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December 26, 2006
My Comprehensive Immigration Reform
I've been debating immigration reform on Hot Air again. Like Cetera says, it's a hard habit to break. I had never really put all of my thoughts for immigration reform in one place, so I did so in that thread. It was long and mildly interesting, so I figured I'd reprint it here:
For the record, here is my version of comprehensive immigration reform:
1. Build a wall. Stopping the flow of illegal immigrants is the most important step in order to avoid a repeat of the Reagan-era immigration debacle.
2. Once the wall is built, start enforcing the laws against hiring illegal immigrants. One of the big questions regarding immigration reform is whether we can identify who is illegal. The best way to do this, I believe, is through employers. There should be economic disincentives to those who break employment laws.
3. Tighten up the laws on who receives entitlement benefits, such as medicare, welfare or school loan programs intended for citizens. Since many of these programs are state-based, some states will resist. Overcome this resistance by tying highway funds to compliance.
4. Settle the constitutional questions of citizenship raised by the 14th amendment, either through another amendment or through new Supreme Court interpretations of the amendment brought about with legal proceedings. In addition, make English the official language of the United States for government transactions. This will provide an incentive to learn the language, a vital step in assimilation.
5. Deport all illegal immigrants who have committed a crime other than illegal status, including non violent crimes such as drug use.
From here, we need to acknowledge the reality that we quite simply do not have the ability to deport 11 million to 20 million people. Since a wall would have been built by this time, there are no new coming in, so the question becomes what do we do with those who have not been deported?
This is where a sort of point system would come in. Those who have jobs and pay taxes would be the first considered for citizenship programs. Those who do not would be later in the list, or not considered at all and would be deported. Citizenship could take either the form of classes now offered, or would be a more Ellis Island-type approach of a processing center. Both are consistent with tradition and law.
Until a person does the work to become a citizen, they are considered a resident alien and not entitled to the benefits of citizenship. No general pardon will be given to them for committing the original crime of entering this country illegally, and they would be forced to pay a fine (either removed through an income tax or paid direct) and serve a probationary period before citizenship. If a crime of any type is committed during that probation, they are deported.
6. Clean up the election system to ensure that no illegal immigrant votes count toward electing people to public office. Require photo ID for all voters and paper ballots or records of votes.
Of course, such a plan has absolutely no chance of passage, but coming up with public policy is fun, so here it is.
Posted by slublog at December 26, 2006 08:14 PM
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Comments
Slu,
I commend you!
Could your proposal be sent out en masse to every representative, senator, congress-critter potential president and current President Bush?
I do believe you have something there.
This certainly makes more sense than just let 'em all in because we are a compassionate country.
These people all come here and want to make their laws (or lawlessness) the rule.
The muslims are attempting the same thing with Sharia.
Something must be done and quickly.
Uncontrolled immigration, I do believe, is more dangerous than the terrorists that would like to kill us all. It is more dangerous, because it is silent. It creeps in stealthily.
There is no loud BANG.
Suddenly, we look around and discover that our country is no longer one we recognize. The desire to BE an American is no longer, for the immigrants. They want to resurrect their own horrid countries on our soil, to name portions of it their own, while enjoying the freedom that true Americans have worked so hard to create.
Could this be, perhaps, how the indians felt?
Posted by: Melissa In Texas at December 27, 2006 09:05 AM
Slu,
Any plan to introduce Voter ID cards is torpedoed by Dems by saying that ID costs money and charging money for the right to vote is unconstitutional. There is a way to solve this. By cross referencing Voter Databases with SS and DMV databases, we can tell whether a voter has a Govt issued ID or not. If you have been issued an ID, you must produce it to vote. If there is no record that you have an ID, let them vote. This will atleast curb multiple voting and some impersonation. Also, learn from the Iraqis. Purple fingers! cuts down on double voting.
Posted by: Tushar D at December 30, 2006 11:02 PM
One possible aspect of immigration reform could come from increasing the tax on Mexican oil revenues to pay for "hidden costs" of illegal immigration. This would provide a financial incentive for public and private Mexican institutions to reign in illegal immigration to the U.S.
Posted by: George at December 31, 2006 06:49 PM
Nice list.
If I were in charge, I would switch the order of #1 and #2; as long as there's a huge demand for illegal labor, the wall isn't going to be very effective.
Also, I'd burn the INS to the ground and re-build it from the ground up. I have friends trying to immigrate and become citizens, and the incompetence and bureaucratic pettiness of the INS simply cannot be exaggerated.
Posted by: sandy burger at December 31, 2006 07:08 PM
The first brick should have been laid on 91201; after 19 illegal aliens killed ~3,000 American children, women and men - almost all of whom were civilians! We should have laid over 1,000,000,000 bricks by now; if we are not just "read my lips!..." prevaricating on the War on Terror.
As Ronnie said 24 years ago a country that does not control its borders is NOT (emphasis added by Rod) a country!
Posted by: Rod Stanton at December 31, 2006 07:14 PM
The first brick should have been laid on 91201; after 19 illegal aliens killed ~3,000 American children, women and men - almost all of whom were civilians! We should have laid over 1,000,000,000 bricks by now; if we are not just "read my lips!..." prevaricating on the War on Terror.
As Ronnie said 24 years ago a country that does not control its borders is NOT (emphasis added by Rod) a country!
Posted by: Rod Stanton at December 31, 2006 07:38 PM
Sorry for the double post! My error!
Posted by: Rodney A Stanton at December 31, 2006 07:39 PM
An important aspect is missing. There must be financial and political disincentives placed against Mexico for their abject complicity.
Posted by: Anonymous at December 31, 2006 07:40 PM
There must be financial and political disincentives placed against Mexico for their abject complicity.
I agree, but how do you punish a country that, economically, has nothing to lose?
Posted by: Slublog at December 31, 2006 11:16 PM
If sanctions were actually imposed on employers, I would think that the deportation of 11-20 million would be self imposed. If they can't work, they'll have no option but to leave. Anything else will bring them to the attention of ICE and they'd be sent home anyway.
Posted by: GarandFan at January 1, 2007 01:30 PM