How the Left Accidentally Bolstered the Nativist Right

6 hours ago

Heritage Foundation and Republican figures like Vice President Vance are pushing for reductions in legal immigration, breaking from previous conservative norms.
The distinction between legal and illegal immigration, once a mainstream political norm, is eroding due to pressure from both right-wing nativists and left-leaning advocates who reject all immigration restrictions.
Academic and advocacy efforts have increasingly dismissed the legal/illegal distinction as illegitimate, framing it as a tool that divides immigrant communities and unfairly restricts movement.
Media organizations and advocacy groups have shifted terminology away from 'illegal immigrant' to 'undocumented,' weakening the conceptual distinction and making it easier for restrictionists to attack legal immigration.
The Trump administration capitalized on weakened norms to implement policies that cut legal immigration, such as visa restrictions and asylum changes, appealing to a nativist minority without broad public support.
Research indicates that public support for immigration increases when it is perceived as orderly and government-controlled, highlighting the importance of maintaining a functional legal system to channel opposition constructively.
Rebuilding a bipartisan coalition for immigration reform requires acknowledging the negative consequences of illegal immigration and defending the legal/illegal distinction to include voters who support legal channels.

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