This Tuesday, Reason is hosting a DC debate on “Should America Open Its Borders?”  Cato’s Alex Nowrasteh and I say yes; the Center for Immigration Studies’ Mark Krikorian says no.

The Center for Immigration Studies’ masthead reads, “Low-Immigration, Pro-Immigrant.”  I’ve dissected this before, but here’s a further thought.  Imagine telling your spouse, “I love your mother, but I want her to visit as rarely as possible.”  Can you even say it aloud without laughing?  What you really mean is, “Your mother’s insufferable, but as long as she’s here, I’ll try to be nice to her.”

That’s what the CIS slogan amounts to: Immigrants are insufferable, but as long as they’re here, we’ll try to be nice to them.