Revisiting the Reagan Revolution: Immigration

Everyone on the right, or at least in the Republican Party, loves the Gipper.

He has become the standard bearer for the GOP, a populist who touched the hearts of many, a Great Communicator who appealed to this nation's desire to restore its former glory.

Yet his legacy has come under fire lately, among dire conservatives demanding rule cuts not just in taxes, but also in spending; not just humanitarians hand outs to illegal immigrants, refusing to hold them accountable for having entered the United States illegally. As for Iran-Contra, I do not think any policy expert with any acumen would believe that he was asleep at the meetings, unaware of what was going on. Reagan excused his lack of oversight in the scandal by arguing that he though in his heart that he was doing right by the country, even though the results hurt this nation's prestige at home and abroad. But the scandal never came nigh unto him.

Ronald Reagan at Rancho del Cielo

On the matter of immigration, Reagan's greatest legacy was the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, otherwise known as the Simpson-Mizzoli bill, which turned into a blanket amnesty for six million illegals without solving the more pressing issues of integration and border control. Even Edwin Meese, one of Reagan's stalwarts, admitted in the title of a reflective essay that "Reagan Would Not Repeat Amnesty Mistake."

Rather than dealing with the problem for the long-term, Reagan treated the issue with a heartfelt "that's OK", and permitted the flagrant infraction of this nation's territorial integrity. With promises that were never kept, Reagan instituted an amnesty while demanding more security for the border and a guest-worker program, which never materialized. This policy is so unpopular with the conservative base that after the governor of Utah suggested this complaisant policy for his state, he faced a huge backlash.

Simpson-Mizzoli deserved more thought (then rejection) from Reagan

Once again, Republicans are grateful to President Reagan for changing the debate on the role of Government. Yet to excoriate government as the one problem, yet still permitting its growth, no matter how slow, did not prepare this nation for the painful cuts which we must now face. These fiscal problems were exacerbated by the rampant illegal immigration and lack of enforcement which has continued to bleed the state and federal government dry. Social services and public programs which rely on public money are losing necessary funds to support the growing demands wrought by an increasing illegal population, one whose members contribute nothing in the way of taxes and fees to shore up the economic offset of their demands.

Government plays a crucial role in securing the borders of our nation. Rather than expending billions in an arms race with the near-defunct Soviet Union, Ronald Reagan and his committed caucus in the Congress could have invested time, money, and manpower toward streamlining the naturalization process and border security.

Even though it is not too late, the Republican Presidential candidates must not just present but prosecute a reasonable immigration policy, one that realistically metes out consequences to law-breakers, protects our borders from further encroachment, and simplifies the naturalization process for future immigrants seeking to join this nation the right way.