Tell me who is letting “nativism†cloud the debate? Who? Every conservative I know focuses on the rule of law. The idea of letting a mob of people in illegally, without screening for their criminal past or diseases, is abhorrent. Not using any logic as to who to let in — letting skilled workers in first or other logical criteria — is abhorrent. Letting border-crossers in ahead of immigrants who have waited for years going through the legal process is abhorrent. I don’t know of any credible person who is saying don’t let immigrants in because we hate Latinos or want a “white†country. This “nativism†argument is a straw man.
You are right. The rule of law is blind and does not see color or race. The purpose of our immigration laws is to protect our country, not exclusion.
If you look up the definition of nativism, it can either mean “protecting the interests of native inhabitants” (what’s wrong with that??), or “an irrational prejudice against immigrants”. I think we all know which definition the author is using.
The author is attempting to make nativism the new “n” word.
Ugh.