Hey, here is one way to get more voter support

[kandrathe]

I guess that's what I'm asking about. Maybe they're lazy, maybe they're stupid, or maybe there's no good solution. (Or all three, of course.)

Or, none of the above.

I think the biggest issue with our border is that everyone in power benefits from the exploitation of illegal immigrants. It has become an issue only because of the recent prominence of Mexican drug cartel violence spilling into the US. They have no rights, and as such are victims (with little recourse) of exploitation both by our government systems, companies, and by individuals.

Do we care about human trafficking? I don't think so, because it happens everywhere and not just across that border. We have as big, or a bigger issue with human trafficking from Asia.

Do we (the Feds) care about illegal immigrants? No. In fact, in the border states it has become a joke -- the Brewer brouhaha in Arizona is due to the local and State police attempting to enforce the Federal immigration laws.

The politicians are making hay with the immigration issue from the growing voting bloc of Latino-Americans. Which, in fact, is why it's on our radar again. Barrack Obama is making political hay, without resolving the issue.

So what do we do?

To clean up the current mess, I think;
1) If you are a juvenile, you will go wherever your parent(s) go -- If one stays in the US you can stay too.

2) If you are illegal, and have been convicted of a violent crime you will be deported (once you've served your time).

3) (Application for Permanent Residence) For a period of one year, if you have lived in the US for 10 years, and have been an otherwise productive contributor to the society you can apply for a Green Card. This will require documentation of your source of income, taxes paid, and etc. Amnesty will be shown to anyone having illegally employed the illegal immigrant. The Green Card to Citizenship process is already in place.

4) (Application for Temporary Residence) If you have lived in the US for less than 10 years or cannot otherwise prove your residence in the US for the past 10 years, and have been an otherwise productive contributor to the society you should apply for Guest worker status. Fundamentally guest workers (going forward) should have a visible, legal means of support, and demonstrate that with a legal job history, and taxes paid. I would give them a short time period (possibly 3-6 months) -- during the application and review process to demonstrate how they will legally support themselves. Once they've been through the review process, and have proven they can sustain themselves in the US and will be positive contributors, then they should get full guest worker status which would give people a 5 year (license) period to live and work in the US -- it should be renewable, and a path to citizenship once they have a documented history of gainful participation. Each application will need to be scrutinized with in person interviews by the immigration department to determine if this person will not negatively impact our society. Of course that is subjective, so guidelines will need to be made to determine "who do we want to be here". No one would be deported unless they were found to be undesirable (whatever that means).

5) Once there is a working process for guest workers, and sufficient time has been given for people to get themselves legal, then illegal immigrants should be deported (to their local embassy) until they follow the guest worker process. Anyone enabling illegal immigration will need to be dealt with harshly. Of course, this will need to be reviewed on a case by case basis (there will be exceptions e.g. older retired couple, living with and supported by their kids, etc).

6) You can deal with the border incursions more effectively (and harshly if needed) when otherwise decent people will opt to use legal channels, rather than subject themselves to the abuses of the coyotes.

So, what does this mean for US citizens? Nothing really changes for from the way things work now, only perhaps things would be simpler. Creating a more streamlined process for what would otherwise be illegal immigration may slightly affect the employment rate (of US citizens) for low-skilled jobs. Currently in the US, the H visa (temporary worker) requires a business to sponsor the individual. Opening that up by putting the onus on the individual to show means of employment, and an employment history will reduce the barriers the individuals. It would also protect those H visa holders who want to change companies, or allow them to continue to stay if the company finds they are no longer needed. Currently, if an H visa holder has their employment terminated (for any reason) they lose their visa.