The Open Birderskato Institute is facing criticism after a leading immigrant advocate downplayed the rising number of overdose deaths among young Americans, labeling them as a “voluntary” issue.
This comment followed a challenging exchange between Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) and Alex Nowrasteh, Cato’s vice president for economic and social policy, regarding support for President Joe Biden’s extensive immigration policies.
During a hearing on Wednesday, Tiffany questioned whether drug-related fatalities were part of his analysis on immigration-related crime.
Nowrasteh shrugged off the issue of overdoses, suggesting these were merely unfortunate incidents. “Are you suggesting that those who took fentanyl randomly and ended up overdosing were murdered? No, that’s not the case,” he stated.
The remark came soon after Nowrasteh characterized migrants as “people who aren’t criminals.”
His termination illustrates ongoing support for drug decriminalization and easier migration, stating, “People want drugs, others want to sell them, and the government’s standing in the way.”
Nowrasteh’s remarks also tie back to recent political upheavals, including Donald Trump’s electoral successes and the appointment of Indian immigrant Zohran Mamdani as New York’s mayor in 2025.
The Cato Institute, initially named after the Charles Koch Foundation, reported receiving nearly $63 million from donors in 2024, part of a total yearly revenue of $79 million.
On Thursday, Cato stated, “We managed to address some damage.” Noteworthy was the testimony from Alex Nowrasteh earlier that week, which was intended to clarify some points.
However, Nowrasteh seemed to sidestep critical issues related to his historical support for easing drug movements across borders, asserting:
“Yesterday, I spoke before the House Judiciary Committee. It was a heated discussion. First, I have consistently backed reducing illegal immigrant crime. Secondly, we have a significant overdose issue due to fentanyl that demands serious attention.”
“But ultimately, open discussions about immigration must be fact-based. Both illegal and legal immigrants demonstrate significantly lower crime rates compared to U.S. citizens. We can’t engage in productive conversations or policymaking without acknowledging these facts.”
One persistent fact in the immigration debate is how the federal government’s longstanding tolerance of illegal immigration has fostered drug trafficking networks that have led to tragic outcomes for many Americans. Additionally, the influx of migrants has shifted economic stability away from younger families, contributing to declining birth rates.
This significant population change has prompted advocates for immigration to argue for bringing in more migrants to boost economic growth. Yet, Trump’s election was primarily centered on curtailing illegal immigration.
Recent data indicates that drug-related deaths have decreased as emergency services have improved and the flow of illegal immigrants has dwindled.
Take a look at the discussion between Tiffany and Nowrasteh:
