Editorial Board

Democrats Need to Talk About the Caravan

Avoiding the subject only plays into Trump’s hands. They should tell the migrants to turn back.

On the move.

Photographer: Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images

By one estimate, a caravan of some 7,000 migrants from Central America is marching north through Mexico, heading for the U.S. border. A collision seems imminent. Thoughtful solutions are scarce.

Principles first. The U.S. border and the immigration laws that defend it are necessary pillars of U.S. sovereignty. Marching on the U.S. border is misguided and dangerous; those who attempt it should understand that it does not result in automatic admission or asylum. Entry into the U.S. is a privilege, not a right.