A new CBS poll shows 53% of Democrats are satisfied that their candidates are addressing the relevant issues — compared to 14% of Republicans. This will help change that. There’s nothing not to like here, especially the centerpiece “enforcement by attrition” strategy that’s so often touted by strong borders advocates from Mark Krikorian to the boss herself. Shrewdly, there’s also a heavy emphasis on enforcing the law as it presently stands rather than passing a bunch of new mechanisms, which are simply not in the offing given the deep blue Congress Fred would almost certainly be saddled with. (A notable exception to that pragmatic approach: he wants to build and then expand the fence. It ain’t happening.) I could have done with more details about prosecuting criminal illegal aliens, too. As it is, all we get is “Deploy the additional assets outlined above to prosecute alien smugglers (‘coyotes’), alien gang members, previously deported felons, and aliens who have repeatedly violated our immigration laws much more vigorously.” Whether Congress would be willing to pour money into that is uncertain but it’s enough of a hot potato that simply having the White House place it on the agenda would probably compel them to address it.

Share your take below. My skepticism’s reserved mainly for the second half, particularly the part about limiting family unification for legal immigrants. Retaining or even expanding that policy is a core ambition for the left (including Hillary) and one on which they won’t give ground easily. On the other hand, the rest of the plan seems to liberalize the requirements for legal immigration somewhat so maybe that would be a palatable trade-off for them. High fence/wide gate, just as many conservatives have so often asked for. Tancredo notably excepted.