Things don't change much for the Libertarian Party, here is the 1990 Libertarian Party Platform on immigration and the 2004 Libertarian Party Platform on immigration.
17. IMMIGRATION, 1990 Party Platform:
We hold that human rights should not be denied or abridged on the basis of nationality. We condemn massive roundups of Hispanic Americans and others by the federal government in its hunt for individuals not possessing required government documents. We strongly oppose all measures that punish employers who hire undocumented workers. Such measures repress free enterprise, harass workers, and systematically discourage employers from hiring Hispanics.
Undocumented non-citizens should not be denied the fundamental freedom to labor and to move about unmolested. Furthermore, immigration must not be restricted for reasons of race, religion, political creed, age, or sexual preference.
We therefore call for the elimination of all restrictions on immigration, the abolition of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Border Patrol, and a declaration of full amnesty for all people who have entered the country illegally. We oppose government welfare payments to non-citizens just as we oppose government welfare payments to all other persons.
Because we support the right of workers to cross borders without harassment, we oppose all government-mandated "temporary worker" plans. Specifically, we condemn attempts to revive the Bracero Program as government imposition of second-class status on Mexican-born workers.
We welcome all refugees to our shores and condemn the efforts of U.S. officials to create a new "Berlin Wall" which would keep them captive. We condemn the U.S. government's policy of barring those refugees from our shores and preventing Americans from assisting their passage to help them escape tyranny or improve their economic prospects.
Immigration, 2004 Party Platform:
The Issue: We welcome all refugees to our country and condemn the efforts of U.S. officials to create a new "Berlin Wall" which would keep them captive. We condemn the U.S. government's policy of barring those refugees from our country and preventing Americans from assisting their passage to help them escape tyranny or improve their economic prospects.
The Principle: We hold that human rights should not be denied or abridged on the basis of nationality. Undocumented non-citizens should not be denied the fundamental freedom to labor and to move about unmolested. Furthermore, immigration must not be restricted for reasons of race, religion, political creed, age or sexual preference. We oppose government welfare and resettlement payments to non-citizens just as we oppose government welfare payments to all other persons.
Solutions: We condemn massive roundups of Hispanic Americans and others by the federal government in its hunt for individuals not possessing required government documents. We strongly oppose all measures that punish employers who hire undocumented workers. Such measures repress free enterprise, harass workers, and systematically discourage employers from hiring Hispanics.
Transitional Action: We call for the elimination of all restrictions on immigration, the abolition of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Border Patrol, and a declaration of full amnesty for all people who have entered the country illegally.
I was a Libertarian (big-L, Libertarian Party membership card and everything) for a while, when I was younger and not quite as cynical or as realistic about human nature.
Libertarianism (small L) is an ideal. But practically, it has problems—like ALL moral absolutes. I think it has fewer problems than, say, Marxism, but a Libertarian “paradise” would be difficult for mortal, fallen humans to implement successfully.
So, my basic philosophy is “leave me alone and I’ll leave you alone.” This is a small-l libertarian statement. As you might guess, it’s also extremely hard to implement in practice, as there’s a huge number of people in this world who seem bound and determined NOT to leave me alone.
The Libertarian Party is full of a bunch of Ron Paul-esque nutters who will never, ever understand what it will take to win elections.
That secret weapon is “compromise when necessary, but never, ever retreat.” This is something the Democrat Socialists learned a long time ago, and adhere relentlessly to through good times and bad. Something the more doctrinaire conservatives might need to strongly consider. Half a loaf IS better than none. If you doubt that, look at the current constitution of the United States Senate.