3 Founders on Immigration

 

Some Initial Thoughts

 

November 27, 2018

 

Dear Presidents Washington, Jefferson and Mr. Franklin:

Gentlemen:

I am writing to all of you regarding one of the biggest issues in the news today, immigration. The world has changed considerably since your day and immigration is truly on a global scale where I would imagine that in your time it would have been more of a European migration. Also, there are many more factors that play into immigration today. Concerns  such as terrorism, illegal drugs and others all of which I am sure are foreign to you.  Today we hear about DACA, the wall, chain migration, security and separating families. A new issue of late are human caravans who travel thousands of miles in an attempt to claim asylum here in the U.S.  I will go into further details later when I write to you individually regarding these matters.

Since it is a very relevant issue, I thought I would remind you of your thoughts and feelings regarding immigration. What I see in all of your quotes is an openness by all of you to immigration but each of you have certain caveats. These caveats align pretty much with many of the issues that are affecting us today which are legality, productivity and merit. It is amazing to think that all these years later we still have not gotten this right, especially since we have gone through many stages and times of migration and how all of you set down some pretty good guidelines which are still relevant today.

Today, both parties are using the immigration debate as a campaign issue causing a further divide between the parties, which you warned us about President Washington, so we are caught in a vicious cycle and nothing gets done. Gentlemen your thoughts are still relevant today and maybe our legislators from both sides can take some guidance and learn from you.

President Jefferson in your letter to Mr. Hugh White you appeared to be focused on the legal aspects of immigration and how we and those coming into this country should follow the established rules:

“Born in other countries, yet believing you could be happy in this, our laws acknowledge, as they should do, your right to join us in society, conforming, as I doubt not you will do, to our established rules. That these rules shall be as equal as prudential considerations will admit, will certainly be the aim of our legislatures, general and particular.”

Thomas Jefferson, letter to Hugh White, May 2, 1801

Mr. Franklin, your focus appears to be based on the need for productivity of those who wish to come here along with our ability to manage and handle all who enter this great country.

“Strangers are welcome because there is room enough for them all, and therefore the old Inhabitants are not jealous of them; the Laws protect them sufficiently so that they have no need of the Patronage of great Men; and everyone will enjoy securely the Profits of his Industry. But if he does not bring a Fortune with him, he must work and be industrious to live.”

Benjamin Franklin, Those Who Would Remove to America, February 1784

 And finally, President Washington, you stress a need for propriety and merit to enjoy the privileges of being an American:

“The bosom of America is open to receive not only the Opulent and respected Stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all Nations and Religions: whom we shall welcome to a participation of all our rights and privileges, if by decency and propriety of conduct they appear to merit the enjoyment.”

George Washington

So, gentlemen, expect to hear from me again regarding your thoughts on what today is a very sensitive topic. Hopefully, we can go into more detail and learn more from your thoughts when I write you individually.

 

Sincerely,

Andrew J. DeMarco