DISCUSSION IN THE US CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT ON IMMIGRATION ISSUES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 21ST CENTURY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17072/2219-3111-2026-2-57-70Keywords:
Conservatism, immigration, George W. Bush, immigrationists, restrictionists, Republican Party, amnesty, deportation, ethno-cultural aspectAbstract
The article examines the approaches of two main groups of American conservatives—immigrationists and restrictionists—to addressing the immigration issue that sharply intensified in the first decade of the 21st century. During the administration of George W. Bush (2001–2009), a number of legislative initiatives were introduced by Congress and the president aimed at finding compromise solutions. It was declared that the positions of both groups would be taken into account; however, in practice, the proposed legislation largely reflected more liberal approaches. These bills were ultimately blocked, largely due to the debate that unfolded within the Republican Party and the broader conservative movement, in which opponents of liberal immigration reform gained the upper hand. The article analyzes the arguments of conservative immigrationists (libertarians, neoconservatives, and economic conservatives) and restrictionists (paleoconservatives, social conservatives, and traditionalists), both in support of and against immigration reform, and presents their views on the issues of illegal and legal immigration more broadly. The study pays particular attention to the debate surrounding border security, the scale of immigration, national security, ethno-cultural transformation of society and changes in the ethnic composition of the population, electoral consequences for the Republican Party, and the potential outcomes of granting amnesty to undocumented immigrants or pursuing their mass deportation. An analysis of the arguments, examples, and evidence presented in this debate provides a deeper understanding of the reasons behind the failure of the immigration reform undertaken during the Bush administration.
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