An Immigration Compromise

Among the paramount sources of consternation between conservatives and Sen. McCain has been his positions on immigration reform. Whether it is the case or not, a significant segment of the Right have regarded these as amnesty, and no one will be able to convince them otherwise.

Instead, the senator should offer a compromise, one which recognizes and respects the disagreements and disparate points of emphasis between conservatives and himself. Specifically, I would advise Sen. McCain to adopt a tripartite approach to immigration reform that he would implement as President.

First and foremost, he ought to commit to enforcing immigration law as it currently exists in the United States Code. Too much of that law has gone unenforced for years and a simple rectification of that dereliction would go a significant distance in diminishing the problem that our open southern border presents.

Second, devise and implement other useful policies that would further enhance the administration’s effort to provide border security.

Third and finally, commit to considering and devising humane and benevolent policies to address the millions of undocumented immigrants already in the country only after—with emphasis on only after—the border has been secured and the flow of illegal immigration has stopped.

Writing in opposition to the comprehensive immigration reform Sen. McCain cosponsored with Sen. Kennedy last Spring, the editors of National Review asserted that until "we see [border] enforcement taking place—and see the government standing up to the interests that will squeal when it does—we should not contemplate providing an amnesty." This is the basis for compromise. If Sen. McCain adopts an approach similar to the one I propose here, he will commit to securing the border as President before acting on any other approach, with conservative’s end of the bargain being that they will cooperate in good faith with him if and when this is achieved and it comes time to address the undocumented immigrants currently within the country but outside of our laws.

Sen. McCain has already signaled he is open to this, declaring on the stump that he has received the message from the voters that the border must be secured as a precondition to anything else. I hope conservatives will be willing to meet him halfway.