Dennis Prager turned 78 on August 2, and Townhall marked the occasion by republishing a July 17, 2018 column that declares America’s identity hinges on values, not the number of immigrants.
Prager Warns That Open Borders Threaten Cultural Values
Prager argues that the slogan “America is a nation of immigrants” is meaningless and distracts from the real questions: Should immigration have limits, and how should the country handle illegal immigration?
He says the left rejects any limits, citing Hillary Clinton’s claim that she “doesn’t believe in borders,” and points to recent street protests demanding the abolition of ICE as evidence of that stance.
Values, Not Race, Drive the Debate
Prager insists the opposition to large‑scale immigration is rooted in a fear of cultural change, not xenophobia. He notes that most earlier immigrants adopted American values, whereas many contemporary newcomers seek higher wages without embracing those values.
He adds that Latin American immigrants, for example, often want economic improvement rather than a commitment to American ideals, and that the Democratic Party encourages them to retain left‑leaning, welfare‑state attitudes.
Prager cites the example of white American migrants moving from the Northeast to Florida, arguing that their influx has shifted the state from conservative to liberal, illustrating that cultural change can occur without any change in race or ethnicity.
He also points to Pope Francis, a European‑looking pontiff who promotes Latin American values, as proof that immigration can reshape a nation’s moral compass regardless of the immigrants’ appearance.
The Real Issue Is Preserving American Values
According to Prager, the central conflict is whether Americans want to preserve traditional values or allow them to be altered by mass immigration, a clash he says pits the left against conservatives.
He concludes that the policy question is not about numbers alone but about safeguarding the nation’s foundational principles.
Townhall’s editor’s note urges readers to support mass deportations over mass amnesty and promotes a VIP membership with the promo code FIGHT for a 60% discount.
