“Abolish ICE” is the current rallying cry of the left. It appears to be based on the following syllogism:
- Trump is a racist;
- His immigration policies are racist; therefore
- Abolishing ICE is a good way to fight racism.
While abolishing ICE may be good poetry, however, it is bad prose–just as bad as building the wall. Sound immigration policy is built on the following principles:
- Refugees are protected by international law. They are entitled to decent treatment, fair hearings, and a liberal understanding of what “persecution” means. However, people who do not meet the standard have no right to be here, and may be deported.
- Given our demographic issues, it makes no sense to reduce legal immigration. If anything, it should be increased. We have the right, however, to admit only those people who can make a real contribution to our country. There is nothing inherently wrong in having “merit-based” immigration; the real issue is identifying what “merit” means.
- There is a theoretical case for deporting illegal immigrants who are here purely for economic reasons. In the real world, mass deportations are unrealistic and would do far more harm than good. Illegal immigrants who have been here for a long time (the Dreamers in particular) should be given a path to citizenship.
- Illegal immigrants who commit serious crimes should be deported.
“Abolishing ICE” won’t even have the support of the Sanders wing of the Democratic Party. Bernie himself has made it clear that he views open borders as a Koch brothers plot to reduce wages. If the Democratic Party makes this its position in 2020, it is looking for trouble, and will undoubtedly find it.