Rand Paul is the Hispanic Community’s Best Choice
by Jose Nino
[dropcap size=small]T[/dropcap]oday, Hispanics make up roughly 17% of the U.S. population. These numbers will only grow in the following decades, with a Brookings Institution report projecting Hispanics to make up 25% of the U.S. populace by 2044. Naturally, this makes for a voting bloc that politicians must have if they want to be relevant on the national stage.
Identity politics and heavy race baiting characterize today’s politics. Politicians, especially those on the Left, always propose giving out all sorts of government goodies to these groups in return for votes and other forms of support. Those who oppose these programs are labeled “racist” and enemies of those groups. As is life in the era of identity politics.
The 2016 elections mark a special moment in U.S. history where Americans will be faced with significant electoral decisions. After 16 years of explosive government growth under the Bush and Obama administration, the U.S. is on the brink of turning into a European style welfare state. Whether we like it or not, the Hispanic community will play a big role in this process in one shape or form.
Fortunately, there is one candidate that not only represents the Hispanics community’s best interests but will also reverse this trend of big-government. Rand Paul is that candidate.
Here are 10 reasons why Rand Paul is the Hispanic community’s best option:
#1. He Supports Common Sense Immigration Reform
Much talk coming out of Washington DC on immigration issues has completely missed the mark. Both sides of the aisle produce solutions that only grow the size of the State and don’t take full advantage of the productive capacities of immigrants. Immigration is a very sensitive issue for Hispanics. Many Hispanics in the U.S. have relatives who are undocumented workers or live under murky residential statuses. The reality is that mass immigration is a dynamic that is here to stay, whether we like it or not.
Rand Paul’s position on immigration is a common sense alternative that ultimately balances domestic security with a flexible immigration program.
Although Paul supports a fence, his proposal is not as onerous as proposals put forward by other Republican candidates. In fact, he does not believe in forced deportation of illegal immigrants that are already in the country. On the contrary, he would rather implement a legal immigration process to integrate the 11 million illegal immigrants that have already crossed the US border.
Paul states in an interview with Politico that:
“The other thing to acknowledge is, it’s not always the individual’s fault,” …. “Sometimes it’s a child who has no control over this. But sometimes it’s also someone who came here and tried to use our system. We as conservatives talk a lot about big government and how big government never seems to work. We’re always talking about Obamacare now, how big government is a disaster. … Well, guess what? Big government’s not very good with the visa system, either.”
As a true defender of free-market values, Rand Paul understands that immigration is a natural market process and that the State is very inefficient when it comes to managing the entire immigration process. Conservatives may talk a lot about inclusiveness and limiting big government, but their proposals do the exact opposite.
Deporting 11 million immigrants is not only unrealistic, but also requires a heavy-handed State to enforce such an act. Not exactly a limited government solution. It’s time for realistic solutions that promote freedom, security, and human dignity.
In short, Paul’s stance on immigration reform is twofold:
- Make immigration reform contingent upon three factors: 1). A vote by Congress that would determine whether the border is secure. 2) A provision that includes the completion of a border fence within five years. 3) A protection against the federal government establishing a national ID card system.
- Once the aforementioned requirements are complete, a work visa program will go into effect, allowing for the 11 million illegal immigrants to transition into documented work status and a potential path to citizenship further down the line.
In matters of immigration, Hispanics can trust Rand Paul to uphold their interests and make it easier for their loved ones to enjoy the American dream.