[quote=spdrun]That’s just the ease of travel and mass communication. Last I checked, the last time state borders were closed was during the Civil War.
There’s something to be said about congregating with those who are similar. Maybe that’s why as a 2nd generation American, I feel more empathy with Latinos who are either immigrants, or children of immigrants, than with people whose distant ancestors came off the Mayflower.[/quote]
Yes, it’s the ease of travel and also electronic communications. But that’s what open borders would facilitate.
And I also understand the perspective of immigrants because I’m a first-generation American on my mother’s side, but an 11th generation American on my father’s side, going back to the early 1600s (accident of accidents, my paternal grandparents were born in the 1800s). I’ve grown up with immigrants and most of my friends are immigrants or first-generation Americans.
But I’m also a realist, and know that open borders and generous social safety nets are completely incompatible. Since I strongly favor generous social safety nets (and workers’ rights and well-being), I favor highly-controlled immigration policies.
