So much to say, hard to know where to begin: Let's unpack "America First"

Originally Posted on January 22, 2017

Our new President made clear in his first address that it is going to be America First - at every turn.

As an aside, and more in future posts: as everyone comes to know, there are both competitive and collaborative aspect to achieving "First"

Let's look at immigration policy in the light of America First.

First priority

There is a first priority here: we should not let thugs and true criminals to cross our borders, set up shop.

While the current President relishes this role, and fancies himself uniquely positioned to play it (he does know the most, is the best at damn near everything - we know from his Twitter feed) - the country has always had this on the radar and has made strong efforts to ensure this door is closed. There always have been fall downs on this front - and there will be gong forward too.

The Obama administration administration focused on criminals and set a record for deportations.

Also, let's remember how easy it is, and has been, to become a "criminal" a criminal especially in repressive regimes around the world - places where "strongmen" have seized control. Dissent of any stripe can mark one as a criminal there. One reason why we all look forward to Cuba moving past the military junta of the Castros, and into the community of free and creative countries.

On this first priority, we all find common ground, right? We should support every American President in striving to do this right - making it a real priority.

The impact of immigration on the American economy

I have read reports that we should expect "workplace raids"; hoping this is intended to forward our economy, not to pander to a base.

First, Immigration has a healthy and critical role in the health of our economy.

It is not like Americans who are being displaced as the needs of the economy and workplace are going to stream into the fields to pick our tomatoes, into our hotels to make our beds, right? These can be the first rung in the ladder in our Land of Opportunity - history tells us that many of our own parents, grandparents, ... took this first rung. My own great grandmother came to be a maid on Philadelphia's Main Line.

With this in mind, the number of legal immigrants welcomed each year should be matched to that demand. That may well mean that number goes up, even up significantly.

The same for H-1B Visas

The Takeaway

An America First approach to immigration policy should emphasize our National Security and a healthy American Economy - not an ideology aimed to shore up political advantage.

  #immigration #immigrationpolicy #americafirst