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Manhattan Institute Fellow Heather MacDonald on efforts to reform U.S. immigration policy.
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His Manhattan institute -- city journal contributing editor Heather -- great to have you with us.
But let's start with the first your your judgment -- a matter of policy.
What what do you think is the appropriate way forward in terms of public policy.
On the issue of illegal immigration.
Well I would like to move our immigration system towards his skills based.
Qualifications.
That you come in not because you have a family member artists here.
But because you have skills that the American economy need to have language with regards to illegal immigration.
I think the rule of law remains the best way.
Of making sure that people don't come into the country illegally.
The risk of an amnesty when we're talking about immigration reform that's basically all that we're talking about unfortunately.
It's down the state.
That it.
Every amnesty in the past weather in Europe -- in the United States has had the effect of attracting more people into the country illegally in the hope of the future -- Not.
Years ago I I started talking about a rational.
Effective humane immigration office there would take into account.
All of their concerns about.
Displacement of those who were in this country illegally a due process to make a determination about how work permits and legal status was -- That's not enough.
The activist groups in this country insist upon one thing and if it's -- it's remarkable.
In demand and in my eyes if they insist upon amnesty and this president is insisting upon amnesty what is your reaction.
Well what I worry about most did with the immigration advocates is not amnesty but the incredibly successful campaign.
To -- ties any immigration enforcement whatsoever.
When you have opposition across the country to a program called secure communities.
Which says if you've committed a crime.
And you -- jail the jail authorities should notify the federal immigration authorities your presence.
That now is viewed as unfair to illegal aliens so we can't even penalize criminals.
That means that if even if we say okay.
We're gonna give amnesty everybody here and from this day forward we will actually start in fourth unless we won't.
Politically the Republicans right now.
And and and the in the tempo and the the owner of the conversation is rising.
Republicans are looking at the numbers and they're saying despite the fact.
That they didn't even turn out the members the members they have.
I mean this was the lowest turnout -- on.
Almost twenty years.
It is if its strike.
But now they're saying they've got tired and create diversity and we're gonna take up this issue of diversity here later -- the broadcast.
But.
What's your reaction I mean should they should they do that is their a panacea.
-- that change in attitude on the part of the Republican Party.
Well first default diversity and quotas are ridiculous -- but the best person forward always and race and gender ethnicity played no role.
If if Republicans believe in amnesty they should they should.
Enact an amnesty but the the hope that this is going to deliver significant.
Numbers of current.
Democrat.
Hispanics to the Republican Party I think is and I need because.
The main reason that Hispanic support democratic party's economic policies not immigration.
You have 62%.
Of likely Spanish voters in September polled by fox saying they supported obamacare.
This despite the Catholic church's opposition to the contraception mandate so much for the social values Hispanics.
They support prop thirty and in California.
To raise taxes on upper and -- Californians and to raise the sales tax why.
Because Hispanics remain at the lower level of the economic.
Ladder and they used government welfare programs at a very high rate.
I I welcome this discussion.
Now being distorted by the Republicans on on reforming our immigration laws.
But I I hope that there's not a rush to judgment that somehow moves us across this.
This vast sea of facts and realities that have been is that you have been avoided by both political parties.
The American people really need to understand what is happening.
The Hispanic community needs to understand what is happening.
The idea that your broaching here.
That this country should be selecting those it brings into the United States based on their skills or talents.
You know that's that's going to be a tough sell when that land bridge is there're.
-- -- Absolutely and that's why an amnesty is very risky because it means that.
Stopping the flow of illegal alien aliens from -- land bridge is going to be even more difficult.
If there is to be an amnesty will be the third in the last twenty -- years from to it.
Will be something -- and will have a fourth I can guarantee you are right thank you very much of the convention manager -- -- continue this discussion.
