Eighteen Illegal Alien solutions that are better than any Amnesty

January 7th, 2003 | Sabertooth

[Sabertooth]

Well, today’s the big day, if the leaks and reports coming from the Bush Administration are true. The President is supposed to announce a new direction in America’s immigration policy that would result, among other things, in some sort of legalization for millions of the Illegal Aliens currently in our country, violating our laws. This, of course, would be nothing less than Amnesty by another name.

We’re told by handwringers and the political and media elites that there is really no workable solution to the Illegal Alien problem, so we might as well legalize them so we can get track of them. Thouughtless people on both sides of the debate jawbone about silly ideas like building a wall at the Mexican border, or house to house searches, as though they were viable solutions, or the only alternatives to Amnesty ore the status quo.

It’s disappointing, frankly. There is a great disconnect when people claim that while we can put men on the moon, or win the Cold War and the War on Terror, there is no reasonable or cost effective means of solving the Illegal Alien problem without infringing on the civil liberties of all Americans.

Nonsense, this nation is plenty capable of solving any problem we decide to solve, and poll after poll shows that the American people want the problem of Illegal Aliens solved, and that Amnesty isn’t a solution to us.

Dealing with Illegals doesn't have to be the enormous burden on resources many imagine, not would it have to infringe on civil liberties.

I've posted this on a few threads, but today seems like a good day for a revised reposting of as a stand-alone thread.

This problem is no harder to solve than wanting to solve it. We can get rid of Illegals rather effectively, by rolling up our sleeves and getting the Illegals to get rid of themselves.

The first order of business, of course, is to enforce existing laws on the books against Illegals and those who employ them. Also, politicians must be held to account when they pander otherwise.

Then...

• 1: Eliminate all mention of Section 245(i), even if expired, from the US Immigration and Naturalization Code. No more Amnesty, ever.
  
  
• 2: Get legislation through Congress that would enable States to deny goodies to Illegals, a la Prop #187.
  
  
• 3: Outlaw Mexican matricula consular IDs, and kick banks accepting them out of the FDIC. Legal depositors will withdraw from recalcitrant banks.
  
  
• 4: Beef up Border Security with manpower, resources, and a Volunteer Reserve, if necessary. No troops, and no messing with posse comitatus, this should be a civilian effort.
  
  
• 5: Beef up the immigration courts and set deportation hearings for two weeks after apprehension, with no bail.
  
  
• 6: Run sting operations at day laborer sites.
  
  
• 7: Establish two-way communication between the IRS and Border Security, and start apprehending and deporting Illegals using false SS numbers (no, the current overhyped voluntary program doesn't count).
  
  
• 8: Seize the assets of businesses knowingly hiring Illegals under the RICO Act, as they are ongoing criminal enterprises. Prosecute executives who knowingly hire Illegals.
  
  
• 9: Compile biometric information on Illegals, and declare that they will be permanently ineligible for immigration and citizenship.
  
  
• 10: If the United States declares that the above proposals against Illegals will be diligently enforced after a certain date, many Illegals will leave beforehand, and a relatively small number of well-publicized cases of enforcement throughout the Lower 48 will result in millions of Illegals deporting themselves.
  
  
• 11: End the busting of immigration caps by limiting family reunification to spouses and dependent children, and counting them against the caps when they are brought in. Require all future immigrants to declare their future intent to bring in family upon arrival. This way, families can immigrate in a controlled, orderly fashion without the current deceptions being used against the American public. We must have truth in immigration.
  
  
• 12: Outlaw anchor babies, and give the option to the Illegal parent of taking the child with them upon deportation, or putting them up for adoption.
  
  
• 13: Outlaw bilingual ballots, and resume the English-speaking requirements for citizenship.
  
  
• 14: Establish English skills as a prerequisite for future immigrants. Let's start admitting folks who will hit the ground running toward assimilation.
  
  
• 15: Shut off new immigration to nations that offer dual citizenship. Disqualify current immigrants from those nations from future American citizenship.
  
  
• 16: Make Mexico and Central America our cheap import sources of choice with tariffs on manufacturing from other sources, especially China.
  
  
• 17: In return, Mexico must open up to American investment by allowing the sale of real estate to us and guaranteeing property our rights. Getting Mexico to fix its economy is crucial.
  
  
• 18: Establish a guest worker program where an initial bond is posted by the Illegal and his employer, say $500 each, with more withheld from the Illegal's earnings, as security for his departure from the US by the specified date. Guest worker visas must be applied for in the workers' countries of origin, and participants are only eligible to be employed by their sponsoring employer. Violation of these terms will render the worker ineligible for any future visas or residence in the US. Any guest worker program can only come after anti-Illegal measures are in place. Handshake promises of future diligence will not be trusted from any politician of either party, including President Bush.

The list above is by no means comprehensive, and can be adopted piecemeal or in a single package. That said, incrementalism is probably going to be the way to go, especially politically.

These measures would provide a little carrot and lots of stick for Illegals already here to get themselves out. Some of them will need to be tested in the courts, which is another reason to adopt them piecemeal, so that an injunction against omnibus legislation can't stall the whole effort.

We ought to be looking initially at easy, politically safe legislation, like the new accounting for family reunification, Border Security/IRS cooperation, English speaking citizenship requirements, and a few others. Our politicians are a trembling, timid bunch, and need to gain a little self-confidence before they'll tackle more difficult issues.

Note a few things that aren't on my list: troops or walls on the border. I think they are a futile diversion from cost effective solutions. The best possible wall at the border is to let foreigners know that we respect our sovereignty, and they had best do the same.

