Sensible Swiss Vote to Limit Immigration, Curb Overpopulation

On February 9, Swiss voters passed an initiative that would place strict immigration quotas governing who enters the tiny nation of 8 million people. This historic vote will limit the previous 12-year-old free flow of citizens between Switzerland and the EU, as well as restrict the numbers of non-EU citizens into the country.

The so-called “Stop Mass Immigration” effort won by a narrow 50.3 percent margin and also carried, as required, more than half the 26 Swiss regions or cantons. The new initiative must be enacted within three years.

The EU is alarmed by the vote’s potential negative implications on the global economy and its potentially harmful consequences on the large number of professionals Switzerland employs. However, those Swiss who voted to enact an immigration cap know that although free movement brings economic benefits, over-immigration creates unwanted social pressures. Many Swiss worry that the sharp immigration increase has contributed to overcrowding, higher rents and the loss of the distinctive Alpine culture.

Switzerland’s immigration concerns mirror those in the United States. As in the U.S., immigration adds to Switzerland’s population. In Switzerland, an average 70,000 immigrants arrive annually and have pushed the country’s total foreign-born population to 23 percent, second only to Luxembourg’s 44.5 percent.

The Swiss vote begs the question: What would the results be if an initiative to limit immigration and/or discourage illegal immigration were put on a national U.S. ballot? A recent Pulse Opinion Research Poll found that about 63 percent of American voters agreed “strongly” (41 percent) or “somewhat strongly” (22 percent) when asked “Do you support or oppose proposals to encourage most illegal immigrants to go back home on their own by keeping them from getting jobs and public benefits here?”

While the Pulse poll question doesn’t directly address legal immigration caps, the findings indicate in which direction American opinion leans. Americans want less immigration, less overpopulation, more enforcement and better job opportunities.

Please go to the CAPS Action Alert page here to ask your representative to support unemployed American workers.