because immigrants got naturalized, registered to vote, and voted...for the Democrats.
This strategy also basically worked in California in the 1990s.
When the GOP went nativist, immigrants and children of immigrants mobilized politically and gave the GOP the boot.
nytimes.com/2018/12/06/us/…
When the GOP went nativist, immigrants and children of immigrants mobilized politically and gave the GOP the boot.
nytimes.com/2018/12/06/us/…
But note: All of these were STATE-level victories, not national.
In the 1800s, immigration restriction was left to the states. And the California victory after the 90s was also a state-level victory.
At the national level, mobilizing immigrant votes en masse is harder.
In the 1800s, immigration restriction was left to the states. And the California victory after the 90s was also a state-level victory.
At the national level, mobilizing immigrant votes en masse is harder.
In addition to harnessing 1800s-style partisan fear of imported votes, Trump is harnessing 1920s-style racism.
And racism, unlike political nativism, has a track record of success.
And racism, unlike political nativism, has a track record of success.
So in Trump, America faces the simultaneous resurrection of TWO nativist impulses - the partisan nativism that failed to keep out Irish/German immigrants in the 1800s, and the racist nativism that succeeded in keeping out Italian/East European/Asian immigration in the 1920s.
Registering and mobilizing Hispanic and Asian voters en masse will be an important part of defeating Trumpism, just as registering and mobilizing Irish voters helped in the 1800s.
But to really defeat Trumpism, we need to defeat nativist racism on the ideological battlefield.
But to really defeat Trumpism, we need to defeat nativist racism on the ideological battlefield.
So far, it looks like we've been doing that. Trump's racist nativism has provoked a pro-immigration backlash.
news.gallup.com/poll/235793/re…
news.gallup.com/poll/235793/re…
At this point, the best hope of Stephen Miller and other nativists is that nativism can continue to fire up Trump's base, while other issues more favorable to Republicans distract the electorate long enough for Trump to win a second term.
That very well might happen.
That very well might happen.
So pro-immigration folks should focus on the long game.
1. Register and mobilize Hispanic and Asian American voters.
2. Craft a durable, permanent, popular ideology of opposition to nativist racism, and make sure it outlives the Trump era.
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1. Register and mobilize Hispanic and Asian American voters.
2. Craft a durable, permanent, popular ideology of opposition to nativist racism, and make sure it outlives the Trump era.
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