Myth: Opposition to amnesty is opposition to immigrants

Liberal myth

Opposition to amnesty and support for stronger enforcement of immigration laws is based on opposition to immigrants.

The facts

Legal immigration, which helped form our country, is a vital mechanism for revitalizing our economy and our nation. Opposition to amnesty and support for better enforcement of immigration law is based on principled respect for the rule of law and the desire to improve border security and not to create incentives for future illegal immigration.

Amnesty solves nothing

Amnesty does not solve the problem of illegal immigration. In fact, amnesty makes the problem much worse by undercutting the rule of law and rewarding those who have acted wrongly.

• Amnesty only encourages further illegal entry by those who want to take advantage of the program. This makes the immigration problem worse, not better.
• Previous amnesty programs have been unable to process applicants quickly and weed out illegal aliens, especially potential terrorists. Three known terrorists, for example, exploited the 1986 amnesty.

Legal immigration is worth preserving

Legal immigrants have throughout American history provided a rejuvenation of ideas, spirit and energy. Legal immigration should be encouraged.

• Legal immigrants come to America to embrace what is best about our nation: freedom, family, individual responsibility, entrepreneurship.
• By entering the nation through legal processes, legal immigrants show a firm respect for the rule of law and a regard for the customs of their new home.

Securing the border improves national security

The wave of illegal entry significantly exacerbates the challenge of border security.

• Instead of watching for threats to national security, border patrol agents must also watch for those seeking to migrate illegally.
• Illegal border crossings put lives and property at risk for the individuals crossing, for those enforcing the law, and for local communities.

Related Heritage research

• Edwin Meese and Matthew Spalding, “Permanent Principles and Temporary Workers,” March 1, 2006
• Tim Kane and Kirk Johnson, “The Real Problem with Immigration …and the Real Solution,” March 1, 2006
• Helen E. Krieble, “Private Employers and Border Control,” March 1, 2006
• Edwin Meese III, James Carafano, Matthew Spalding and Paul Rosenzweig, “Alternatives to Amnesty: Proposals for Fair and Effective Immigration Reform,” June 2, 2005
• Edwin Meese III and Matthew Spalding, “The Principles of Immigration,” October 19, 2004