Jeffrey Miron - The Tea Party’s Cynical Opposition to Immigration Reform

Last month, the Senate adopted immigration reform by a 68-32 vote, with 14 Republicans in favor. Prospects for reform are still grim, however, because Tea Party Republicans in the House are dead set against the bill’s “path to citizenship.” At a minimum, these members insist a path cannot occur without “enforceable” triggers that confirm the effectiveness of the bill’s new border security measures.

 The Senate’s bill has real flaws — insufficient legal immigration, and grotesque over-complexity — but the Tea Party’s objections are misguided and cynical. Tea Partiers claim that a path to citizenship is wrong because it rewards people who have broken the rules to immigrate. This perspective has a grain of truth. Other things equal, policy should promote respect for the law and avoid rewarding those who break it. In this instance, however, other factors are more important.

Continue Reading: http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/tea-partys-cynical-opposition-immigration-reform