Tucker Carlson and I have a similar confusion about illegal immigration. I think we both understand the Democrat interest, future voters. Most surveys I have seen say that Democrats are favored by as much as 4 to 1 when it comes to illegal immigrant voters. Assuming this to be true, it is highly unlikely that Democrat leaders will vote for a wall or even measures that would secure the borders and interior of the country.
The puzzling question is why do American corporations seem to favor open borders. It is said that America’s corporations need more workers, but the need isn’t for low skilled workers. Practical and fielded advances in robotics are projected to wipe out millions of low skilled jobs. (A 2017 study by Ball State University suggests that half of low skill jobs will be replaced by artificial intelligence and automation.) So, what is going on?
If we don’t need unskilled labor for the workforce, and since most of the unskilled illegal immigrants seem to end up in the American welfare system, it appears that the constant reference to corporations needing illegal immigrant workers is really a subterfuge. The need is for more consumers, not producers.
The need for more consumers makes sense. As America’s population ages and subsequent generations have fewer children, there is a decline in the impact of the American consumer. Corporations have to compete in shrinking American markets, and many struggle to compete effectively in the international environment.
From a corporate standpoint, the illegal immigrant consumer costs are spread across the nation via the welfare system. Subsequent consumption by illegal immigrants then use American taxpayer provided welfare dollars to buy corporate made things. Even if corporate America has to pay more taxes, it can just pass the cost of those taxes along to the growing consumer base.
I started this article by saying that Tucker Carlson and I are confused by illegal immigration. While I have come up with an alternative explanation of the situation, I am still not convinced that it is even a good explanation as the situation is quite complex. I note that economists from every corner of the country seem to pitch the producer argument, and the news media quite nicely follows along. Up to this point, I bought their argument even though it made no sense for corporate America – and for Republicans.
