217 Million Immigrants in 20 Years

Bush plans to import 217 million immigrants in the next 20 years (ht Mike Tuggle). Perhaps this will improve the worker/retiree ratio to "save" Social Security. I don't see any other positive outcome from this.

If we are going to go this route, we may as well abolish immigration laws entirely. And that might not be so bad if:

a) We still had plenty of land available for homesteading, so that no place would be overcrowded with immigrants leading to depressed wages;
b) We didn't have welfare programs, government schools, and state-subsidized health care, so that the needs of poorer immigrants wouldn't put a strain on our budgets and taxes;
c) The economy was entirely unregulated, so that the State could not deny anyone of opportunity to work, start businesses, etc.
d) America had no enemies, so that we'd have no legitimate fear of terrorism from those who cross our borders.

Without these conditions, mass immigration becomes a problem, which is why I'm inclined to believe that in libertarian reform, liberalizing our immigration laws and opening our borders should be a later priority - after we reform the government's land, social spending, economic, and foreign policies.

As it is, however, the flood of new people will depress wages so much as to drive the middle class into poverty (if inflation doesn't get them first). Immigrants who become citizens will be inclined to vote for even more socialism, not less. And to insult our intelligence, this is the time they decide to build a fence along the Mexican border. Considering the larger policy, this is just for show, another gift to military contractors.