Join immigration policy analyst Alex Nowrasteh and economist Bryan Caplan as they advocate for a more open immigration system. They tackle misconceptions around the economic contributions of immigrants, dismantle the myths linking immigration to crime, and unpack the complexities of visa programs like H-1B. With insights on cultural dynamics, they argue that immigration positively enriches American society. Their candid discussion invites listeners to rethink widely held beliefs while addressing the current political landscape surrounding immigration reform.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Trump's Day 1 Actions on Immigration
Trump declared an "invasion" at the border to justify shutting down the asylum system.
He also paused the refugee system and declared drug cartels as terrorist organizations.
insights INSIGHT
Post-COVID Job Market and Immigration
A large number of immigrants entered the US under Biden, not an invasion, driven by labor demand.
This influx reflects Americans' wants to hire and engage in mutually beneficial exchanges.
insights INSIGHT
Open Borders Definition
Open borders mean humans can move and work between countries without government permission.
This doesn't apply to criminals and can involve passport checks like in the EU.
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One of the very first things that Donald Trump did after being sworn in as president was to make good on promises to reduce both legal and illegal immigration. He even issued an executive order ending birthright citizenship, a right guaranteed by the Constitution's 14th Amendment. That order has already been blocked by a federal judge, and its fate may well end up being decided by the Supreme Court. But calls for less immigration are super popular, with 55 percent of Americans saying current levels should be decreased, the highest since 2001. Reason's Nick Gillespie disagrees with that—he believes that immigration is a good thing and that we should have more of it, done in an orderly, peaceful, efficient fashion.
So on January 21, the day after Trump's inauguration, Gillespie asked George Mason University economist Bryan Caplan and Cato Institute analyst Alex Nowrasteh to make the libertarian case for more immigration at a live event in New York City. They've written extensively on the topic and answer every question and concern you might have about immigration. The goal here is to steel-man critics of immigration and explain why more newcomers are good for our culture, economy, and country.
To get information about Reason's events in New York City, including The Soho Forum Debates, sign up for our NYC Events newsletter.
1:55—Trump's "Day 1" promises and actions 6:13—Was there a migrant "invasion"? 7:35—What does "open borders" mean? 11:03—What's the real story of chaos on the border? 22:06—The case for more immigration 24:30—Immigrant welfare use 31:11—H-1B visa debate 38:11—The Laken Riley Act and immigrant crime 42:00—Cultural arguments for more immigration 45:47—Assimilation in America 52:29—How many immigrants could the U.S. take in? 53:53—The most worrisome anti-immigration policies proposed
The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie 