GOP attacks on immigration, free trade, and ‘wokeness’ won’t win in 2024
Neil Hare
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Recent Republican attacks on the business community, including its leading advocacy group, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, arguably contributed to a poor showing in the 2022 midterm elections. They are not the path to success in the presidential and congressional elections in 2024.
The main policy targets for these attacks include business endorsements of Democratic candidates in the midterm elections, “wokeness” in corporate strategy, and support for free trade and immigration reform. Fearmongering on these topics has yielded positive results in rallying some of the GOP base, but most Americans take as much pride in our free enterprise system as they do in democracy and our military. So overall, trashing it is a losing message.
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One key area for Republicans to flip the script on is meaningful immigration reform. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) is attempting to introduce a bill that would empower the Homeland Security Secretary to unilaterally bar all undocumented immigrants from entering the U.S. if he deems it necessary to reestablish “operational control.” The so-called Border Safety and Security Act of 2023 is opposed by some Republicans who believe it would prevent legitimate asylum-seekers, including children whose lives are in danger, from entering the country. In addition to Republicans opposed to the bill, it would be dead upon arrival in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
So why should the GOP embrace meaningful immigration reform that would garner bipartisan support and more votes? Look back in history to the last Republican president to win reelection, President George W. Bush. Due in part to the controversy surrounding his election, Bush understood how important the support of the business community was for him to overcome doubts about his legitimacy. And one of the first issues he wanted to tackle of key importance to businesses – immigration reform.
In the summer of 2001, Bush was considering a proposal to grant permanent legal residence status to approximately 3 million Mexicans living illegally in the U.S. To highlight the importance of this issue, Bush’s first state visit was with Mexican President Vicente Fox, where immigration reform was on top of the agenda. On Sept. 7, 2001, Bush hosted Fox at the White House for his first state dinner. The dinner concluded with an unannounced fireworks display from the Ellipse that startled many DC residents, wondering ironically if the capital was under attack. Four days later, it was.
The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, derailed Bush’s plan for an immigration overhaul, as he led the country into war to avenge the death and destruction heaped upon our country. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan created heightened security and border controls, but did not completely quash Bush’s desire for immigration reform. After winning reelection in 2004 (the only Republican to do so since Reagan), Bush again supported a measure to grant 12 million illegal immigrants legal status and to allocate $4.4 billion for more border enforcement. In June 2007, the Senate failed to pass the bill, as Bush could not rally fellow Republicans who considered “amnesty” unacceptable and a reward for illegal immigration. The following year, Barack Obama was elected president.
Today, immigration reform remains a top priority for the business community. The Dec. 13, 2022, National Federation of Independent Businesses Small Business Optimism Index showed that while 32% of businesses reported that inflation was their biggest problem, 44% also stated that they were unable to fill open positions. The unemployment rate in December was at an historic low of 3.5%. While there are many reasons for the current worker shortage, an outdated and ineffective immigration policy is certainly one of them. From small business to the Fortune 500, and sectors from agriculture, construction, healthcare, retail, and restaurants, business supports comprehensive immigration reform.
Republicans can and should still argue for enhanced border security and even earmark funds for building a wall — something the Democrats should accept as long as American companies get the contracts. But maybe instead of a wall, we need security checkpoints like we have at airports. Due to the war on terror, we have the technology to document and track all people coming into our country, whether by land, air, or sea. It is time to figure out how to make those seeking to come and work in our country legal immigrants and not “illegals.” Congress can increase visa caps, create new visa categories and establish a path to legality and citizenship for out-of-status immigrants. Without the demagoguery, the answers are well within bipartisan reach.
The Republican candidates running for president in 2024 should go back to the successful messaging of being the party of lower taxes, less regulation, free trade, and the rule of law. Further, go back to being the party that supports businesses, listening to them and pursuing the policies they need to succeed — like immigration reform that brings more workers into the country. Whether it is large public companies fulfilling a fiduciary duty to shareholders or small businesses supporting their communities, the business community is about creating jobs, bolstering our economy, and solving problems. It will support candidates who bring answers and not fear. That message is a recipe for success for either party to embrace.
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Neil Hare is president and CEO of GVC Strategies, a former VP of Communications at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and a long-standing member of the Chamber’s Small Business Council.