Fixing the Illegal Immigration Mess

Here’s how a solid immigration plan would look like [Florida Senator Marco Rubio proposed something similar to this in 2013]:

1. First and foremost, the United States government would create real border security. In 2006, President Bush sent 6,000 National Guard troops to the border; today there are 300 – why? Given how the Secret Service has acted of late and the general state of the TSA, the federal government’s action does not look promising. Perhaps, the states should be allowed to maneuver resources to the border if they wish. But, in all honesty, if the government can set up a website for millions of health insurance accounts, it can certainly station some troops on the border.

2. All immigrants with a felony should be deported. The United States should not exclude people from the country if they are poor – that’s ridiculous. But, if they have a significant criminal record, the United States should not think twice about sending those folks back to whatever country from which they came.

3. Harsh fines should be imposed upon businesses and corporations that do not adhere to immigration laws. It’s amazing that we are angry with people who want to come to the United States, but not with the businesses that illegally and, in most cases, willfully hire illegal workers. Those who want to send all illegal immigrants back make good points about wages being depressed by President Obama adding an additional five million people into the legal marketplace. But, the source of that situation needs to be addressed first and foremost. We should be no more tolerant of Big Business than we are of Big Government.

4. Finally, illegal immigrants should be given a chance to stay permanently and legally in the United States. They should be required to pay a fine of $10,000 or leave the United States, go back to their country of origin, and then be given a guaranteed visa six months after their departure date. The reality is that the United States border with Mexico is not properly defended. These people have set up their lives in the United States and, unless, they are criminals, they have contributed to our country in some productive way. The truth is no politician really believe the eleven million illegals will ever be deported.

5. People who are naturalized through this process should not receive any entitlement benefits from the federal government, including Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment assistance.

My parents came to the United States as immigrants [legally] from Romania in 1986. Perhaps, that is why I am more sympathetic to illegal immigrants than most Americans. I do think the United States should stop the flow of illegal immigrants, but ask more from itself [border security] and its corporations and businesses than from those who want a piece of the American Dream. Let me conclude by saying that I believe in law and order. It is the lifeblood of society. But, let us not make crossing the Rio Grande into the United States the unpardonable sin.