Posted on 09/17/2015 4:25:38 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Donald Trump had a relatively poor performance in Wednesday night's CNN debate. But one of his stronger moments — at least from the point of view of his supporters — came when the topic of immigration arose.
"We're going to have a country again," he said in defending his ambitious (and probably unfeasible) plan to build a wall along the entire Mexican border and deport 11 million illegal immigrants. Each time Trump, who is number one in the Washington Examiner's presidential power rankings, describes how hordes of foreigners are overrunning and destroying the country, he speaks to what many perceive as a major and underappreciated threat facing America.
But in reality, the problem over which Trump obsesses now ran its course long ago. Mass immigration was last decade's big problem in the U.S., not today's. It's not just that immigration levels are lower today than they were in previous periods of greater peace and economic growth, such as the turn of the Twentieth Century. It's also that mass illegal immigration just isn't happening anymore, the recent influx of child migrants notwithstanding.
As the Pew Research Center has illustrated with data, illegal immigrants are also leaving the U.S. since 2007 faster than have been coming in. And there are fewer illegal Mexican immigrants in the United States today than there were in 2005.
Why? A major reason is that Mexico, the largest source of illegal immigrants to the U.S., became a better place to live. It shed its socialistic one-party political system in the late 1990s and adopted the very sort of free-trade policies that Trump now criticizes. Mexico signed free trade agreements with 44 different countries. Its exports increased six-fold. The share of Mexicans surviving on less than two dollars per day plunged from 20 percent in 1996 to just 4 percent in 2012.
Thus, the economic desperation that causes mass migration from Mexico has declined. Meanwhile, Mexico's new crackdown on Central American immigrant traffic will likely lower the rate of illegal immigration to the U.S. even further.
This is not to say that immigration enforcement is a non-issue. For example, President Obama's unilateral attempt to confer legal status on millions of illegal residents is a brazen, lawless challenge to America's constitutional order.
Moreover, the idea of politically correct municipal governments protecting convicted criminals from deportation is something no reasonable person should accept. This is why the much-maligned establishment GOP leaders in Congress are set to pass a law against sanctuary city policies (it has already passed the House).
Yet even on that very legitimate issue of safety, the available evidence suggests a criminal immigrant problem that is much smaller than Trump's rhetoric.
Take his own question, designed to cater to feminist hysteria: "Who is doing the raping?" In Texas, whose government tracks immigrant crime, legal and illegal immigrants together comprise about 16.5 percent of the population and (averaged over a four-year period) about 19 percent of those charged with rape and the other crimes that fall under the state's definition of "sexual assault" in any given year.
Part of taking the immigration issue seriously involves talking about it. Trump has done that. But another part involves talking about it truthfully and offering realistic solutions. There, he continues to fail.
Really stupid!
Apparently, very.
Pure insanity. And from the Washington times editorial board
After all the schmoozing from everywhere over ‘who knows what she stands for fiorina’
Trump is getting hit from every side
What conservative could withstand it?
Jesus, Mary & Joseph. (I’m praying).
I’d love to know the names and party affiliation of these duplicitous “Editors.”
Names aside, they’re either demonic-rats or very squishy GOPe.
I’ll bet the one in Europe is finished too according to this rube.
That rag examines Washington?
Have they checked out his colon yet? Might find that Hoffa dude if they look up in there.
Horse$hit.
Only 20 percent think this guy is right most of the rest want them to leave and build the wall.
Everyone according to these cheap labor frauds is wrong.
More scurrilous lies from the hussein-run, leftist lamestream marist media. I know you’re in Texas, 2DV, and like me you see the swarms of wetbacks that have infiltrated the area. It gets worse on a daily basis. Even the radio is wall-to-wall mexican junk. The crisis of the criminal invasion has grown by magnitudes since the illegal regime seized power.
What the Hell is this crap...
Build the wall...
40+ MILLION ILLEGAL alien invaders/soldiers are here. Now.
Mehico & leftwing communists have declared war on America.
People, you do not see what you have seen the last 4 years.
Pay no attention to all the illegals in your neighborhood. They were zapped in by magic.
I guess the idea for the GOPe is to now deny it and call us stupid.
Drudge linked to an article that relates that Obama intends to register over eight million illegals to vote next year.
WOW! It’s been with us for years...and Trump starts talking about it...and voila..it’s OVER.
This from the Examiner, that I thought represented some intelligent reporting. I think I have the wrong publication.
Really? The article link and source title are to the Washington Examiner. Is this another name for the Washington Times?
It’s not over until every illegl working in a US company is deported or self deports.
Enforce existing law and fine or jail employers that hire them and they will all be gone within 6 months!!!!
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