To use one of the favorite words of the political class: It may be time for Republicans to evolve on immigration. I do not mean here evolution in its conventional sense (i.e., catering to the latest iteration of Beltway chic), but instead trying to adapt enduring principles to confront the issues that we face in 2015. On immigration, we need to apply the principles of opportunity, civic integration, and liberty to the world not as we find it in 1899, 1965, or 1986, but today. As a matter of national security and the long-term defense of republican norms, it is imperative to craft an immigration policy that allows for the integration of immigrants and their families into American society. Current policies may often undermine that aim. Evolution on immigration would help the Republican party in its broader quest to formulate a reinvigorated policy agenda. Prioritizing prudence over nostalgia, this evolution would advance immigration reform that helps immigrants and the native born to come together to forge a united republic. There are some signs that the party may be poised for this evolution, but whether the party takes the necessary steps to realize a forward-looking immigration policy remains unclear.

In the Obama era, Democrats have proposed the following solution to our nation’s growing socioeconomic stratification: increasing government spending while doubling down on many of the policies that worsen this stratification (increasing energy costs, supporting more guest workers, expanding corporate cronyism, etc.). Republicans could respond to this problem by being a more moderate version of the Democratic party — gently escalating rather than exploding government spending and allowing current cronyist policies to continue. Or they could differentiate themselves from Democrats by attempting to confront some of the forces driving this stratification.