Eduardo Gamarra Americas Insights

Misguided Conservatism: Repressive Policies on Immigration and Crime Eduardo A. Gamarra   In  the current political environment heading into the 2024 presidential elections, a prevalent trend has emerged among our misguided conservative politicians advocating for repressive state measures—mass arrests, aggressive deportations, and stringent immigration restrictions. This hardline stance starkly contrasts with the nuanced understanding of the role of immigrants and the state espoused by conservative intellectual icons like Friedrich von Hayek and Milton Friedman. Both economists, revered in conservative circles, recognized the state's necessary functions but advocated for its strategic and just application, particularly concerning immigration and crime. This essay challenges contemporary conservative leaders to realign their policies with these foundational principles, which support a balanced and reasoned approach to addressing these critical contemporary issues.   Hayek, known for