A modest proposal on Immigration
With all the nastiness about immigration, it is unlikely that any real solution will come out of Congress. With the house firmly against amnesty and the Senate firmly in favor of being reelected, there is little chance of compromise. So as long as things are hopeless, I offer one more doomed plan.
I am against illegal immigration. Having grown up in California farm country, I am very familiar with the impact and importance of illegal immigrants to some sectors of the economy. I have also seen the impact on public services in California, Texas and Arizona due to illegal immigration. Hospitals that hemorrhage money and schools that are half day in Spanish are reality, not rhetoric. Despite this, I do not blame the immigrants, I blame the economics that create the situation. The problem is not the people who want the work but the employers who don't want to pay a fair wage.
I propose a four year process to change the economics of illegal immigration:
Year one: All immigrants illegally in this country are given one year to register with the INS. Once registered they will automatically receive documentation and will be "upgraded" to the status of a permanent resident alien (pending background check). Call this a Blue Card. The Blue Card will be good until the end of year three. At the end of year one, any unregistered, illegal immigrant is subject to deportation and a 10 year ban from any legal work status.
Years two and three: During this time the Blue Card holders would be able to live, work an do everything that any other Green Card holder can do and also have the full benefits of legal status. This time can be used to legally dispose of any property and make arrangements for work once they are fully legal.
Year four: At the end of year three, Blue Card holders would be required to depart the country for a minimum of one year. Prior to departure, if they desire to return, they can apply for legal immigration status. In cooperation with employers, some immigrants could apply for "fast track" Green Cards after departing for 6 months.
Ok, truth in lending - I adapted parts of a proposal from one of the whack job militia groups.
Some of the advantages of my proposal:
Its not amnesty. I believe in the rule of law. I believe that when you fail to enforce a law, you weaken all laws. Granting amnesty will only deepen the problem as more will break the law in hope of some future amnesty.
It gives immigrants an incentive (carrot) to register and comply and a punishment (stick) for non-compliance. The most important carrot is the full legal status during the time that they apply for return and settle their affairs. I have seen horrible abuse of immigrants, both economic and physical, that goes unreported because they are more afraid of the police and deportation than the people abusing them. I don't agree with police who refuse to check immigration status but I understand why they don't. By granting them temporary legal status, you create a HUGE incentive for registration.
It gives time. Time for the immigrant to apply for return. Time for the INS to process the application. Time for businesses to stabilize they workforce.
It goes to the root of the problem. How? Because it includes an attack on the cause of the problem - exploitative employers.
At the end of year one, any employer caught with an illegal employee will be fined the equivalent of 10 times the employees annual pay or 10 times minimum wage for a 40 hour a week employee, which ever is more. Employers would have the obligation to learn the status of all employees.
This will drive up labor costs drastically in many sectors. Strawberries would likely cost $6-9 a pound. Same with other fresh fruits and meats. On the other hand, with real wages and real benefits (employers would be required to provide certain minimum health coverage) they would have more money to spend and the number of uninsured hospital visits would plummet. Call it trickle up economics.
Of course, there are a thousand details that would have to be worked out. Exceptions should be granted to the one year departure for those with minor children who are citizens. Immigrants should be required to pass both and English and Civics exam prior to reentry. Former "Blue Card" holders would have to wait longer for full citizenship than Green Card holders who never broke the law.
I have no illusions that this would ever pass. Republicans are too beholden to the businesses that profit from cheep, scared labor. Democrats are too scared of calling a law breaker a law breaker. Democrats act like parents who refuse to punish their children no matter how bad they are. Besides all that, it requires the average American to pay a reasonable price for fresh food instead of a price that is made possible by abusive labor practices. Today I bought grapes for $2.00 a pound, strawberries for $2.00 a package (a big one!) and avocados for $.87 each. Most Americans, probable me included, are not willing to pay three or four times that even if their medical costs are reduced by thousands a year.
