Cheap human capital here is no different than cheap human capital in a distant country. If the bottom-line is lowest possible prices for consumers, then all US-based industries should be free to compete using the cheapest available labor. And if there isn't sufficient available domestic labor, then competent foreign workers should be permitted to enter the job market freely to such an extent, that all employment demands are met, irrespective of the effects on the domestic US labor force.
I can absolutely push for lower taxes on imports while also insisting we build a wall and deport 12 million illegals.
Cheap human capital here is no different than cheap human capital in a distant country.
Cheap Mexican labor in Mexico commits less crime in the US than cheap Mexican labor here.
Cheap Mexican labor in Mexico is less likely to get drunk and drive the wrong direction down a US expressway than cheap Mexican labor here.
Cheap Mexican labor in Mexico doesn't commit us to educate the children of illegals as compared to cheap Mexican labor here.
There are no links or quotes from say, Washington's inaugural address or maybe a state of the union saying this was official admin policy. Pure fantasy. What really happened was his vice president was sent to Holland to open Ameica's first embassy to negotiate open trade and on top of that back then we were also opening up trade deals w/ China and Russia.
Let's give this goofy protectionist founding myth a rest.