Solutions with Henry Blodget

Episode: Most Americans Support Legal Immigration. Why Can’t We Enact Clear Policy?

Date: April 6, 2026
Guest: Alexander Kustov, Professor of Political Science, Notre Dame
Main Theme:
Despite broad support for legal immigration in the U.S., why is policy so dysfunctional? Alexander Kustov discusses the recent history, current gridlock, and possible steps forward, focusing on why consensus is elusive and how selectivity and perceptions of government control shape public opinion.

Episode Overview

• Examines the paradox between Americans' pro-immigration attitudes and policy gridlock.
• Explores recent history of U.S. immigration control, public opinions, and why policy remains stuck.
• Highlights the role of vocal minorities, perceptions of orderliness, and the importance of selective, economically-driven policies.
• Guest Alexander Kustov offers research insights, comparative international perspectives, and concrete, incremental solutions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Historical Context of U.S. Immigration Policy

[02:16]

• Before the Chinese Exclusion Act, there were virtually no federal immigration controls; states had some say, but the concept of tightly controlling borders is relatively new.
• “At some point, the US and many other governments... decided that the goal of controlling immigration is as sort of like a paramount feature of being a nation state.” – Alexander Kustov

2. Why Bother with Immigration?

[03:21]

• Questioning the need for immigration isn't “weird”; pausing it has real-life social and economic effects.
• Example: Family reunification and attracting global talent, especially in critical sectors like AI.

3. H1B and High-Skilled Immigration

[05:13], [06:01]

• Demand for high-skilled visas (e.g., H1B) has far outpaced supply since the 1990s.
• High-skilled immigration is “extremely popular among literally everyone,” with bipartisan public support (>80% even among Trump and Harris supporters, per Pew Research).
• The system is plagued by outdated caps and abuses, and Congress has failed to modernize it.
• Notable quote:

  “It’s important to not lose sight of the simple fact that people like high skilled immigration and it’s actually very much needed according to all possible calculations…” – Alexander Kustov [06:01]

4. Why Does the Minority Oppose All Immigration?

[08:46], [11:18]

• About 10-20% of Americans oppose all immigration due to nativism, racism, or fears about threats/changes.
• Trump didn't increase anti-immigrant sentiment but brought nativist voices into Republican leadership.
• "The tail wags the dog": a committed minority can dictate policy, especially in the current party structure.
• Loss aversion, media salience, and visceral incidents (e.g., crimes by immigrants) make people overestimate risks.

5. Perceptions of Control: Why Policy Feels Broken

[13:55], [14:56]

• Support depends on perceptions that the government has immigration “under control.”
• Surges or “orderly” versus “chaotic” systems (like Canada) hugely sway public opinion.
• The Biden administration’s approach was seen as chaotic, undermining trust.
• “People want immigration to be in their national interest, economically, and handled in an orderly way…” – Alexander Kustov [14:56]

6. Selective Immigration: The Canadian Example

[17:14]

• Kustov argues for selectivity: prioritizing high-skilled (and economically beneficial) immigrants gets broad support and maintains system legitimacy.
• Defends selective approaches as preferable to total exclusion, citing Canada’s transparent, point-based system.
• Private refugee sponsorship (as in Canada’s Welcome Corps program) can make humanitarian migration more orderly and popular—even among Republicans.

7. Work, Welfare, and Integration

[25:05]

• Allowing immigrants and asylum seekers to work is fiscally and socially beneficial.
• U.S. generally does a better job of integrating and allowing migrants to work than Europe.
• “It’s always going to be a better thing to ensure that people can provide for themselves.” – Alexander Kustov [25:31]

8. Deportation and “The ICE Solution”

[27:43]

• Mass deportation is unpopular—most Americans consistently oppose it, favoring paths to citizenship.
• Politically driven enforcement stunts (e.g., ICE raids away from borders) create backlash even among conservatives.
• Immigration policy oscillates: back-and-forth between crackdown and relaxation creates instability.

9. Why Is Reform So Hard? What Will It Take?

[32:49]

• Congressional gridlock prevents comprehensive reform; only incremental, bipartisan tweaks are possible.

• Small wins (like expanding high-skilled visas, state-based or place-based visas) could build trust and pave way for more reforms.

  “Once you start doing those things and those accumulate, then people just become more supportive of the system in general. Then the government can do other things. But we have to start somewhere.” – Alexander Kustov [32:49]

10. The “Boring and Technical” Hope

[36:04]

• Ideal future: immigration becomes a non-sensational, technical policy issue debated by experts, not a culture-war flashpoint.
• America’s unique “immigration superpower” should be preserved and leveraged.
• Notable quote:

  “It is America’s superpower to attract people. You would rather be in a place that is so attractive to others than the other way around.” – Alexander Kustov [36:04]

11. Birthright Citizenship Debate

[38:01]

• Birthright citizenship has costs (e.g., “birth tourism”) but is crucial for smooth integration and national cohesion.
• Comparative evidence (Germany) shows that restricting birthright citizenship creates generations of residents who are never quite citizens, leading to worse outcomes.
• “No matter where you’re from, who your parents are, if you’re born on U.S. soil, you are a U.S. citizen… if we do get rid of it...it’s going to make things worse.” – Alexander Kustov [38:49]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Selectivity and Integration:
  “The most unfair immigration system is the one that is completely closed and doesn't allow anyone. Right... selective immigration policies are mostly beneficial.” – Alexander Kustov [17:48]

• On Perceptions of Control:
  “It’s not just about the border... when immigration is a shock, it’s not orderly, it’s not managed well... it’s really not just a problem at the border, it’s a problem across the country.” – Alexander Kustov [24:15]

• On the Benefits of Immigration:
  “Immigration has made the United States the richest and most powerful country in the world. So it seems like the benefits are self-evident, but yet it is very controversial.” – Henry Blodget [38:01]

• On Policy Stalemate:
  “For the US specifically, the biggest bottleneck is Congress that doesn't really do much on any issue, not just immigration. So... it's really off the table at this point.” – Alexander Kustov [32:49]

Important Timestamps

• Historical context and birth of federal immigration controls: [02:16–03:21]
• Debate on H1B visas and high-skilled worker demand: [05:13–08:18]
• Vocal anti-immigration minority and party dynamics: [08:46–11:18]
• Perceptions of order and how they drive public support: [13:55–14:56]
• Recommendation for selective, skills-focused immigration: [17:14–17:48]
• Work and welfare policy for migrants: [25:05–25:31]
• The cycle of immigration backlash and policy instability: [27:43–32:01]
• Feasibility of bipartisan, incremental reform: [32:49–36:04]
• Birthright citizenship debate and comparative analysis: [38:01–38:49]

Conclusion & Takeaways

• Americans overwhelmingly support legal, high-skilled, and economically beneficial immigration, but Congress is stuck and policy is dictated by a small but powerful anti-immigrant minority.
• Public support is highest when the system is perceived as orderly and under control—chaos, even if partly manufactured, erodes trust.
• Selective, skills-based immigration systems (like Canada’s) are most popular and efficient; humanitarian policies can also win support if structured effectively.
• Pathways forward involve technical, incremental policy changes (state-based visas, modernizing work visa categories), not sweeping reforms.
• Maintaining America's openness to global talent is a critical long-term asset, and birthright citizenship anchors social cohesion.
• Optimistically, immigration could become a “boring,” technocratic issue if handled well—removing drama, gridlock, and insecurity.

End of episode summary.