Let’s Grant Them Amnesty!
Hugh Holub, City Attorney for Nogales 1997-2000 and who represented applicants for citizenship in the 1980’s legalization program, writes about immigration reform. Holub lives within 20 miles of the U.S./Mexican border in Arizona.
He starts out with a given: “If anyone thinks that (10 to 12 million people here illegally) can be deported, or will leave, they must be using illegal drugs. Not going to happen.” So what do we do? Holub outlines 10 suggestions:
- Any immigration law reform must have provision to improve tracking and reporting of legal entrants. Also, anyone on a legal visa who is convicted of a crime other than a routine traffic offense must be subject to deportation.
- …those who entered illegally cannot be rewarded for having broken the law. To do so only invites more illegal entry. Illegal entrants should not be granted a citizen path unless several things happen.
- …if someone in the US is here illegally, admits their illegal entry and pays the fine, and deports themselves, they would then be eligible for legal entry and a citizenship path the same as others who enter legally.
- …we need a Guest Worker Visa Program that allows people to enter into the US and work, provided they go back home.
- …a person allowed into the US on a Guest Worker Visa would be required to pay all taxes. They would not be eligible for federal funded health care and other US or state taxpayer funded benefits.
- …those on a Guest Worker Visa would be subject to a payroll tax like our Social Security and Medicare systems…but these funds should be repatriated to their home country. Thus if they wanted the benefits they paid for, they need to go home.
- … crucial to the success of a Guest Worker Visa system is providing worker protection rights to these guest workers.
- …an applicant for a Guest Worker Visa must show there is a real job waiting for them, and if they leave that job, that they are gainfully employed in another job within 60 days of notice of loss of their job, or be deported.
- …the pool for Guest Worker Visas needs to be bigger than currently exists, and the processing must be faster. Part of the incentive for illegal entry is it is almost impossible for a worker to get legally into the US in his or her lifetime.
- …the process to apply for citizenship needs revision so that someone who really does want to join us, can. The same requirements for the Guest Worker Visa would apply such as proficiency in English and a clean criminal record.
I think I can support eight of the ten. I can’t get behind two and three. Many would agree with Holub on no amnesty and many of the following:
–admitting the crime of illegal entry
–paying a big fine at least equal to what “coyotes” charge to smuggle people into the US
–going to the end of the line for citizenship eligibility
–having to wait twice as long to gain citizenship
–background check for criminal record
–demonstrating proficiency in English
–paying all back taxes owed
I don’t think families here illegally will agree with turning themselves in and paying big fines and voluntarily deporting themselves. Compliance will NOT be high. I have a problem with Number eight. Many, slip across the border and will take almost any job to survive; mostly jobs you and I won’t do.
I am in favor of amnesty. I know, I’m rewarding illegal behavior. This would be the second amnesty. The last one didn’ work because the Federal Government didn’t uphold its end of the bargain by sealing the borders. Let’s do it right. Seal the borders, grant amnesty and start a guest worker program. We can use the taxes these 10 to 12 million provide. I think amnesty for those already here is the humane thing to do.
I cannot go along with the amnesty move; it doesn’t ring true at any level as it side steps common sense. This is a tough issue and cannot be dealt with in a short comment; all the same, I say no to amnesty for illegal aliens.
TF, I understand. I willing to listen to alternatives, I just don’t think I’ve seen any viable alternatives.