The New Case Against Immigration: Both Legal and Illegal (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: patriotic assimilation, skilled immigration, illegal population, United States, Border Patrol, Los Angeles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“When it comes to our immigration mess, no one has a deeper understanding of the facts than Mark Krikorian. Pay attention: America's future is at stake.”
-- Michelle Malkin
“Mark Krikorian steps back from today’s debates and examines the big picture, questioning the place of immigration in a modern society. Agree or disagree with his proposals, this is an important book— not just for conservatives, but for all Americans.”
-- William J. Bennett, host of Bill Bennett’s Morning in America

“Superbly researched and brilliantly argued, The New Case Against Immigration should settle the debate once and for all. Civilized, compassionate, and wise, this short book may save a great nation.”
-- David Frum, resident fellow, American Enterprise Institute

“Mark Krikorian has waged an often lonely war to restore some sanity to immigration policy. His latest book will be caricatured by many as insensitive—especially his calls to select legal immigrants carefully only on the basis of skills and merit. Yet The New Case Against Immigration is a classically liberal call for assimilation and integration in the best past traditions of a multiracial America. The onus is on his critics to show where his economic, cultural, and social arguments are flawed or inexact—and that will be difficult indeed, given such a carefully researched and argued book.”
-- Victor Davis Hanson, Hoover Institution, Stanford University; author of Mexifornia

“This is a radical book, clearly and forcefully written, with the potential to change the immigration debate forevermore. No matter where you stand on immigration policy, you better be ready to confront The New Case Against Immigration.”
-- Heather MacDonald, John M. Olin Fellow, Manhattan Institute; coauthor of The Immigration Solution

“Mark Krikorian concisely marshals the arguments on one side of the immigration debate. I am sure that many will disagree with his inferences and conclusions—but I am also sure that anyone wishing to seriously argue the other side will have to address the many questions and doubts presented here. In short, this is a must-read for anyone interested in the most volatile social policy issue of the new century.”
-- George Borgas, Robert W. Scrivner Professor of Economics and Social Policy, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

“Mark Krikorian has been the go-to guy for those of us skeptical of the Bush- McCain approach to immigration. He combines deep knowledge, political savvy, calm and compassion with something that’s rare in this field: common sense. In this ambitious book he takes the immigration debate a step further, placing it in an overarching framework that will be as controversial as it is powerful. If you want to find all the best anti-amnesty arguments in one place, The New Case Against Immigration is the place to look. It is to the immigration debate what Losing Ground was to the poverty debate. My copy is already dog-eared.”
-- Mickey Kraus, author of The End of Equality

Product Description

New research reveals why America can no longer afford mass immigration

Mark Krikorian has studied the trends and concluded that America must permanently reduce immigration— both legal and illegal—or face enormous problems in the near future.

His argument is based on facts, not fear. Wherever they come from, today’s immigrants are actually very similar to those who arrived a century ago. But they are coming to a very different America—one where changes in the economy, society, and government create different incentives for newcomers.

Before the upheavals of the 1960s, the U.S. expected its immigrants—from Italy to India—to earn a living, learn English, and become patriotic Americans. But the rise of identity politics, political correctness, and Great Society programs means we no longer make these demands. In short, the problem isn’t them, it’s us. Even positive developments such as technological progress hinder the assimilation of immigrants. It’s easy now for newcomers to live “transnational” lives.

Immigration will be in the headlines through Election Day and beyond, and this controversial book will help drive the debate.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Sentinel HC (July 3, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595230351
• ISBN-13: 978-1595230355
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #437,837 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

77 of 84 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!, July 3, 2008

By	Loyd E. Eskildson "Pragmatist" (Phoenix, AZ.) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

"The New Case Against Immigration" cuts through distortions and P.C. positions on the topic with convincing and shocking data.

The 12 million illegal Mexican immigrants, along with the 17 million Americans of Mexican origin and another 16 million Cubans and other Hispanics total more than those of the next ten most common immigrant nations. Hispanics total about 50% of our total immigrants, posing major implications for assimilation. This is further acerbated by cheaper calls, easier access to Mexico, support from American businesses, and considerable legal support from the Mexican government and elites within the U.S.

Massive Mexican immigration into the U.S. is a relatively new problem - in 1970 less than 800,000 Mexicans were in the U.S. Once in the U.S., Mexican women's fertility rises from 2.4 (in Mexico) to 3.5 in the U.S. - considerably greater than native-born American women. (2002 data)

Mexican immigrants have the lowest citizenship rate - 19%, vs. 42% for Canadians, 54% for Chinese. They are also the least-educated major immigration group - 62% without a high-school education, while their children and grandchildren have a dropout rate of 25%. About 43% of illegal Mexican households use at least one major welfare program, and 50% are eligible for EITC. Even third generation Mexican-Americans use welfare at a level 3X that of American natives.

Over half of Mexicans believe the American S.W. belongs to them. Their consulates in the U.S. lobby for acceptance of matricula cards (opposed by the FBI as inadequate) for ID, in-state tuition, drivers licenses, sanctuary city status, etc.

