uPolitico

The immigration issue has become a “hot potato” with politicians, and federal and state governments. Border security, quotas, terrorism, human rights, and many other terms and events revolve around the term “illegal immigrant.” However, we cannot address the issue without having adequate policies that will address the needs of the industries, which depend on the skills that illegal immigrants bring, while managing our national security. Providing a system that will establish a reliable level of control over who is in the country, and knowing their immigration status, is a critical and reasonable demand of those of us who live in the US. First, we must try to understand the issue.

First, most immigrants did not cross the border with the intension of staying here forever. Most of them miss their land, culture, foods, and their families. So why do they stay, or why do they establish residence in the US? It is a matter of managing risk. It is much cheaper and more likely not to be “caught” by the immigration office if they stay in Los Angeles, San Diego, Charlotte, or anywhere in the US, then if they try to cross the border illegally several times. The cost and risks associated with crossing the border illegally is too high. Trying to dodge “coyotes”, patrols, ranchers, and drug smugglers makes the entire process complicated and intimidating; furthermore, dealing with deserts, thirst, and wild animals, makes an illegal immigrant less likely to move back and forward between the two countries.

Second, we must understand that we have industries that not only need, but also demand illegal immigrants. As I see it, it is a Federal Government dirty little secret. They want these people to cross the border, because without them, many industries would collapse almost immediately. Illegal immigrants come to the US because they know they have jobs.  In a sense, they are “economic refugees.” They are leaving high unemployment countries to a land where their skills are needed and appreciated. It does not make any sense that the government would bring a 20 feet wall to stop illegal immigrants when the national economy demands such labor, instead, the governments (state and Federal) are trying to mitigate and ration the number of people who cross the border. It is not the government’s intention to completely stop illegal immigration – do not let them fool you!

Third, and perhaps more important, our immigration laws are antiquated, and our entire immigration program, in my opinion, is broken beyond repair. Politicians are trying to make bills or make laws based on what would benefit them. They look at political trends, Hispanic support in their counties or states, and attitudes towards illegal immigrants among communities’ leaders. Communities react to unreasonable fears, and the media contributes, by sometimes creating fears about “Mexicans”, drugs, terrorism, etc.

I believe that a new approach needs to be taken at the Federal Government level to lower fears and help industries, such as construction, hotel, and agriculture. First, I believe that a comprehensive assessment of all the industries who needs skill labor, which may be provided by illegal immigrants, needs to be made. A federal agency, such as the Labor Department, needs to allow all industries in need of specific types of labor to supply the number of employees needed. Information that would be of importance is, whether the need is seasonal of yearlong, types of skills needed, etc. Databases need to be updated as demands for employees increase, or decrease, throughout the year,

Second, I would propose that all illegal immigrants already in the country be given a two to three year amnesty. During this period, all illegal immigrants must report to selected offices throughout the US to register and obtain a work visa from the US Department of Immigration. Visas need to be renewed after a year, to allow the government to maintain control. Immigrants would then be able to cross the border in a humane and legal manner, as they see it necessary. These workers would also be provided with a “high-tech” ID card to avoid fraud. After whatever reasonable period is established, people outside the US, who wish to enter the country as a worker may apply for a working visa in US embassies and consulates. To ask all illegal immigrants to leave the US and go back to their country would create fear and mistrust. As it is, lines of people seeking entrance to the US are long and inefficient. Can you imagine if we ask 12 million people or so to leave the country and apply for visas in their native countries?

Third, people who apply would need to provide fingerprints and a background check to prove they do not have criminal records. In addition, they would have to pay and file payroll taxes as established by the IRS, as any US legal resident would pay. In addition, they would be required to either, carry health insurance, or a federal plan would be created so they can pay for preventive healthcare in an effort to manage risk for the industries and the state or local governments.

Fourth, in cooperation with the Mexican government, manufacturing and agricultural industries need to be established along the Mexican states near the border. Mexico’s government must agree to fair and comparable wages to those in the US so many individuals would see that working in these industries, in Mexico, is a good alternative to coming to the US. I believe that many of these industries can establish partnerships with similar industries in the US, which would contribute and benefit both, the Mexican and the US economy. Economic and development plans, packed with incentives by both governments, need to be created to promote growth and job creation.

Last, and more important, before the program is implemented the borders would need to be secured. The program would be announced and information would be provided so people would know that there would not be a need to cross the borders illegally. This would not be sufficient to control the flow of people through the border, therefore, the National Guard or other agencies would have to help provide security until the program is fully established. Once the program is in place, electronic surveillance and an increase of border patrols would need to be implemented throughout the entire border.

Once the program is up and running, employers who hire undocumented workers would face severe penalties. At the same time, the number of undocumented individuals would be much more manageable for enforcing agencies. The benefits of such plan are many.  Illegal immigrants would be documented and then legalized through a visa system, industries, such as construction, hotel, and agricultural would benefit and new industries are likely to rise as the result of an increase of high skills in the “hand-made” products industry, as well as the manufacturing of various goods, mills, etc. Financially, we would all benefit by an increase of revenues through taxes, a more fair system to manage health care, job creation at the management level, improved security at our borders, etc.

Is this the solution? Perhaps not, but I believe it is a great start. Better and more capable minds need to do studies and create a well-developed program. However, as long as we have politicians seeking votes, instead of seeking what is right for America, I believe that the problem will not be resolved. We also need to understand that illegal immigration is too complex a problem to have a simple solution. Pretending to gather all illegal immigrants is not the solution, but neither is opening our borders without proper security. We are a nation of laws, and changes need to be made. We must put our personal feelings, race assumptions, and resentments aside, and realize that we need these workers in other to preserve our economic strength. As a whole, very few illegal immigrants take jobs from us. Most of us do not want to work the fields work in the hotel industry, or do back-breaking jobs. Sadly, many of us find those jobs “beneath us.” If you think about it, we are lucky to have people who are willing to tackle these jobs to put food on their tables. Let us all work together and find a solution to this problem.

Tags: Border security, Economy, illegal immigration, Mexico

admin  Aug 7 Current Political Issues