How about some questions to search your heart, mind and soul about to determine how we want the world and the US to be...

1. Other than native American indians, aren't all Americans immigrants or descendents of immigrants?
2. Isn't the US the shining bastion of the brave and the free, based on principles of decency, honesty, hard-work and individual success?
3. When did statements of superiority, entitlement and vested interests work themselves into what is deemed acceptable?
4. If the dominant group of immigrants entering the country illegally were tall blondes from Sweden, would there be such a raging debate?
5. Racism is rarely overt any more these days, but tends to wrap itself in more politically correct sounding policies like "illegal immigration" or the structured neglect of poor and certain demographic school systems.
6. Americans used to look with great shock, disgust and horror at the Berlin wall, yet here there is an even uglier sight on its border with Mexico.

So... some suggestions:

1. Allow guest workers to pay the US government the $2,000 fee to issue them temporary work visas that would let them come and go as they please. Let them save the other $500 for airfare or other transportation.
2. Use the funds from the above to screen out the criminals and terrorists, beef up deportation of those abusing their privilege of being here.
3. The above will end the structural exploitation and remove the financial incentive from the organized criminals smuggling and exploiting these immigrants today.
4. The financial cost and social ties which would need to be broken in order to come to the US will find an equilibrium (higher than it is today, but an equilibrium none-the-less) because the danger factor would be removed. Who knows, immigration done properly and well could even allieviate the looming social security crisis.
5. Develop social systems to help those who help themselves without trapping either them OR THE POOR AND UNSKILLED ALREADY HERE into low-skilled and low-paying jobs and a perpetual cycle of despair.
6. Encourage a come, train, save and go home culture to spread the American work-hard and succeed values to countries that could use the boost. Consider it an export of skilled, non-corrupt values.
7. Treat everyone with the dignity, respect and tolerance we are all due.
8. This is not "open the flood gates and let it happen." This is design it and shape it in to the way it should be. Millions of people pushing in the same direction can move a few mountains. Clearly a tipping point has been reached. It would be a pity to squander the opportunity.

DO WE WANT TO SOLVE THE IMMIGRATION SITUATION?

(edit this page)

The situation can be stated thus:

The United States has failed to enforce its immigration laws over the past years to the extent that there are now 8-12 million undocumented workers in the country.

Those workers constitute an underclass that cannot avail themselves of the protections society affords citizens and legal residents due to fear of detection and deportation. They are, as a result, subject to exploitation by unscrupulous smugglers and employers. This exploitation is not only bad for those exploited, it is unworthy of a democratic society that prides itself on its concern for human rights.

That fact that the number of illegal workers is unregulated makes it at least arguable that these workers depress the wages in low skill jobs to the disadvantage of US citizens and legal residents with low skills. It is also arguable that the economy requires additional low skill labor to fill the jobs that legal workers will not take. It makes sense to control the rate of immigration to maximize the benefit to the economy without creating undue hardship for those already in the country.

The existing law could be enforced simply, by requiring all employers to cross check the social security number of each of their employees with the records of the social security administration. That action would be difficult both politically and economically, as it would result in 8-12 million unfilled jobs and 8-12 million desperate undocumented workers.

President Bush has suggested a “Guest Worker Program” to resolve the situation. However, the President has not put forth a detailed proposal. As a result, the debate about immigration policy is currently dominated by extreme positions on both sides.

If we want to solve the immigration crisis we must reject all of the absolute positions and seek a practical solution. There are three absolute positions prominent in the immigration debate. On the anti-immigration side there are two absolute positions. The first is from those who think that overpopulation is the gravest threat to the future of humanity. The second is from those who equate illegal immigrants to criminals that must be rounded up and deported. On the pro-immigrant side the absolute position would welcome all who want to come here. The practical solution lies in acknowledging that our economy benefits from a certain amount of low priced labor and that must be balanced against the effect of depressed wages on low skill American workers.

The arguments of the overpopulation people must be rejected as impractical. Overpopulation is a threat to the environment all over the world and most particularly in the underdeveloped countries. The environment is interdependent on a planetary scale and limiting the population of the United States will not shield us from the effects of environmental deterioration elsewhere. The solution to overpopulation lies in peoples achieving economic security. When immigrants send money home, they support the economies in their home countries and therefore immigration can be a net benefit to the environment.