Studies have found Mexican immigrants somewhat less likely to be criminals than native-born Americans, but their children are much more likely to be. Second-generation males aged 18-39 from El Salvador and Guatemala are incarcerated nearly 6X as often as their parents, those from Mexico 8X, and Vietnamese 12X.

Mass immigration overwhelms our capacity to screen out enemies or locate and remove them. A sampling found a high volume of fraud (40-80%) in H-1B, P-3 (artists and entertainers), L-1 (intra-company transfers) applications. Meanwhile, U.S. agencies held competitions in 2006 for the fastest processing times - approvals are the easiest.

Studies find illegal immigrants pulling down wages, especially at the bottom - about 40% in California between 1969-1997, and undermine the incentives to automate production. (Japan has decided to automate rather than import foreign workers.)

The U.S. spent about $4.5 billion subsidizing the education of foreign college students in 2005-06. Immigrants created about 86% of the growth in uninsured in 1998-2003; 47% of immigrant families were either uninsured or on Medicaid. The number of E.D.s in the U.S. fell 9% from 1993-2003, while visits increased 26%.

A 2004 Heritage Fund study found the average lifetime cost of low-skilled immigrant households was about $1.2 million to taxpayers - about the net benefit to taxpayers of a college-educated family.

Bottom Line: "The New Case Against Immigration" demands a stronger stand against both legal and illegal immigration. Its recommended direction is to continue the effort to prevent their taking American jobs, getting drivers licenses and benefits.

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW, A REAL MASTERPIECE ON IMMIGRATION!, July 8, 2008

By	Greg J. Stepkoski (Conn, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Anyone that has watched Fox, CNN, MSNBC, etc is familiar with the author. He wrote the book (no pun intended) on immigration and hits a home run with this book. Krikorian gives a balanced view on the topic and delves into not only the cuurent flawed immigration system, but gives a very good account of immigration history for the USA.
The problem will never get fixed if we cannot have an honest discussion about immigration and that is what the author does. Yes, it's tough love for the current generation of Latin American immigrants and rightfully so. Krikorian points out the clear advantages Latino immigrants(both legal and illegal) have over prior groups that have come to the United States; Welfare, food stamps, gov't documents, and a host of gov't social services simply did not exist 100 years ago. They exist today and the throngs that come over the southern border make ample use of these valuable programs. The current crop of immigrants, mostly illegal, also are in the process of bankrupting our health care and public school system. For example a generation ago California was the number one rated public school system in the country. Today it is dead last, behind Miss. and La. Did the children suudenly become stupid in California or does a 70% drop out rate and 65% teen pregnancy rate for Latinos have anything to do with this?
Then we come to the fact many Hispanic immigrants simply refuse to assimilate. Latinos are the poorest and most uneducated in the world, have the most corrupt governments, and are most prone to crime and welfare. Yet the United States simply can't do without them?? We became the worlds foremost superpower with about 3% Latino population through 1980. Now we "need" the Latino or our entire economy and way of life will fall apart. This is the argument from the pro-Latino groups(LULAC,La Raza) and Krikorian covers this as well.
The author also writes about public opinion and the current climate of the immigration debate. Again, he nails it providing extensive facts, figures, and polling data to back up his claim that immigration is hurting America and if not curbed can have devastating long term problems.
The book stresses the absolute ambivalent attitude by our politicians on the subject. When 70% of the country spoke out against comprehensive immigration reform(amnesty)in 2006 many politicians were shocked including "W" himself. Sad how out of touch our politicians really are.
The good news is Krikorian writes it is not too late to save the country. As more and more people become aware of the problems of illegal immigrants, positive reform stressing border security and employer sanctions are becoming common place. Many states are taking the lead in cracking down on illegal immigrants, some through ballot initiatives(Utah, Arizona, Farmers Branch, Tx),some through executive order(Rhode Island,Missouri)as well as legislative measures(South Carlina,Georgia).

30 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enemies R Us, July 5, 2008

By	Stanley H. Nemeth (Garden Grove, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Mark Krikorian has written a noble volume on current immigration problems, one refreshingly free of either mean-spiritedness or political partisanship. His thesis is that a common American civic culture is worth preserving - his opponents, therefore, include many current, confidence-lacking American citizens, chief among them those government, global corporate, academic and media types who are fashionably but mindlessly "post-American." Joining them as well are those numerous, greedy local business and homeowners ever on the lookout for the cheapest labor. To preserve and advance the institutions and freedoms of American society, Krikorian favors reducing the illegal immigrant population over time by encouraging attrition - lack of hiring, for instance, most often leads such persons to return home. Similarly, he favors reducing the legal immigrant population from its current, too high annual rate. In both cases, his motive is not xenophobia, but rather the desire to allow for the traditional assimilation of newcomers into a once again properly valued, common American civic culture. Especially winning in his presentation is the recognition that in the current permissive immigration mess, the principal enemies are us.