Note that their are no house to house searches.

Note also that I don't call for an immigration moratorium, though others may. I think their position is within the respectable mainstream of a dialogue about immigration, and while it's possible that I might change my mind later, but I am not currently persuaded that an outright moratorium is or will be necessary.

The main problem is multimillion-strong mass of Illegals, and the secondary problem is how we currently select legal immigrants for rapid assimilation into American society. I believe my proposals adequately address both situations, but there is certainly room for debate on the back end.

Note also that I have a guest worker program that is actually honest and responsible, and not an Amnesty by another name. My program would ensure that law-abiding foreigners are background-checked before entry, rather than rewarding lawbreaking Illegals after the fact.

All of the above could be adopted while allowing politicians so-inclined to chant the "compassionate conservatism" mantra.

A few final thoughts...

My proposals will cost money and require an expansion of the federal government in certain areas. However, this expense and expansion is all well within the legitimate, Constitutional responsibilities of the federal government. There will be a greater expense initially, as we ramp up to deal with the backlog of Illegals, but a number of my proposals are at least partially self-funding. Also, success in these endeavors will eventually reduce the need for them, and as many Illegals would leave on their own. There will be future savings, it should be noted, as the population of Illegals is dwindles and their net drain on our resources is reduced.

In contrast, there would be also be an increased expense and expansion of the government if there is an Amnesty, as checking backgrounds and processing 8 to 12 million Illegals wouldn't be cheap. However, such increases and expansions would only serve to reward the lawlessness of Illegals and the cowardice of politicians, thereby encouraging more of the same in both, unless there were also enforcement proposals like mine in effect for the American Interior.

But, if we strengthened and enforced our laws consistently within our borders, then we don't need the phantom solution of Amnesty anyway.

[F16Fighter]

Thanks for putting your money where your mouth is -- great job!

However, it's my opinion the current crisis warrants suspending or readjusting 'posse comitatus' under the circumstances.

Beefed up "civilian" enforcement of the border is not only unrealistic, but presents one more political hot-potato for Democrats whose approval would be required in Washington. Can our legislators even be counted on to address this issue? And might it take forever -- IF ever approved -- while potentially being far more incendiary if implimented at all?

No, I think 'Homeland Security' is the loophole whereby troops may be implimented, and thus present a clear and viable deterent to illegal immigration.

[greenwolf]

Two basic criteria of any reasonable guest-worker program: One, the employer must absorb the entire cost, the total cost to the taxpayer being zero and, two, under no circumstances do they vote.

I would favor a constitutional ammendment saying that nobody votes until they have resided in the U.S. for 18 years, i.e. ZERO INCENTIVE for any political party to try to import voting blocks for itself.

I had to wait 18 years to vote, and I don't view immigrants as better than I am.

[mrustow]

BTTT.

[Oschisms]

bump for later

[lindagirl]

You are right. I hope you don't mind but I have copied your points to use in every email I write about this matter.

[Tailgunner Joe]

bttt

[Mr. E. Ryder]

It is sad to know that the US will never do this. I want to stop anker babies. Other countries do not give citizenship to babies born in their territory why should we? Still, the US is too afraid to publically set up laws like this because Mexico and other Latin American countries will raise hell and will be the victims in the eyes of the world. And the world just looks for excuses to not like us.
Also, I enjoy this site.

[Lucky9teen]

Is there a way to bring this article back to the fore front again?

I think in what we are facing in today's times, this article says a lot!!!

[Sir Gawain]

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[Peter Lovberg]

How quickly we forget that the whole frenzy about the illegal alien population in the U.S., namely via the U.S.-Mexican border arose from a national security concern. That’s where the debate needs to stay. Amnesty is a word with a “dirty” connotation that calls to the sentiments of the misinformed and ill-educated followers of Mr. Ross Perot. Before stirring up misdirected hatred from those who actually bought the “sucking sound” argument years ago-I would request they educate themselves on the teachings of Adam Smith and more importantly, David Ricardo, both undisputed geniuses of the economics that keep our economy working today.
Since security is the only valid point of debate regarding illegals today, lets agree that all illegal aliens need to be identified IMMEDIATELY, perhaps at a number of National I.D. centers in critical geographic locations. Lets give the existing transient population of Illegals 30 days to report to these sites for complete biometric I.D.s., and reciprocal background checks from bi-national sources. Failure to do so within this 30 day period would result in immediate deportation, and registry onto a “Blacklist”. The blacklist would prohibit entry for an extended period of time 5-10 years beyond that currently legally called for.
Secure the border. Agreed. Use the General Atomics Predator aircraft and a reduced force at the border to enforce the National Frontier. I would pose that the construction of a second “Berlin Wall” does not bide well with the tenets of Democracy, however you want to look at it.
After you’ve studied your Adam Smith and David Ricardo, you’ll agree that a modern-day Pogromme against Mexican Americans is politically and economically disastrous. Until you understand what consumer and producer surpluses the low-cost labor provides both Mexicans and Americans, you are ill-informed and acting purely on emotion, not with economic reason and logic. Act rashly, and we’ll return to a new “Weimar Republic” in California. No thanks!
I will admit, the “Amnesty” issue is an ugly, but necessary evil at this critical point in our nations history. What is one to do, when balancing important national security concerns with disastrous economic consequences of national illegal-purging sweeps. Choose the lesser of two evils. and call it the Migratory Worker's Identification Initiative instead of Amnesty, if this is a concern of your political constituents!