The American Immigration Control Foundation and the Debate on Immigration Reform

In the current political climate, immigration has become a hotly-debated and divisive issue. While proponents of immigration argue in favor of its many benefits, such as increased cultural diversity and economic growth, opponents argue that it can lead to economic instability and job loss for US citizens. The American Immigration Control Foundation (AICF) is one such organization that advocates for strict immigration control. In this article, we will delve into the history of the AICF, its policies, and its stance on immigration reform.

History of the AICF

The American Immigration Control Foundation was founded in 1983 by John Vinson, who served as the organization’s president until his death in 2014. The AICF has been involved in numerous political campaigns and grassroots movements to enact stricter immigration policies in the United States. Their website declares that they stand for reasonable and responsible limits on immigration, which they believe will preserve the quality of life in the United States and protect the country’s citizens.

The AICF has faced significant criticism for its policies, particularly from those who advocate for more open borders. Many critics argue that the AICF’s stance on immigration is rooted in xenophobia and racism. The organization has consistently prioritized the interests of US citizens over those of immigrants and refugees.

Policies of the AICF

The American Immigration Control Foundation supports immigration restrictions that would reduce the number of immigrants entering the United States, limit legal immigration opportunities and DACA program and increase deportation of individuals without legal status. They promote policies such as mandatory E-Verify, which mandates that employers check the legal status of their employees, and the elimination of birthright citizenship, which grants citizenship to anyone born in the United States.

The AICF also supports a reduction in both legal and illegal immigration, arguing that excessive immigration can lead to issues such as cultural conflict, unemployment and wage stagnation for US citizens. They argue that reducing immigration would protect national security and reduce crime rates since the FBI claims that immigrants have committed illegal activities in the past. They also oppose allowing refugees and asylum seekers into the United States, citing concerns that these individuals may pose a threat to national security.

Impact of the AICF

The American Immigration Control Foundation has been active in numerous campaigns and events that have shaped the national conversation around immigration. In 2016, the AICF filed an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court case, United States v. Texas. This brief supported the legal standing for state officials to oppose the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which grants temporary relief from deportation to certain undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children. The Trump administration attempted to terminate the DACA program in 2017, but the U.S Supreme Court blocked that attempt and DACA still continues as of 2021.

The AICF’s policies have been supported by several conservative organizations, including the Center for Immigration Studies and the Federation for American Immigration Reform. These groups promote similar policies to the AICF and often work together to influence American immigration policy.

Criticism of the AICF

The American Immigration Control Foundation has faced significant criticism from those who believe that their policies are discriminatory and misguided. Critics argue that reducing immigration and denying opportunities to refugees and asylum seekers is morally reprehensible and goes against the values of the United States.

They further argue that the AICF’s policies are based on xenophobia and racism and that they put the interests of US citizens ahead of the interests of immigrants and refugees.

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which tracks hate groups and other extremist organizations, has labeled the AICF as a hate group. This classification is based on the AICF’s promotion of anti-immigrant sentiments and policies that are seen as discriminatory and harmful to people beyond an individual’s control like their place of birth or economic status.

Immigration Reform Today

The current presidential administration has focused heavily on immigration reform, announcing several significant changes to American immigration policy in the past year. In January 2021, President Joe Biden signed a series of executive orders aimed at reforming the United States’ immigration system. These executive orders included, reversing the Trump era’s Muslim Ban, halting the funding of the border wall, stopping family separation at the border and providing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. However, these executive orders led to massive influx of unaccompanied minors at the US southern border and the administration responded by deploying National guard troops and consulate officials to combat the problem.

Immigration reform remains a highly contentious issue in American politics, and the policies of the AICF are just one part of the broader debate. While some argue in favor of more open borders and a more welcoming approach to immigrants, others advocate for tighter control and greater restriction which AICF supports. Regardless of the outcome, it is clear that immigration will continue to be a hotly-debated issue that will shape the future of the United States for many years to come.

Conclusion

The American Immigration Control Foundation has been at the forefront of the immigration debate in the United States for more than three decades. The organization’s policies and positions on immigration have been met with significant criticism, with some labeling them as discriminatory and immoral. However, the AICF continues to advocate for reduced immigration and strict controls on the number of people entering the United States. As the country continues to grapple with immigration reform, the debate over the AICF’s policies will undoubtedly remain a significant topic of discussion for years to come.

