Immigration Policy
We all know that we live in a global environment and
marketplace. However, we still must compete for nearly everything. If we assume
that we will not return to the days of conquering and pillaging then we must
have a foreign policy that conveys our values, limits and desires. It is only
fair that our allies and enemies both understand clearly what our policy
boundaries are and why. If everyone knows the rules then there is a greater
chance that we will get high levels of compliance and cooperation. We must lead
from a position of strength and pride.
We must start with our Immigration Policy. Today, it seems
we have no concrete immigration policy. We are fighting internally about it and
states are trying to address their problems because the feds won’t. We can’t
display this front to the rest of the world or we will never be taken seriously
and we will definitely be taken advantage of. Knee jerk Executive orders by the
President to garner political gain are not helping either. Just look at the
current violence and unrest in the Middle East to see how well our current
policy is working.
So what do we want? I say let’s go back to the constitution
and its basics. We want to be a land of opportunity for all. We
welcome all nations and religions. We will take your sick, your tired
and your unhappy/oppressed. We will do all this but on our terms. And
here are the terms:
For those already here illegally:
·
We welcome you to stay if you do all of the
following: (your probation)
o
Apply for amnesty now (provide a 6 months
window)
o
Apply for citizenship immediately
o
Serve a 2 year probationary period – credit for
time here once no criminal record; paid taxes;
pass drug & language testing and have a high school education
o
Learn our language – be able to speak, read and
write it proficiently (pass a test)
o
Begin to pay taxes immediately – required when
you get amnesty – no exceptions
o
Obey all our laws or get deported immediately –
no felony violations during probation
o
Attain at least a GED proficiency by the end of
your probation period
o
Pass our citizens test (to be revised and
improved)
o
Pass random drug tests annually
o
Establish residency in a state and remain there
till you are made a citizen (except for normal travel – including 2 trips a
year to your homeland)
o
You cannot possess a firearm or apply for a gun
license in any state
o
You cannot vote in any local, state or federal
election until you are a citizen
o
Your application will be denied if you have a felony
criminal record here or in your home country – no exceptions. You will be
deported immediately.
o
You must carry proof of your identity and status
till you are granted citizenship.
For those that wish to come to our great country legally: (your
probation period)
·
You must apply through our normal process (to be
changed and streamlined)
·
Our goal will be to give you an answer re your
application within 6 months
·
If your application is accepted you must have a
sponsor or family member who is already a citizen & pays taxes. The sponsor
can also be a domestic US company that meets all requirements including
financial responsibility for you during your probation period.
·
Once verified you can come to the US on a
special visa for your probation period and that visa calls for compliance with the
following:
o
You can work and should
o
You can be a full time student (verifiable every
quarter)
o
You must do either 1 or 2 or both (there will be
special exceptions for retired applicants with appropriate financial means or
sponsorship)
o
You must pay taxes if you work
o
You must pass random drug tests annually during
your probation period
o
Your application will be denied if you have a felony
criminal record here or in your home country – no exceptions. Or if you get
convicted while in the probation period. You will be deported immediately in
either circumstance
o
You must pay for your own healthcare (unless you
marry an American citizen or have insurance provided by your US employer) until
you become a citizen. Failure to do so means you will be deported and your application
will be denied for 5 years.
o
You must pay for your education & that of
your dependents till you are citizens (again your US employer can pay it for
you)
o
You must choose a state in which to reside and
remain there till your citizenship is approved. (except for normal travel –
including 2 trips a year to your homeland)
o
You cannot possess a firearm or apply for a gun
license in any state
o
Learn our language – be able to speak, read and
write it proficiently (pass a test)
o
Obey all our laws or get deported immediately if
convicted of a felony
o
You cannot vote in any local, state or federal
election until you are a citizen
o
Any children born to you during this
probationary period are not citizens of the US till you are granted
citizenship. If you are not granted citizenship your children will be given the
choice to stay and be US citizens or be deported with you
o
Pass our citizens test (to be revised and
improved)
o
You must reside in the US for at least 2 years
after your application is approved meet all the requirements stated above, not
be convicted of any felony crime and pass a mental health and final
drug/language tests.
·
The only exception to these immigration rules
will be if a immigrant is granted political asylum by the federal government
(under guidelines that will be changed and improved)
By providing a simple set of rules that everyone understands
and by giving local authorities in each state the power to monitor and enforce
these rules we can simplify the immigration process and welcome all nations to
our great country. We have to be very firm in administering this policy and we
can’t allow individual states to weaken these laws or our policy will never
work. Amnesty for all who are here illegally is a key piece of this policy as
is immediate deportation of any illegal alien if they don’t follow the rules.
The only gap in the immigration policy is a Day Worker
Program. Many border businesses need daily workers to provide skilled labor. We
have to allow for this if we are going to stay competitive in the global
economy and maintain great relations with our border nations – Canada and
Mexico.
To this end I propose the following:
·
Employer may apply for said Day Worker program
·
To qualify they must have a clean immigration
record, prove their need for such laborers and submit financials proving they
can take on the liability of the program
·
Employers must accept full responsibility for
these laborers while they are in the US and must provide transportation to and from
the border daily. This responsibility comes with significant fines if a laborer
enters the US illegally and remains past their daily allotment. Additionally,
the employer can lose their license to participate in the Day Worker program if
they have multiple violations.
·
All day workers will be issued special
identification and must have it on them at all times while in the US. All
workers ID’s will be scanned and recorded daily with records being submitted
electronically to the Border patrol by the employer. All of this will be done
at the employers’ expense.
·
The border patrol will have the right to conduct
random checks at any employer in the program to verify all workers ID’s and
counts. Violations will incur immediate fines.
·
Employers have the right at any time to assist a
worker in applying for citizenship as long as that employer or a suitable
sponsor is chosen and meets all the requirements stated above.
Since we have now established a fair and balanced
immigration policy we now have to protect our borders. This is no easy task at
all. Here is what I propose:
·
First and foremost let it be known we will not
tolerate illegal entry into the US
·
We will catch and deport all offenders. We will
provide rewards to employers and individuals for turning in illegal aliens.
·
If you commit a crime during your attempt to
enter our country or while you are here illegally we may, at our discretion,
prosecute you or just deport you.
·
We will prosecute to the fullest extent of the
law (to be revised and improved) any parties involved in aiding any person in
entering the US illegally. (I propose life in prison for all Coyotes even on a
1st offense)
·
If you are caught more than twice trying to
immigrate illegally we will tag you before deporting you. (Some form of
permanent marker identifying you as a multiple offender)
·
Allocate more funds for border security –
technology, drones and staff. This would be a combination of federal and state
funds
·
No state law can circumvent federal immigration
policy
·
Create tougher laws for employers/individuals
who employ illegal aliens (1st offense a fine based on time of
employment but not less than $5000 per year; 2nd offense mandatory
jail time of 6 months and double fines; 3rd offense is a felony with
3 – 10 year jail sentence and fine of 50%
of individual/company net worth)
·
Better/tougher electronic reporting on
immigration status by employers especially those in border states
·
A satellite program designed specifically to
monitor our borders 24/7 – outsourced if necessary
I know this is a very detailed policy certainly more so than
the others I have offered up to date but I saw no way to lay this out at a high
level. I apologize if it is too deep in the weeds but I think it is a critical
issue for America and has a huge impact on our economy. It also sets up nicely
for what I believe should be our new foreign policy – that’s coming next.