Issues and Interests in American Immigration Policy

Abstract

When Congress supports a highly restrictionist immigration policy it is acting in accordance with what appears to be the opinion of a majority of Americans. This opinion at present is largely an expression of noneconomic sentiments since only labor-organization views strongly reflect economic inter ests; business organizations now rarely state positions. The opinions of mem bers of religious, humanitarian, and other groups who favor some relaxation of current restrictions are based predominantly upon ethical and humanistic values. Although current immigration policy is fairly compatible with the theoretical arguments developed in this paper, it does not appear to have been arrived at rationally and in a manner consciously designed to compromise the diverse objectives of the groups interested. However a more careful analysis might show it to have been somewhat more rationally determined than my presenta tion suggests.