What kind of immigration reform would you endorse in the US?
There's a ton of options on this kind of thing, from very freewheeling, to authoritarian dictator extreme, and even mixes of the two. Basically we're in a situation where our businesses crave immigrant labor, but our citizens insist on better conditions for themselves (somehow perhaps conflictingly, we don't seem to expect our businesses or government to provide those improved conditions, but whatever.)
Personally I'm a combination of the two. I think a relatively easy economic immigration policy, coupled with close tracking and harsh penalties for violations, particularly on businesses, might be the best overall way to go.
For instance, make it easy to come work in America, but expect such immigrants to submit to photo identification, fingerprinting, a blood sample, and background check. If you want to get really Big-Brother about this you could even use RFID chips, but that might be a bit overboard.
Make immigrants documented in this way check in on a weekly or semiweekly basis with a phone call to the Bureau of Immigration or whatever. You know, let them in but keep a close eye on them. Some people may not like such an idea, but for many immigrants such would be a small price to pay for the safety and stability of being in the US. And of course they're entitled to US minimum wage and pay taxes like everyone else.
Violations, such as if they are convicted of a major crime or fail to document themselves upon entering the country may be dealt with harshly depending on the circumstances. Deportation, seizure of assets, prison time, remunerative labor (within humane standards of course). And businesses that are found to have knowingly, or negligently hired an undocumented immigrant are fined not less than 1% of their annual revenue per offense, along with the forfeiture of any tax benefits in the year of conviction.
I like this approach because it's fairly free-market friendly, allowing flow of labor with relative ease, but also security minded, taking fingerprints, photos, and blood samples from all non-citizen entrants. It also strongly punishes any attempts to circumvent the law. I think that's the best way to keep illegal immigration down. Easy compliance, coupled with harsh punishments for non-compliance.
Maybe the states ought to be able to be able to set the number of documented migrant workers permitted in their areas as well. For example, maybe Texas and California want to allow of total of up to 6 million immigrant workers in their states, but Wisconsin prefers only 8,000 or so. That way, local economies can respond to and dictate the amount of immigrant labor they want. This would cause businesses and local governments to talk seriously about their economic and social needs.
Anyway, that's my idea off the top of my head, not thoroughly thought out. What about yours?
Personally I'm a combination of the two. I think a relatively easy economic immigration policy, coupled with close tracking and harsh penalties for violations, particularly on businesses, might be the best overall way to go.
For instance, make it easy to come work in America, but expect such immigrants to submit to photo identification, fingerprinting, a blood sample, and background check. If you want to get really Big-Brother about this you could even use RFID chips, but that might be a bit overboard.
Make immigrants documented in this way check in on a weekly or semiweekly basis with a phone call to the Bureau of Immigration or whatever. You know, let them in but keep a close eye on them. Some people may not like such an idea, but for many immigrants such would be a small price to pay for the safety and stability of being in the US. And of course they're entitled to US minimum wage and pay taxes like everyone else.
Violations, such as if they are convicted of a major crime or fail to document themselves upon entering the country may be dealt with harshly depending on the circumstances. Deportation, seizure of assets, prison time, remunerative labor (within humane standards of course). And businesses that are found to have knowingly, or negligently hired an undocumented immigrant are fined not less than 1% of their annual revenue per offense, along with the forfeiture of any tax benefits in the year of conviction.
I like this approach because it's fairly free-market friendly, allowing flow of labor with relative ease, but also security minded, taking fingerprints, photos, and blood samples from all non-citizen entrants. It also strongly punishes any attempts to circumvent the law. I think that's the best way to keep illegal immigration down. Easy compliance, coupled with harsh punishments for non-compliance.
Maybe the states ought to be able to be able to set the number of documented migrant workers permitted in their areas as well. For example, maybe Texas and California want to allow of total of up to 6 million immigrant workers in their states, but Wisconsin prefers only 8,000 or so. That way, local economies can respond to and dictate the amount of immigrant labor they want. This would cause businesses and local governments to talk seriously about their economic and social needs.
Anyway, that's my idea off the top of my head, not thoroughly thought out. What about yours?
