November 12, 2003

November 12, 2003

WALL STREET JOURNAL SEES LIGHT

CONCURS WITH HORSEFEATHERS’ IMMIGRANT-WORKER POLICY

The November 12 issue of The Wall Street Journal has in it an editorial which concurs with and refines Horsefeathers’ recently proposed view that our current immigration policy toward immigrant workers who come to America to fill low-end jobs is rigid, results in criminalizing honest strivers and decreases our economic efficiency. The Journal editorial suggests new laws based on the experience of a highly effective experimental program in the ‘60s for Mexican farm workers called the “bracero program.” The editorial reports on a new report from the National Foundation for American Policy which shows how market forces might help reduce illegal immigration both from across our borders and from overseas.

“The point here isn't to suggest that a new guest worker program with Mexico will end all of our immigration ills. But the bracero experience does show that a migration policy that recognizes the reality of labor market forces is likely to be healthier both for workers and the rule of law. As long as higher wage jobs exist in the U.S., Mexicans (and others) will migrate here to fill those jobs and feed their families and dreams.

Short of doing things that would offend American values -- such as threatening to shoot border crossers -- we can't stop immigrants from coming. Those conservatives who fret about "illegals" ought to favor some kind of work-visa program that gives these strivers the option of working here legally.” Read more HERE.