Immigration
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Although there is a need to reduce illegal immigration, it is necessary to distinguish between
- 1) undesirable immigrants, those who come to the U.S. either to engage in criminal activity or to take advantage of free benefits, and
- 2) desirable immigrants who come to the U.S. to seek employment and who are a net benefit to consumers and thus to the national economy.
Make changes to accommodate the latter desirable immigrants while at the same time discouraging or intercepting the former undesired category of immigrants.
With regard to public schools, treat immigrant children who are not being deported the same as children who are citizens, having the same entitlement to a public education as long as they are in the country, regardless of legal status.
THE DESIRED CATEGORY OF IMMIGRANTS
Let current undocumented workers become documented through a proper legal procedure, so they will no longer be "illegal" and can come and go in a proper and legal manner without seeking illegal avenues or trying to evade the border patrol authorities. If need be, have the workers in question leave the country and then return as legal documented workers, so they gain no advantage due to their former undocumented status.
- Thus ease the burden on the border patrol so they can turn their attention to undesirable lawbreakers such as drug smugglers and terrorists who pose a real threat to our country.
- Do not put an artificial time limit (such as 6 years) on the stay of immigrant workers, but rather require them to either leave the U.S. when their employment expires or confirm their new employment and be properly documented and vouched for by their new employer as a condition to remaining in the U.S. Allow for a normal transition time for workers changing jobs, provided they observe the rules.
- Do not grant blanket amnesty. Instead, provide proper channels to accommodate those coming here to work, such as in a legitimate guest worker program and vouched for by an employer and subject to health examination, and then require that those channels be used. Even expand current worker programs so legitimate migrant workers of all categories may enter through a proper procedure to meet the demand of employers.
THE UNDESIRED CATEGORY
- Let immigrants who enter illegally, outside legitimate avenues, be subject to summary deportation and not be accorded any reward for having circumvented the laws.
- Do not provide tax-paid housing subsidies or other benefits to non-citizens. Fully investigate all claims of non-citizens taking advantage of welfare programs illegally.
- Do not require hospitals to check for legal status or confirm citizenship of patients.
SHORTER WAITING PERIOD FOR APPLICANTS
To reduce the incentive to immigrants to sneak in illegally, shorten the time period during which an applicant for admission must wait in line before being granted legal status to be in the U.S.
- If this delay period is deemed to serve a purpose, such as to limit population growth, then instead of the waiting period, do more rigorous testing or screening of applicants, which they must pass before being admitted or qualifying for legal status.
- Thus, move more toward a merit system, where the applicant's chances are improved through doing better in the testing and screening process.
- Increase the standards for knowledge of English and U.S. history, or the standards for health or for non-criminal background. Or increase the costs or processing fees to applicants.