Vivek Ramaswamy, a prominent Indian-American entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, delivered a speech at the National Conservatism Conference in Washington advocating for significant changes to U.S. immigration policy. Ramaswamy criticized what he termed a “neoliberal” approach to immigration embraced by both political parties and called for tougher measures on both legal and illegal immigration.
He emphasized the need to address what he sees as a national identity crisis exacerbated by current immigration policies. Ramaswamy argued for stricter screening of legal immigrants to ensure they not only contribute economically but also embrace and uphold American values outlined in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. He stressed that American identity revolves around shared civic ideals rather than genetic lineage or ethnicity.
Ramaswamy, a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump, proposed ideological screenings for all immigrants and advocated for ending dual citizenship, as he believes allegiance should not be divided between nations. He also opposed birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants and called for English to be adopted as the national language to facilitate communication of American ideals.
Furthermore, Ramaswamy proposed enhanced civics exams as prerequisites not only for citizenship but also for obtaining green cards and other forms of entry into the U.S. He emphasized that entering the United States is a privilege, not a right, and insisted on the necessity of consent for migration, stating that those who enter unlawfully should be removed.
His speech received applause from the audience, highlighting significant support for his views within conservative circles focused on national identity and immigration policy reform.
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