Why do so many people have so much trouble concentrating on one thing? If it is wrong, as I maintain, for people -- even people who style themselves "the government" -- to initiate or threaten to initiate violent action against peaceful people simply because they have crossed a so-called national border without official approval, then such wrongful action should stop, and decent people should oppose its continuation.
It is a red herring to raise questions about (1) crimes the migrants might commit, (2) welfare benefits they might collect, (3) politicians, parties, and causes they might ultimately support at the polls, and (4) cultural changes they might bring about. Apart from the great uncertainty that surrounds these possible future events, they are separate issues -- issues that relate to all residents of the country, not only to those who came into the country from elsewhere. The existence of possible problems associated with crime, welfare, voting, and cultural change is not a valid excuse for continuation of the violence initiated or threatened by the government against peaceful immigrants. The existence of possible wrongs of type B, C, D, and E is not an excuse for the continuation of Type A wrong in the here and now.
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Robert Higgs
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