Wildcat
January 29th, 2013, 10:47 PM
This week both Congress and the President have proposed differing legislation to solve the immigration problem. I have issues with both, but of the two I am more in line with the Senate's bill. I figured it could lead to good discussion, so I figured I would get the ball rolling. For disclosure, I am a center-right conservative, not a right-wing extremist or a libertarian. On this issue I support comprehensive immigration reform that looks like the following:
1. Border security is non-negotiable. We have a right to expect the government to enforce the laws regarding those who cross the border. Border security is about national sovereignty, security, and the government fulfilling its responsibility to enforce the law. This does not mean closing the borders or installing continuous fences. But the borders must be controlled and we need to know who comes in, who goes out, and who they are. An unsecured border poses a direct threat to our national security. Unsecured borders give terrorists and deported illegal immigrants who wish to harm relative ease of entry into the country. A failure to control our borders only makes our nation more vulnerable to future attacks. The simple enactment of laws on border enforcement will not suffice.
2. A commitment by the federal government to enforce the laws within the country, including cracking down on businesses that employ workers illegally. The government is quite capable of enforcing laws that it wishes to enforce and is culpable for not having the will to dedicate sufficient resources to enforce the laws at the borders and within the states. This must change. One means of cracking down on illegal workers has been the use of the electronic verification system - the E-Verify background check program. This program should be reauthorized and made a mandatory part of the hiring process. Employers found in breach of hiring only those legally living in the U.S. should face stiff fines.
3. A program with multiple paths to legal status for illegal immigrants, including citizenship, a temporary worker program, and a permanent or temporary legal residency program. Those who are here illegally must be placed behind those who have already applied for permanent legal status. But, most illegal immigrants have been hard-working, law-abiding residents since their arrival. Therefore, for those who are here illegally, they would have a one-time opportunity of one year to come forward and apply for legal status. If such immigrants could demonstrate they have been employed, and have not broken the law since or before their illegal entry, they could apply for legal status to remain here.
4. Require all illegal immigrants to pay a fine, agree to pay back taxes, learn to read, write, and speak English, carry an ID card, follow a rigorous process for legal status: getting in line behind those who have legally migrated here in order to apply for permanent residence after a probationary period of years, and acknowledge and pledge allegiance to America's governmental structure, the duties of citizenship, and our core values as embodied in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Financial penalties must be just and should seek restitution not retribution. Those who fail background checks or who refuse to comply with this opportunity to earn legal status should be deported immediately.
5. A cut-off date for application for legal status. Employers would be given a defined window (one year) to come forward, pay a fine, and come clean for past offenses. At the end of that period, the government would tell illegal immigrants and their employers that if they haven't come forward and availed themselves of this offer, the government will find them and if here illegally, deport them, and if they are a business, fine them significantly and prosecute them criminally.
6. We must avoid chain migration: the process of bringing extended members of one's family to the country once a family member is settled here. Limiting chain migration to immediate family members (spouses and natural/adopted children) would be an appropriate solution to this problem. Hardship exceptions may be appropriate if a person's elderly parents have no means of support in their home country. These limitations would allow us to maintain our commitment to bringing in additional immigrants.
7. Establish an expanded guest-worker program for people not currently in the country, but who would like to come here to work with a ceiling of 350,000 people a year who could come to fill jobs that have been advertised in the U.S. by employers for an adequate length of time and for which they have not been able to find employees domestically. These new guest workers would also have to agree to a criminal background check and to learn English. Under such a program, they could apply for permanent resident status at the end of four years, a shorter period than illegal immigrants would face for such status. Those here illegally would go to the back of the line behind those who have tried, and are trying to come here legally.
8. As a minister this is a personal point for me: the plan must be sensitive to the calling faith communities feel to engage in human needs ministry. The impact on human needs is an area of immigration reform that uniquely affects the faith community as they strive to care for those in need and to be good Samaritans obligated to reach out to those in need of assistance. The government should not criminalize private citizens who give a cup of cold water, a hot meal, a warm bed or medical assistance to those who are here illegally. Previously there was no such exemption for charitable and faith based activity toward all people, regardless of their residency status. I do not support the practice of providing sanctuary to those who are here illegally, but I do support the practice of meeting the basic human needs of people who are here.
