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Published – Brownsville Herald – 10/16/2005 Published in the National Publication of the Libertarian Party the LP News -November Issue.
There are few issues that stir the passions such as Immigration Reform does. Nearly every ethnic group, American Regional Interest, and political interest uses it as a way to recover waning status with their constituencies and to gain relevance and power. One only need look at the variety of pundits spewing solutions, from the sensible to the fear and hate mongers.
I am personally torn between, political idealism fostered by my immigrant Irish roots, and the sensibilities of lawful conduct, required by peace, order and national stability. Growing up in the sixties, serving in a war, followed by a 30 plus year career with the U.S. Customs Service and extensive work and travel in some of the world’s less orderly places, has instilled in me a real understanding of the necessity for the peace and order.
My idealistic nature tells me that any human being should be able to live and work anywhere in the world that there is a demand for his/her skills and talents at a livable wage. Each person develops unique talents and skills and should be able to make them available where they are most needed and therefore will secure the highest pay for that particular skill.
That’s where the issue becomes complicated! We must have peace and order but at what cost. The political reality is that whichever political administration attempts resolution, the ramifications will almost assuredly be costly in political terms.

The same reality is that something must be done before the tolerated lawlessness creeps into the day to day enforcement of other laws.
I have visited and lived in places where laws are there only to provide income for the officials that enforce them to circumvent. The national consciousness in those places is not equitable treatment for all; but just for those that can pay.
The issues that are ever present in the media are not that clear cut.
Rice University economist Donald Huddle argues that, in 1994, legal and illegal immigration drained $51 billion more in social welfare and job displacement costs than immigrants paid in taxes. On the other hand, the Urban Institute asserts that, immigrants contribute $25-30 billion more in taxes than they receive in services.
Clearly immigrants are straining the social infrastructure in some states. However, cutting them off from hospital care, schooling, and assistance creates conditions of serious poverty that are even more costly to deal with, not to mention the ethical issues such actions raise.
Immigrant workers are very unlikely to be the main reason for lower wage levels, fewer job opportunities, and poorer labor conditions for U.S. workers. As evidence of this, corporations pit workers against each other by threatening to move production to lower-wage locations if their employees make demands.
Before disaster befell the Gulf Coast the National unemployment rate was so low that it would have been described as full employment in the 1950’s, certainly whatever the numbers of undocumented workers, there was little evidence that they were taking jobs from other willing workers.
The real issue is that we are becoming a very rich and powerful third world country where our leaders want to become elite rulers and exercise unchecked power.
The only protections the masses have are fairly enforced laws enacted by our representatives (not created by the judiciary).
The first step to any resolution would be to create a taskforce led by Border Patrol officers and including officers and compliance examiners from other governmental entities to aggressively enforce the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA). Provisions in the law can be used to penalize employers who hire undocumented workers and contribute to the costs of assisting the workers to return home. I suggest that when news of such an action is confirmed, the numbers of new arrivals would be reduced to the point where Border Control focus, can realistically be placed on the real “bad guys”. I would also guess that a number of others would return home rather than be documented as criminals in the U.S. The overall result would be a much more manageable situation.
In examining both the Administration’s proposal to require that all the illegal entrants to the U.S. return home prior to any temporary worker application and that of McCaine – Kennedy that would provide a minimal fine prior to application for a temporary worker visa, I find that the resources required to effect any kind of meaningful official processing would never become available and the cost to the prospective worker would be prohibitive. I also predict that the increased undocumented entry activity, precipitated by the expectations of another amnesty, would continue to make reasonable enforcement unworkable.
I see the solution and a reasonable Immigration Policy, as a combination of both proposals after it becomes clear that our laws are being enforced.
Anyone who can secure employment at a price the worker will accept and the employer will pay (the employer can always move the operation overseas) can secure a temporary work visa subject to security concerns. Crucial to this, is that government should in no way become a match maker between workers and jobs. The existing grapevine works terrific and could be supplemented by commercial employment agencies. The government can then be the detached oversight in the process, not a participating party.
It seems to me that the taxpayer should never have his/her hard earned money confiscated to benefit other private interests. It already happens much too often.
The existing employee organizations could be expected to aggressively organize these new workers or otherwise apply sufficient pressure to remedy any wage or work condition disparities. The visa would be renewed indefinitely so long as the worker is employed or covered by unemployment insurance. The employer would be required to supply health benefits and be responsible for other costs so as not to be a burden to the government.
Critical is the need that the processing of applications be accomplished within a reasonable time, something that is not even a dream today. Approved visas routinely take years. Recently retired INS officials can be designated practitioners to assist in the process with the costs being born by the interested parties.
After the worker has been employed and has remained a responsible member of the community for five years, application could be made for permanent residence which would include any immediate family members. This would also provide eligibility for any public benefits that are available. After a further five years the permanent resident would be expected to seek naturalization or return to the status as a temporary worker. I would suggest that this temporary worker / permanent resident / citizen concept, become the only path to residency and citizenship.
The employers, being the primary beneficiary should be responsible for any liabilities and other costs associated with the temporary worker not the public pocketbook.

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