What Happened to the Reagan Conservatives?

With Donald Trump and his anti-illegal immigration fervor dominating the Republican side of politics, it’s helpful to step back and introspect, if only for a fleeting moment.

Take the quote on illegal immigration below:

Rather than talking about putting up a fence, why don’t we work out some recognition of our mutual problems? Make it possible for them to come here legally with a work permit, and then, while they’re working and earning here, they’d pay taxes here. And when they want to go back, they can go back. They can cross. Open the borders both ways.

Ask any modern conservative who uttered this statement, and they’d probably shoot back with something akin to, “Some liberal who wants to give amnesty to the illegals.” I mean, just consider the brutal condemnation former Gov. Jeb Bush received when he sympathized with the plight of illegal immigrants. Anyone who is not adamantly for securing the southern border or hesitates in denouncing illegal immigrants as criminals is immediately met with cries of being a ‘RINO’ or ‘liberal.’

It’s most interesting then, that the above quote comes from the most revered figure of American conservatism: yes, Ronald Reagan.

Astonishing, isn’t it? 35 years ago at a League of Women Voters forum, presidential candidate Ronald Reagan advocated for allowing illegal immigrants to stay, opening our borders, and was opposed to the idea of sealing off the southern border. What’s more, his rival, George H.W. Bush, was equally empathetic toward illegal immigrants, declaring unequivocally:

[W]e’re creating a whole society of really honorable, decent, family-loving people that are in violation of the law… These are good people, strong people.

Boy have times changed.

I won’t mince words in saying that the remarks expressed by Donald Trump are grotesque and divisive, and his plan to deport all illegal immigrants and revoke birthright citizenship borders on ludicrous. What’s truly disturbing is not the fact that Trump’s comments evoke the worst nativist tendencies in this country. For better or worse he has the right to voice his beliefs, however appalling they may be.

The disturbing part is that Trump’s beliefs are starting to reverberate throughout conservative circles and the Republican Party itself. According to the latest CNN/ORC poll, Trump leads the GOP field with 24%, far outpacing his closest rival Jeb Bush at 13%. On the issue of immigration, Republican voters give Donald Trump the highest level of trust of any candidate at 44% — up 30% since his announcement in June.

To be fair, Trump’s comments and beliefs certainly don’t represent all Republicans (especially this one), and it’s not fair to use Trump to paint a broad brush surrounding all conservative beliefs on immigration. Many prominent conservatives have spoken out and denounced Trump, and more continue to do so by the day.

Yet, when I see how popular his attitudes are becoming among my fellow Republicans, I can’t help but feel great disappointment. 35 years ago the Republican Party stood for the rule of law on immigration, yet it didn’t do so by condemning illegal immigrants as if they were subhuman creatures seeking to destroy American civilization. Back then, Reagan stressed an immigration policy of both firmness and empathy. He didn’t seek to make it harder for people to come to this country; he argued for the opposite. He didn’t believe in illegal immigrant witch hunts or McCarthy-esque purges of “the illegals”; he wanted illegal immigrants to become integrated members of our society.

We have drifted so far from Reagan’s message. And the real tragedy, as if it could not get any worse, is that many of Trump’s supporters consider themselves to be proud “Reagan Conservatives.” These individuals have distorted Reagan’s image and they have distorted the ideals he stood for. I’m not sure what to call them, but they certainly are not Reagan Conservatives.

If only we knew where the real Reagan Conservatives have gone. The Republican Party could really use their voice right about now.

Alex Robledo (COL ‘17), is a member of the Georgetown University College Republicans.