I grew up in Orange County. We would move every few years as the Mexican gang territory expanded. As a young adult I realized that I would never be able to afford a home where my children could be safe at school. I escaped to the midwest where, to my surprise, white and black Americans do those jobs that white and black Californians supposedly will not do. (I have always found that argument particularly offensive since my dad and uncle made a living hanging drywall.)

Mac Donald is correct and pro-immigrant conservatives are wrong. Immigrants today assimilate into the underclass of illegitimacy and welfare dependency, not the middle class. They may be socially conservative on some issues but easily fall prey to typical class warfare socialist appeals, since they were so used to hearing and agreeing with those same appeals in their home countries. Our immigration system is broken. We should end family (or chain) migration and instead focus on allowing only those with high levels or income, education, skills, and English language ability to immigrate. America's immigration policy should be based on what is best for America, not what is best for immigrants.

I appreciate your citing the Migration Information Source and just want to clarify a couple of points. First, the analysis of incarceration among first- and second-generation young men should be attributed to Rubén G. Rumbaut, Roberto G. Gonzales, Golnaz Komaie, and Charlie V. Morgan, who are from the University of California, Irvine. The Migration Policy Institute publishes the Migration Information Source but neither conducted the research nor wrote the analysis. Secondly, it is a mischaracterization to refer to MPI as "pro-immigrant," as we do not advocate on behalf of immigrants.

Colleen Coffey
Deputy Director of Communications
Migration Policy Institute