If you thought that quote indicated that TJ was for government restriction of immigration, you were mistaken.
Here is the whole essay.
https://xroads.virginia.edu/~Hyper/JEFFERSON/ch08.html
Notice this line that comes almost immediately after your quote.
The attitude TJ exhibits here is a very libertarian one (and closely resembles Ron Paul's approach). There is something he doesn't wish to happen, namely, immigration on a scale that he fears will be too rapid and massive. And yet, he does not give in to that inclination that so abounds among statists of every point of view, which is to insist that the government must prevent or solve this problem by force. Instead he insists on a laissez faire approach. If they come on their own, they have to be allowed to come and to stay. It merely must be without extraordinary encouragements.If they come of themselves, they are entitled to all the rights of citizenship: but I doubt the expediency of inviting them by extraordinary encouragements.
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