Common Sense Immigration Reform

What with terrorists trying to get here, drug cartels bringing in almost 80% of all narcotics, and other "illegal" or "undocumented" workers driving American citizens out of the workforce, immigration reform is perhaps the most crucial issue of our time. The problem lies in the fact that it appears no two people, let alone parties, can agree on how to fix the problem. That is strange, when you consider all it requires is a modicum of common sense and a willingness to be reasonable. The following plan provides all sides with a good deal of satisfaction - those on the right get a secure border, while those on the left get a system that allows honest, working families to to come here and better themselves. It also protects American citizens from terrorists, gang members and those who "steal" jobs from citizens who may need those jobs. All sides get about 80% of what they want.

Bear in mind, NO reasonable, common sense plan is going to give everyone everything they want. The best we can do is compromise in a way that addresses the most important issues for all sides. This plan does that. Any person unwilling to "give" a little is someone who has nothing to offer.

I propose the following, and if any politician finds fault with it, I request they state those objections AND THE VALID REASONS FOR THEM! The first portion of this plan may not make liberals happy, but the second portion addresses those concerns.

So, here are the main points:

1) Securing the border
2) Providing honest, hard working families with the opportunity to stay here and work
3) Weed out the criminals, terrorists, and gang/cartel members
4) Prevent "illegal" immigrants from participating in the welfare system
5) Prevent them from voting in any election, or holding any public office
6) In no case shall any adult person who came here illegally be permitted to achieve citizenship, only legal work status, since they knowingly broke the law to get here. Children under the age of 16, brought here WITH their parent(s), may apply for citizenship at age 18 and follow the same process as any other legal immigrant. If children of illegal immigrants, upon reaching adulthood shall choose to serve at least 4 years in the United States military, and serves honorably, they shall be granted citizenship.

First and foremost, we must secure the border only because of the terrorist threat. If not for terrorists trying to access our soft targets, it really would not be necessary under this plan to secure the border. But in these times, no immigration reform can be put into place until the border is secure - we must stop the bleeding before we can heal the body.

Once we are relatively certain that our borders are capable of keeping out terrorists (yes, I know - they have other ways of getting in, but THIS plan is about immigration reform, not just national security), we can then deal with the immigrants already here and confront the visa system and other methods of entry to our nation. And here is how we effectively deal with those "harmless immigrants" already here.

First and foremost, all illegal immigrants who are criminals, gang members, and/or have been convicted of any felony would be immediately deported. If they ever return, they will be imprisoned for not less than 5 years, and then deported again. And if they still return, they are imprisoned for 10 years.

No reform measures shall be put into place that will do any harm to American citizens. Period. Americans come first. Always. To this end, we should first make it unlawful to provide any type of welfare or public assistance to anyone without legal status to be here (green card, for example). If they are here for work, and make a better life for their families, then they need to work. Nor can their children attend school unless the parent(s) are following the rule of legal status (see below).   And then we must make it a serious felony for anyone to employ any illegal immigrant without legal status. Anyone employing any other person must be required under penalty of law to verify the legal status of any applicant. If someone hires an immigrant who does not have legal status, that person shall be fined heavily and, if a second offense, jailed for a minimum of one year. This weeds out those who are not here to improve themselves (criminals, terrorists and cartel/gang members), and forces all others to obtain some form of legal status.

Now here is why this is important - if a person cannot find work, they will self-deport, since they need to eat.

So far, this plan is not adequate for those with a liberal mindset, so here's where we accommodate them in a common sense way.

At this point, every immigrant who does not have legal status will have a choice - gain legal status, or leave. And this plan makes it a simple matter to gain legal status.

First, every illegal immigrant who chooses to stay must apply for a "semi-permanent" worker visa. Immunizations will be provided and a records check will be done, and anyone with a felony will be deported. And if they ever return, it's 5 years in prison. And anyone with any ties to terrorist or cartel organizations would be deported or jailed, depending on the circumstances of that association.

Hard working, honest families will receive their work visa which would allow them to compete for jobs and gain employment. With a work visa, immigrants may work and send their children to school. But there is still a hitch - they must be self-supporting. If they fail to be self-supporting, their work visa would be revoked and they would be deported.

Now here is an important facet of the plan that no one is talking about, but it is critical - paying taxes versus no access to welfare benefits, or voting in our elections. Our nation was founded because we did not accept "taxation without representation", and we cannot subject others to that, either. So, here is a "new bone" for both the right and the left - in exchange for these immigrants having to be self-supporting and unable to collect from the public coffers, and to prevent them from voting (they are not citizens), these immigrants would be free from income taxes (local, state & federal), but they would be required to pay  FICA/Medicare taxes, so they can collect Social Security & Medicare benefits upon retirement and do not become dependent upon welfare. This gives liberals a strong point - these immigrants, not being taxed, will have an even better chance of bettering themselves and their families. But only if they are self-supporting!

To further insure these worker immigrants do not vote, they may obtain state or federal issued ID's, including a driver's license, provided that all state and federal ID's are "chipped" - embedded with a chip that identifies the legal status of the individual. A legal immigrant is not a citizen, and cannot vote, and their chip will indicate that. All people choosing to vote would be required to produce such an ID and all voting centers would be required to check the ID against the state/federal database. There is no LEGITIMATE reason for not requiring a valid ID, provided that at least one form of state/federal ID is available free, upon request, to any citizen or immigrant with a work visa. Any citizen, or immigrant with a work visa, who is unable to appear to make such a request and prove their legal status may demand that their local or state government provide them with the means to appear and apply, at no cost to the individual.