So, I was asked what I would do about Illegal Immigration so I'll lay it out here. I'm more than happy to entertain suggestions, but from all of the thought I have given it, I've come up with the following. (In the spirit of disclosure, not all of the ideas are mine, but I take what I like and run with it).
First, to get some basic foundational things out of the way. I do think illegal immigration is a problem. I do think our society would be better off with 0 illegal immigration. There are obvious problems with tax implications, working under the table, and most importantly in my mind, id theft. Plus, the influx of people coming over the border makes enforcement nearly impossible, which I also believe is very problematic. I see those as the main problems, and I do believe that they need to be fixed. Here is my basic plan for what to do.
First, to be perfectly clear, I think trying to deal with only half of this problem at a time is just ridiculous. To compare it to say, the oil leak in the gulf, makes absolutely no sense, you do not have to 'plug the leak' before any 'clean up' takes place. If the system to get here legally, and the system for dealing with people already here is not fixed at the same time the border is fixed, the border fix will not work. They must go hand in hand.
Okay, here we go. There are 3 basic problems that need to be dealt with. First, the border. Second, the system of entering the country legally. Third, what to do with the millions of undocumented people already here.
First, the border. Having a secure border is absolutely necessary for national security. Immigration proponents that do not believe that, in my opinion, are just as self-deluded as immigration opponents who think all we need to do is enforce harshly and the rest cares for itself. I will forego a giant list of reasons for enforcing border security, the necessity is a given. I believe in a multi prong approach. I believe that there needs to be a combination of physical barriers, increased border patrol presence (i.e. more agents), and a high reliance on advanced technology. Currently, our best weapon, the advanced technology, is basically crippled. So many people come across that it is hard to use the technology to its utmost, to pinpoint spots that bad guys are crossing. This is fixed with dealing with the second basic problem, but we'll get there. Once there is a way for those who want to come here for work/school/medical care/freedom etc. legally, then those who are sneaking across, and are caught with the technology, we know they are the bad guys. All of these things, in my opinion, will be very successful, but only if we drastically cut the number of people crossing the border everywhere.
(to be clear though, no matter how much security at the border is stepped up, there will always be ways to cross the border illegally. But if we can expend the resources to stop drugs, criminals, and all around bad people from coming in, instead of the good guys, we'll be much more effective)
Second, we need to fix the system of entering the country legally. Currently, for someone to enter the country legally requires a lot of money, time, and luck. The system imposes burdensome fees at almost every crossroads of legal entry and residence and citizenship. The fees themselves are a giant fence keeping out the poor. Then there is the beauracracy. Paperwork, and waiting periods. The yearly alotment of guest worker visas is routinely gone by January or February. People's requests for entry into the country can take literally (and its very important that that is understood, this is not hyperbole) years. YEARS. However, if you have luck on your side it might work. A labyrinth of rules on which people we want to let in and who we don't make it so that there are some (professional athletes, maybe someone a big corporation wants to come in and work, basically someone that a very wealthy person/corporation is interested in), are able to get through the system fairly quickly, while someone unskilled or 'less desireable' may for all intents and purposes be barred from entry.
It would be my proposal that we simplify the process. People wishing to come here could. A criminal background check would be used. And everyone entering would be fingerprinted, and obviously have to go through a search for drugs etc.. There would be a few specific entry points, anyone entering at any other spot would be assumed to be a criminal. We could have two separate systems, one for those who just want to come work (guest worker program) and another for those who want a path to citizenship.
Third, what to do with those that are here. Honestly, I have no problem with the word amnesty. I think its a great word, and I embrace it fully. If estimates are to be believed, there are between 12-20 million undocumented people here. In my opinion, the only workable option is to provide a plan to let these people make themselves right with the law. A system whereby individuals need to come forward, pay a fine, and register. They then can enter one of the two systems, guest worker, or path to citizenship. I don't care if we put them at the end of the line (I actually don't think it matters, since we are blowing up the line anyway), but those that are here that want to become citizens should have that opportunity.
This takes care of all of the problems I have heard associated with illegal immigration. Taxes are now paid, they pay into the system that they benefit from, and most importantly, identity theft is left to the tweakers. Immediately the demand for false/stolen ids plummets, which cuts into the money of criminal elements.
On top of this, once these problems are taken care of, I have no problem with huge penalties for those who employ anyone illegally. Giant fines, and possible criminal penalties for knowingly employing someone here illegaly.
