[kabar]

What is wrong with attrition thru enforcement? We don’t need mass deportation or a blanket amnesty or paying them to leave. We just make life miserable for them including shutting down the job magnet.

[cradle of freedom]

We need to also close the welfare magnet but Trump is boldly opening up discussion on illegal immigration which will allow others who are serious about stopping illegal immigration to get their proposals in as well. Hope Tom Tancredo gets in on the act. We miss you Tom.

[DannyTN]

"What is wrong with attrition thru enforcement? We don’t need mass deportation or a blanket amnesty or paying them to leave. We just make life miserable for them including shutting down the job magnet."

That's one strategy, but...

1. The cost of enforcement. You're going to have a black market in labor as long as they are here. So you're going to have to have investigations, prosecutions, court hearings, and then you still have to deport them. Paying them $x is one way to get them to self-deport without a lot of enforcement action.
2. The black market in labor has a corrupting influence on the market. If your competitor is using cheaper illegal labor and the enforcement is not fast or sufficient to deter them, then you're out of business, unless you do likewise.
3. To get the cash, they have to submit to having biometric data taken, making it easier to identify them if they enter the country illegally again.
4. Severe penalties for re-entering the country is more palatable if they received a cash payment for exiting.
5. Self-deportation reduces their numbers quickly, making protests less likely and less volatile. So that when you do have to get tougher on deportation, it's a little easier.
6. A quick cash payment may incent some of the sponges and criminal element to self deport. Hopefully they'll underestimate how much harder it will be to get back in, and go for the quick cash.
7. Making life miserable for them is not going to set well with everyone. If you're not careful, you'll put them out of a job and into the food stamp line. Or you'll see an increase in crime.