Swiss Immigration Referendum

Swiss voters are due to go to the polls in decide whether or not to severely restrict immigration.

The ballot marks the second time this year that non-EU country Switzerland has held a referendum on immigration.

In February, voters narrowly backed the reintroduction of quotas, which opted the nation out of a free movement of people agreement with Brussels. Ecopop, the new proposal seeks to limit net immigration to just 0.2% of the overall population of just 8.2 million. 

Despite low unemployment and high living standards, many Swiss worry about overcrowding and environmental degradation. Supports of the initiative claim that restricting immigration will safeguard the Swiss environment by reducing the need for new housing and transport. Opponents claim that Ecopop would have a negative impact on the economy as 25% of the Swiss workforce is foreign and business leaders seek to recruit labor across Europe. 

I believe the Ecopop initiative can be paralleled to the immigration issue in the United States. Many Republicans are seeking to limit immigration but the restriction of immigration would restrict the labor force. Immigrants in the United States, whether illegal or not, fill essential service jobs in fields such as agriculture and retail. What would happen to our already unstable economy if the immigrant workforce was reduced? Also, why can't the Swiss start protecting their environment by adjusting their own lifestyles?

Edit: The vote was rejected as 74% of Swiss voters voted against the measure.