America’s Identity Crisis

THE RECENT “Statement on Immigration” by Jack Kemp and William J. Bennett has been generally reported by the media as an attack on California’s Proposition 187, which would bar illegal immigrants from receiving non-emergency social benefits. WFB contests their argument on 187 elsewhere in this issue (see page 78). And it is worth noting that, according to polls, about half of California’s Latino voters support the proposition that Mr. Kemp and Mr. Bennett claim would lead to anti-Latino discrimination.

But Kemp and Bennett go beyond arguments over Proposition 187—which the voters (or the courts) will shortly decide—to offer a strong defense of immigration in principle. While they propose some measures to strengthen control of U.S. borders and even to speed up the deportation of illegal immigrants convicted of crimes, they oppose attempts to reduce the level of legal immigration. Indeed, they argue that immigrants are a net economic and social benefit to America, that immigration is not a major contributor to America’s cultural problems, and that immigrants and immigration are at the core of America’s identity as a nation.

About the Author

John O’Sullivan

John O’Sullivan is a senior fellow at National Review Institute and a contributing editor of National Review.

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THE RECENT “Statement on Immigration” by Jack Kemp and William J. Bennett has been generally reported by the media as an attack on California’s Proposition 187, which would bar illegal immigrants from receiving non-emergency social benefits. WFB contests their argument on 187 elsewhere in this issue (see page 78). And it is worth noting that, according to polls, about half of California’s Latino voters support the proposition that Mr. Kemp and Mr. Bennett claim would lead to anti-Latino discrimination.

But Kemp and Bennett go beyond arguments over Proposition 187—which the voters (or the courts) will shortly decide—to offer a strong defense of immigration in principle. While they propose some measures to strengthen control of U.S. borders and even to speed up the deportation of illegal immigrants convicted of crimes, they oppose attempts to reduce the level of legal immigration. Indeed, they argue that immigrants are a net economic and social benefit to America, that immigration is not a major contributor to America’s cultural problems, and that immigrants and immigration are at the core of America’s identity as a nation.