1. Border security is non-negotiable. We have a right to expect the government to enforce the laws regarding those who cross the border. Border security is about national sovereignty, security, and the government fulfilling its responsibility to enforce the law. This does not mean closing the borders or installing continuous fences. But the borders must be controlled and we need to know who comes in, who goes out, and who they are. An unsecured border poses a direct threat to our national security. Unsecured borders give terrorists and deported illegal immigrants who wish to harm relative ease of entry into the country. A failure to control our borders only makes our nation more vulnerable to future attacks. The simple enactment of laws on border enforcement will not suffice.
2. A commitment by the federal government to enforce the laws within the country, including cracking down on businesses that employ workers illegally. The government is quite capable of enforcing laws that it wishes to enforce and is culpable for not having the will to dedicate sufficient resources to enforce the laws at the borders and within the states. This must change. One means of cracking down on illegal workers has been the use of the electronic verification system - the E-Verify background check program. This program should be reauthorized and made a mandatory part of the hiring process. Employers found in breach of hiring only those legally living in the U.S. should face stiff fines.
3. A program with multiple paths to legal status for illegal immigrants, including citizenship, a temporary worker program, and a permanent or temporary legal residency program. Those who are here illegally must be placed behind those who have already applied for permanent legal status. But, most illegal immigrants have been hard-working, law-abiding residents since their arrival. Therefore, for those who are here illegally, they would have a one-time opportunity of one year to come forward and apply for legal status. If such immigrants could demonstrate they have been employed, and have not broken the law since or before their illegal entry, they could apply for legal status to remain here.
4. Require all illegal immigrants to pay a fine, agree to pay back taxes, learn to read, write, and speak English, carry an ID card, follow a rigorous process for legal status: getting in line behind those who have legally migrated here in order to apply for permanent residence after a probationary period of years, and acknowledge and pledge allegiance to America's governmental structure, the duties of citizenship, and our core values as embodied in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Financial penalties must be just and should seek restitution not retribution. Those who fail background checks or who refuse to comply with this opportunity to earn legal status should be deported immediately.
5. A cut-off date for application for legal status. Employers would be given a defined window (one year) to come forward, pay a fine, and come clean for past offenses. At the end of that period, the government would tell illegal immigrants and their employers that if they haven't come forward and availed themselves of this offer, the government will find them and if here illegally, deport them, and if they are a business, fine them significantly and prosecute them criminally.
6. We must avoid chain migration: the process of bringing extended members of one's family to the country once a family member is settled here. Limiting chain migration to immediate family members (spouses and natural/adopted children) would be an appropriate solution to this problem. Hardship exceptions may be appropriate if a person's elderly parents have no means of support in their home country. These limitations would allow us to maintain our commitment to bringing in additional immigrants.
7. Establish an expanded guest-worker program for people not currently in the country, but who would like to come here to work with a ceiling of 350,000 people a year who could come to fill jobs that have been advertised in the U.S. by employers for an adequate length of time and for which they have not been able to find employees domestically. These new guest workers would also have to agree to a criminal background check and to learn English. Under such a program, they could apply for permanent resident status at the end of four years, a shorter period than illegal immigrants would face for such status. Those here illegally would go to the back of the line behind those who have tried, and are trying to come here legally.
8. As a minister this is a personal point for me: the plan must be sensitive to the calling faith communities feel to engage in human needs ministry. The impact on human needs is an area of immigration reform that uniquely affects the faith community as they strive to care for those in need and to be good Samaritans obligated to reach out to those in need of assistance. The government should not criminalize private citizens who give a cup of cold water, a hot meal, a warm bed or medical assistance to those who are here illegally. Previously there was no such exemption for charitable and faith based activity toward all people, regardless of their residency status. I do not support the practice of providing sanctuary to those who are here illegally, but I do support the practice of meeting the basic human needs of people who are here.