Op-ed: Harris represents a continuation of lawless and unpopular immigration policy.

[The Dispatch published four brief pieces on the immigration policy stakes in the coming presidential election. Excerpts from my contribution are below; the other three contributors were anti-borders libertarians affiliated with the Cato Institute.]

The biggest concern about a Harris administration is that it would represent a continuation, or even intensification, of the past four years of immigration lawlessness.

Despite Harris’ claims of being a born-again border hawk, everything else points in the opposite direction. Putting aside her administration’s policies—which according to a House Judiciary Committee report resulted in the release of close to 6 million illegal border-crossers—her extreme legislative record while in the Senate and the regulatory agenda already in place point to a continued undermining of immigration enforcement.

. . .

A Trump administration can be counted on to restore immigration enforcement, but there are still two things to look for.

First, will it adequately prepare to ensure that the moves needed to restore order are politically sustainable and aren’t stopped by the courts? In 2017, the misnamed Muslim ban was at first so slapdash that it caused chaos at airports among immigration inspectors confused by it. The policy—essential for national security—was eventually upheld by the Supreme Court as a legitimate exercise of power explicitly delegated to the president by Congress. But that was only after running an avoidable political and legal gauntlet. Whether those staffing a potential second Trump administration learn from those mistakes will bear watching.

. . .

[Read the whole thing at The Dispatch.]