Republican Immigration Reform: A Step Backward for Freedom?

By Paul Gessing

In a recent article that was posted on this website, Congressman Ron Paul defended his vote in support of a recent immigration bill (H.R 4437). In the article, Dr. Paul claims that “despite its lack of substance, the House-passed bill...moves America in the right direction on the critical issue of illegal immigration.”

What does the bill do? It is quite extensive in its scope. Among other things it requires detention of and expedited removal of aliens, requires an additional 250 inspectors at U.S. ports of entry each year from 2007 through 2010, and it ends the practices of providing US Social Security and food stamps, student loans, or other federally provided assistance to non-US citizens. Many of these are reasonable provisions that might create some disincentives to those who would enter the country illegally, but there are other areas of concern.

Specifically, the bill contains two provisions that I find hard to believe any libertarian or “Free Liberal” would support. The first is a requirement that all employers in the United States, within six years, begin using a database set up by the federal government – specifically the Department of Homeland Security – to verify Social Security numbers of employees. Failure to do so will result in civil or criminal penalties for the employers. That means that all employees will face background checks and employers will be coerced into the role of policing our nation’s borders and preventing willing workers from taking jobs. Without factoring in the economic problems this provision could cause, it is expected to cost several billion dollars to implement. It is also shocking that Dr. Paul of all people would advocate what obviously amounts to another national ID system for workers.

Although it may not be as problematic as the bill’s privacy-invasive employment checks is another provision in the bill that authorizes the building of a fence along parts of the U.S.-Mexico border. With a price tag of $8 billion and genuine lack of clarity as to how the fence would solve the illegal immigration problem when billions of dollars of goods and millions of people cross the border every day, the border fence will be a costly experiment that may do more to hurt relations with Mexico than stop people from crossing the border. It is also confusing whether the border fence is really about “keeping us safe from terrorists” as Dr. Paul and others say since no one is seriously discussing the construction of a border fence with Mexico and millions of tourists from around the globe visit the country every day.

I hate to say this, especially since Ron Paul is so good on so many pro-freedom issues, but it seems clear to me that this bill is more of a reaction on the part of Congressional Republicans to the anti-Mexican, essentially racist sentiments, of so much of their conservative base. Instead of fighting the people who simply come here to make better lives for themselves, it would be nice if our political leaders could agree to create an orderly system under which Mexicans could enter the US legally to work, thus allowing them to earn money for their families without necessarily smuggling them all here in order to preserve the intact nuclear family environment that so many conservatives pontificate about.

Sure, it is easy to run against the ills of illegal immigration, just as it is easy for politicians to say they want to be tough on illegal drug use. But, with immigration as with so many issues, how you frame the issue can be much different than actual policy. If Republicans think they can win by arresting and deporting people for the supposed crime of working to create a better life for themselves and their families, I think they are sadly mistaken. It is just a shame that Dr. Paul fell prey to the misguided arguments of the nativist wing of his own party.

Paul Gessing is a Senior Editor of the Free Liberal.