In recent days, with reform on the agenda of a Democratic president, Krugman has said positive things about immigration. But back in 2006, when Republican President George W. Bush was behind reform, Krugman expressed serious concerns.
“A review of serious, nonpartisan research reveals some uncomfortable facts about the economics of modern immigration, and immigration from Mexico in particular,” Krugman wrote at the time. Among those uncomfortable facts, he explained, were 1) “the net benefits to the U.S. economy from immigration, aside from the large gains to the immigrants themselves, are small”; 2) “many of the worst-off native-born Americans are hurt by immigration”; and 3) “modern America is a welfare state … and low-skill immigrants threaten to unravel that safety net.”
When Krugman wrote those words, the unemployment rate was 4.7 percent. Now it is nearly three points higher. The economic concerns about immigration reform are more serious than ever…
Like Krugman, it was easier for him to oppose immigration reform in ’06 and ’07 because it was sponsored by a Republican president. This time, will any Democrats stand up to a president of their own party?
Join the conversation as a VIP Member