Ricardo Chavira Chicano

Ronald Reagan The Wise

Many of us progressives are hard-pressed to find points of agreement with Ronald Regan. However, we would do well to see the wisdom and patriotism in what he said about migrants. It is disturbing to compare his words to the hate-filled rhetoric officials utter today.

Here are some Reagan quotes:

“More than any other country, our strength comes from our own immigrant heritage and our capacity to welcome those from other lands. No free and prosperous nation can by itself accommodate all those who seek a better life or flee persecution. We shall continue America’s tradition as a land that welcomes people from other countries.”

“Illegal immigrants in considerable numbers have become productive members of our society and are a basic part of our workforce. Those who have established equities in the United States should be recognized and accorded legal status. At the same time, in so doing, we must not encourage illegal immigration.”