Your candidate hasn’t gone wobbly. He’s gotten wise. Immigration restrictionism is a surefire political loser for the GOP in national elections, and Mr. Trump has finally figured that out. His signature issue propelled him through a crowded primary where pluralities won the day. But most Republicans who vote in the general election don’t take their cues on immigration policy from the talk-radio right. And Mr. Trump’s nasty tone has already cost him support not only among minorities but also among whites.
How immigrants affect America’s economy, culture and homeland security are debates that date to the nation’s founding and aren’t in any danger of going away. If we’re lucky, however, Mr. Trump’s candidacy will move us closer to settling the debate over whether anti-immigration is a winning issue for today’s GOP.
Jason Riley is a Manhattan Institute senior fellow and WSJ contributor. He also is the author of Please Stop Helping Us: How Liberals Make It Harder for Blacks to Succeed (Encounter Books, 2014).