The so-called bipartisan “Gang of Eight” senators have come up with legislation that they say will truly reform our immigration system. This legislation would allow more legal immigration over the next 10 years, tighten border security, award more visas based on education and professional credentials and controversially grant legal status to the 11 million undocumented immigrants who entered the United States illegally.

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Supporters of this legislation feel that it fixes an immigration system that is broken. However, a conservative backlash against it has begun in the House. The backlash is specifically against the provision to grant a path to citizenship to the 11 million undocumented immigrants. After all, these people committed a civil offense and broke the law, and the United States has not been historically known for rewarding deviance. Those who oppose this reform in the House are hoping to thwart the legislation through a strategy of delay and dismemberment. Some Republicans, such as Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla) who was involved in the drafting of the bill in the Senate, have supported it. And, a bipartisan group of House members is working behind the scenes to draft a bill that does have such a path to citizenship.

The debate on immigration is certainly contentious in our nation. However, a recent Pew Research poll has shown that perhaps the Gang of Eight is out of touch with what Americans truly want. This poll reveals that 55 percent of Americans oppose granting citizenship to those 11 million who entered the United States illegally. And among the group that intuitively would seem most supportive of such a path to citizenship, Hispanics, only 49 percent support such a measure.

The AIC Foundation is a national organization that is among the oldest immigration reform organizations in the country. The AIC Foundation’s membership includes Americans of many different ethnic groups and national origins. Its membership has a deeply-rooted commitment to preserving our American heritage, and the AIC Foundation aims to educate other fellow Americans about the disastrous consequences of an irresponsible immigration policy. In order to raise public awareness about the issue, the AIC Foundation has distributed and produced many different books, pamphlets, monographs and videos.

The following is an interview with John Vinson, President of the AIC Foundation, on his views on the current immigration reform legislation being debated in the Senate and the work of his organization in the realm of immigration reform.

What are your views on the immigration-reform bill being debated in the Senate?

The Senate bill, with amnesty for almost all illegal aliens in the U.S. and a pathway for them to become citizens, is basically an effort by left-wing Democrats to create a larger voting bloc for themselves and an effort by business-interest Republicans to secure more cheap labor. In addition to the amnesty, the bill significantly increases the number of legal immigrants and guest workers. This comes at a time when more than 20 million Americans can’t find full-time employment.

By rewarding law breaking with amnesty, the bill will encourage more law breaking, as indeed has been the case with previous amnesties. In such fashion we undermine the United States as a nation under the rule of law.

Most disturbing about the bill is the gross dishonesty of its sponsors. As one example they are trying to make the public think that it will guarantee effective enforcement in exchange for amnesty. In truth, however, it only offers promises of enforcement. Given the broken promise of enforcement after the 1986 amnesty and the indifference of the Obama Administration to enforcement today, we can be quite sure that these current promises are no better than the paper they’re written on.

To sum up, this legislation reflects an anti-national agenda conceived by elites who seem too little concern for the broad mass of American citizens

What are some of the changes you would like to see happen to U.S. immigration policy?

One change we’d love to see is simple enforcement on the immigration laws already on the books, rather than the systematic subversion of enforcement we have now. With respect to legal immigration, we would recommend a reduction from the current level of about one million a year to about 250,000 per year. The current level is overwhelming our powers of assimilation and creating a very divisive form of diversity.

Do you think it would be a better policy to change our immigration system so that more highly-skilled workers are permitted rather than low-skilled workers?

A policy bringing in more highly skilled workers would be preferable to what we have now. Nevertheless, we believe that the “shortage” of high-tech and other skilled workers is greatly exaggerated by companies that prefer to hire foreigners for lower wages than U.S. workers would receive. As national policy, we should make sure that the American job market gives preference to American workers.

What are some of the major accomplishments of the American Immigration Control Foundation?

We have presented millions of Americans with viewpoints on immigration commonly ignored or suppressed by the mass media. Our influence has encouraged debate and reflection on this important topic. Specifically, we believe, our influence has restrained some of the more radical agendas of open-border and mass immigration advocates.

If this legislation does pass, what would be the next step for the American Immigration Control Foundation?

If legislation so wrong and destructive as this should pass, it will raise serious questions as to whether we still have a government by and for the people. In any case, we will continue our educational efforts in hope for future changes.

For more information on the American Immigration Control Foundation, please visit their page. For more information on immigration law and news, please visit our Immigration Laws Page.

Interviewed with John Vinson of the AIC Foundation, Monterey, Virginia.