Any thoughts?
8 comments:
Good ideas all. There's something missing from your last bit about the employers. Other than the ones paying illegals under the table, it's really hard for employers to verify immigration status, and hard for the authorities to prove they're knowingly hiring illegals. I propose that employers over a certain size be given limited access to a verification database--and be required to use it.
Oh, and something else comes to mind. If we are to have some amnesty (and I think we must), IRS and Social Security are going to have a devil of a time piecing together the earning and tax history of illegals who used made-up and stolen Social Security numbers. Not that I suggest any solution, just pointing out a big problem.
I don't see why that would be a big problem. You just move from here on out. They lose any claim to any taxes paid, or SS benefits accrued under their assumed identities.
I completely disagree. I think baby eating is necessary.
Good post Dan. I agree with most of this. One thing is that I don't think it's necessary to legislate border and immigration policy together. I do get what you mean by the better border not being able to work properly without greatly reducing the overall traffic across. My fear is that by pairing common sense stronger border measures which are widely favored with the extremely divisive issue of amnesty then political gamesmanship will prevent a good solution to either.
Amnesty itself is a hard question. It has been done before (3 times?) even by conservatives like Reagan. Amnesty alone clearly hasn't worked. You consider that acting on probable suspicion, or however it is labeled in the AZ law amounts to profiling. Profiling or not I don't have a problem with it. When I'm picked out of the line here in China to have my passport checked it's clearly done out of profiling, but I'm no worse for the wear. Good for them for having common sense. Without a law similar to AZ's I don't know how else to practically remove illegal aliens, therefore, a path to citizenship is seemingly the only alternative.
While I cringe at the idea of allowing those here illegally to stay, it might be OK if new legislation made it so that this was the last time it would be used. Something tells me that each of the last 3 times we've embraced amnesty this was said. Perhaps if there is a stronger border and the immigration policy were more simple then the vast majority would come legally.
If companies had a verification database and were penalized sufficiently for hiring illegal immigrants then they would stop. I personally think that by removing this ability to work here a significant portion of illegals would have to leave.
This, Taylor, is where I think we are coming at it from different perspectives. I don't think the end result should be to have undocumented workers that are here leave.
Lets go down that path, common sense wise. Lets just take a number that is bandied about, and say there are 15million undocumented workers. What would the impact on the economy be if they all left?
How many landlords would be left tenetless, how many jobs undone, how many businesses close because all the patrons are gone. Restaurants, grocery stores, etc. etc. etc..
I would ask, what is the benefit of making them all leave? What do we gain as a country? What is the con of creating a path to citizenship/permanent residency?
You say that you are leery of doing them together, because there is less chance of getting it done? I say that is exactly why it would have to be done together. There would clearly be support for the increased border security, and enforcement. But without fixing the problems with immigration, increased security and enforcement will not work, and will, in my opinion, create numerous new problems that would be much worse.
To your Amnesty point. I fully agree, amnesty alone will not ever work. You cannot treat the symptoms and not try to cure the problem and expect lasting results.
But, unless you truly believe that it is reasonable, and possible, and most importantly right, to force millions and millions of people out of the country. Amnesty must be part of any viable immigration reform.
I'd still like to know, from anyone, what is wrong with amnesty? What do people think we are losing?
CAUTION: GENERALIZATION WILL BE MADE. It's remarkable to me that almost all of us have ancestors who were once immigrants, that we cherish the melting pot of cultures we have because it's "American," and yet we have such disdain for Hispanic immigrants, often times assuming that anyone Hispanic is "illegal." I have heard some legal experts liken illegally entering the country to speeding in a car. If that's a valid comparison, it certainly weakens the argument of the anti-illegal crowd.
This is no different than the waves of English, Dutch, Irish, Italian, German, Polish, Chinese or other immigrant groups who have come to America in the past. So lets change the process such that it helps Hispanics better contribute to our society. Kudos to Dan for a largely sensible solution, particularly with his amnesty arguments.
One note, on the Amnesty argument. I have heard many people loudly proclaim that criminals shouldn't get any special treatment via amnesty. It is important to fully understand that there is nothing criminal in being undocumented (illegal). It is purely a civil violation, it is a minor civil trespass. There is absolutely no criminal penalty that can be given by the government, merely deportation.
While there may be other crimes often associated with undocumented status, namely id theft, being here 'illegally' is not a criminal act.
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