The Pluses of Self-Deportation

SAN DIEGO -- As a Mexican-American journalist, I'm often accused by immigration restrictionists of "undermining the rule of law," "supporting open borders" and being "pro-amnesty."

So let me throw them a curve by putting in a good word for the surprisingly controversial concept of illegal immigrants deciding to self-deport.

Speculation that Mitt Romney, a two-time GOP presidential candidate, might be getting ready to get back into the arena has reopened a debate that Romney started in 2012 over whether the undocumented would "self-deport" if the climate in the United States were less hospitable.

The idea was mocked during the campaign by New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, one of the most prominent Latino Republicans in the country. In an interview with Newsweek, Martinez snapped: "Self-deport?' What the heck does that mean?" She urged Romney to dump the slogans and "have a sincere conversation" about how to fix the immigration system.

Romney ultimately turned in a disastrous showing with Latinos, getting only 27 percent of their vote.

During a recent interview on Univision, the nation's largest Spanish-language television network, Romney was asked by journalist Maria Elena Salinas if he thought his bid for the presidency had been doomed by his support for self-deportation -- which Salinas claimed motivated many Latinos to vote against him.

Romney stood his ground.

"My view was, you're not going to have the government deport tens of millions of people," he said. "Instead, let people make their own choices. And those that decide that they have better opportunities elsewhere will decide to return to their home country."

Many Latinos detest Romney, and with good reason -- his boneheaded and self-serving remarks about immigration. He promised that if were elected president, he would veto the DREAM Act -- a popular piece of legislation with Latinos, which would have let undocumented students stay in the country if they went to college or joined the military. He also attacked Gov. Rick Perry for signing a law that allows illegal immigrants in Texas to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities, and pummeled former House Speaker Newt Gingrich for suggesting that work permits be issued for the undocumented to keep families together.

But Latinos can't argue with what Romney says about human nature. People will go where the jobs are, even if it means turning their back on the United States and going home. Contrary to what you hear from right-wingers on talk radio, immigrants don't come for handouts. They come to fill jobs. When the jobs leave, often so will they.

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