The arguments of the legalists should also be rejected as impractical. Certainly, we should take steps to control our borders but more border guards without a rational immigration policy has not and will not work. The practical solution is to go after the employers of illegal immigrants. There would not be 8 – 12 million illegal immigrants unless they could find jobs. They would not be able to find jobs if all employers were required to check potentially fraudulent social security cards with the records of the social security administration. If that policy were implemented, 8 – 12 million jobs would suddenly be unfilled and there would be 8 – 12 million unemployed illegal immigrants in a desperate situation.

It is also impractical to say that there should be no limit on immigration. We cannot admit unlimited numbers of people and expect to preserve what it is about the United States that attracts immigrants. I too would like to find a way to extend liberty and to all people but allowing an unlimited number to migrate to the US would threaten our economic security and maybe even our liberty.

The current situation is the worst of all worlds. We have an underclass of people vulnerable to exploitation and unable to fully participate in the society. We have no control over who enters the country. We foster a profit opportunity for the ruthless willing to smuggle immigrants and the existence of those organizations makes for easy entry for someone wishing to do harm.

The issue is not whether immigration is good or bad. The issue is what level of immigration bests serves the interest of the American people and what process are we going to employ to determine who may immigrate. The issue is not whether we can find Americans to do a particular job. The issue is whether Americans are willing to do a particular job at a rate of pay that the industry can pay and still remain competitive. An American with a high school diploma is unlikely to take a job cleaning hotel rooms at $8.00 per hour while $15.00 an hour maids would significantly raise the cost of hotel rooms. These are real life issues that we must address from a rational perspective.

We could authorize lots of immigrants and set up sweatshops to compete with Chinese industry. We could keep immigration low and send more jobs overseas. We should do something.

There is a level of immigration that benefits our economy without unduly depressing the wages of low skill Americans. My guess is that it is greater than no immigration and less than all the people who would like to come here. I would also guess that arriving at that number and deciding who was entitled to fill the available jobs, if left to politicians, would be seriously flawed. Perhaps we would need an independent institution to make that determination in the same way that the Federal Reserve Board independently determines interest rates.

We could also leave most of the decision making to the market. We could license companies to screen potential immigrants for criminal backgrounds and skill levels. Those firms could then contact employers in industries designated by the immigration board to supply the labor required by that industry. When matches were made, work visas would issue through the licensees up to the total number set by the immigration board. We could make the visa void if the immigrant lost or left the job. We could make the licensee keep fingerprints and DNA samples in the event that an immigrant is suspected of a crime. At least, we would know who is in the country.

There are many possibilities for a rational immigration policy that works for both the immigrants and the society as a whole. The first step is to ignore the absolutists on both sides and open a rational debate.

Migrant workers in the United States mean broken families in Mexico, with the women taking on a huge burden because not every adventurous lad setting off on the trek North stays faithful and doesnt eventually hook up with a woman who is closer than the one in his village. Tecalpulco is typical. More than 100 adults in the USA, There are Tecalpulco folks in Phoenix, North Carolina, New Jersey, Chicago. A lot of these men have been there ten years and more.

Frequently it is the employer who solicits and financines relatives of his workers to illegally come to the USA and puts up the $1500us the coyotes charge to bring you to Phoenix. They have been crossing at the same place for more than a decade. It is called "Agua Prieta" on the Arizona border near Nogales. This is a major unofficial intake gate for wetback traffic. All the Vigilantes did was make the price go up $250usd, since there was no apparent interruption of the transit as the Perez kids went and so did another group I heard about from Puente Campusano. They always call ahead to find out if the border is open or closed to illegal crossing; if it is closed they postphone until it is open.

It is a total myth that "the Border can not be closed" that is 100% hoo-eeey! And bodercrossing coyotes is a more than a billion usd$/year business at $1500 in cash per crossing! who are these ratfaced coyotes with a billion a year in cash coming in? makes you wonder doesnt it? in sum, it is a sordid situation.

Illegal immigration is nefarious and damaging in the effect it has on both sides of the border. The Mexican men who return are notoriously exhausted spiritually and not fit to take up again the far healthier life left in their home village.

The NAFTA policy was a disaster and has devastaed the countryside of Mexico. Nonetheless we are here and the illegal resident issue has to explode because there are so many of them and they are such a part of the US economic fabric.

It is ironic and wonderful that mexican have an excellent reputation as workers. Not only because they work hard but because they keep up a spirited attitude such as singing while they work. Lots of people have mexicans working for them who thay have come to respect, and care for, and love. this has happened a lot

Proposal for consideration : USA Immigration Policy Recommendation:

1. Close the Southern Border

2a. Deport all illegal residents to their home countries.

OR

2b. Give them legal working papers.