WOULD RONALD REAGAN BE “PRO-AMNESTY” ON IMMIGRATION? “Reagan’s positive attitude towards immigration was not just an isolated issue position, but was integrally linked to his generally optimistic and open vision of America. I would add that it also drew on his understanding that America is not a zero-sum game between immigrants and natives – just as he also recognized that it is not a zero-sum game between the rich and the poor.”

Both understandings are correct. However, I think that much of today’s immigration anger is really about a feeling that voters have been betrayed by the political elites, rather than about immigrants themselves.