Here we go again with a "Gang of 8" senators teaming up to create their "bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform".
It's a political joke on all of us, illegal immigrants included.
The real solution to the problem is ridiculously simple, but since it doesn't create a political advantage for any particular party or candidate, forget it.
I've posted it before, but suppose it doesn't hurt to do it again.
Secure the border immediately. It can be done - those who insist it can't are lying. All it takes is adequate resources. Electronic surveillance, strategically placed barriers, and adequate manpower could shut down the border crossings immediately.
Impose severe enough penalties on employers so they stop hiring illegals. Once again, politicians who claim it can't be done are lying. e-Verify is already out there and working fine. Just make it required. Tell companies, "if we catch illegal immigrants in your shop or on your farm, we're going to hammer you". First offense is a steep fine for each illegal found working in the company, maybe by third offense there might be jail time involved for company officers. Companies will get in line quickly.
As for the illegals themselves, announce a 6-month grace period. For 6 months, anybody in the US without a work visa or other form of official authorization to be here needs to either get their status resolved or go home. From home, they can go to a consulate where they can apply to return. The application must prove they meet basic requirements, such as English fluency, a job waiting for them, or enough personal wealth to insure they won't be a burden on taxpayers.
By the way, if they choose not to go home or get their paperwork in order during the 6 month grace period, they're in trouble. There will be no organized roundup, but whenever an illegal is encountered by police in the normal course of business, he, she, and their family will be unceremoniously deported. Give them, say, up to 48 hours to produce paperwork to prove they're in the country legally if they request the time. Then load up the bus, plane, or ship and send them to their country of origin. Simple and straightforward.
If there's such a thing as an illegal immigrant that was brought into the country as a child and is now finishing up high school or college (I'm not exactly convinced that's a common situation), then a process might be created to give them some consideration. But I'd still push for my "go home and apply to come back" approach for them as well.
I believe it's also too easy for educated foreign workers to enter the country. Engineers and programmers from India and the Far East get hiring preference from American companies who believe they're better workers than Americans, and in some cases maybe so. But I don't think we're importing foreign engineers by the boatload because they're better - more like because they'll happily work hard for less money than the Americans they replace.
OK, you don't have to tell me I'm a lonely voice in the wilderness on this topic. People who think they're compassionate think I'm being too hard on folks by making them go home and apply to come back. Then there are the corporate types who are loving their free pass to bring in foreign workers by the boatload that they can pay next-to-nothing.
But the stupid and corrupt gang of senators are intent on stuffing a stupid "reform" law down our throats that I guarantee will only make the problem worse.
If only there were a few more folks who actually paid attention. That gang of senators wouldn't even be in Washington to band together to make bad law.
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