Donald Trump’s immigration speech Wednesday night in Phoenix was unquestionably true to form—true to the Trump of the last year, and true to the “law and order” message his presidential ticket adopted when he named Mike Pence his running mate.
“When politicians talk about immigration reform, they usually mean the following: amnesty, open borders, and lower wages,” Trump said. “Immigration reform should mean something else entirely: it should mean improvements to our laws and policies to make life better for American citizens.”
Immigration is often discussed in Washington in an economic context—in terms of guest-worker programs, importing lucrative brainpower, and the cost and flow of labor, for example.
Trump made only brief references to such issues Wednesday. The first eight points of his ten-point immigration proposal were firmly about security, whether the focus was the southern border with Mexico or denying visas to individuals from “any place where screening cannot occur”. His stances have been described as hardline and his tone harsh. But all aspects of his presentation were familiar, including the substance and stated intentions he has had for the country for months. And the anticipated softening of his proposal wasn’t there.
Of his program, he said, “We will accomplish all of the steps outlined above, and when we do, peace and law and justice and prosperity will prevail.”
“Law and justice” isn’t quite “law and order”, but it’s close enough.
