The first thing to do about the immigration problem is to deal with the source of the problem. The IIUWs (illegal immigrants - undocumented workers) do not come here because it is fun to risk their lives crossing the border. They come for work. Therefore the focus should be on employment not the border. (The border should be secured but that should be done because of drugs and terrorists not IIUWs.)
Step one is to require employers to confirm the legal status of new employees. This requires that new employees prove their legal status when they take a job. It does not require that they carry “papers please” or any of the silly claptrap that you will hear from Rachel Maddow and Glenn Beck. More importantly new IIUWs will not have any reason to come.
Step two involves taking down those two signs that we have on the border: “help wanted” and “no trespassing”. Replace them with one sign that says “help wanted apply at the front door”. That is, in addition to regular immigration, we need to establish an expanded and accessible “work visa” program. Apply, pass a background check similar to what is done for immigrants and receive a work visa. Perhaps for 3 years with an option for 1 renewal.
With those two things you have dealt with the essence of the long term problem. Now for the folks who are already here illegally. If you want to allow them to stay put them into the visa program. If you want them to leave, then look to why they came. Expand the requirement that new employees prove legal status and require that all employees of less than, say, two years service prove legal status, then 4 years and then 6 etc. Take away what they came here for and they will self deport. You do not need to “round up 11 million people”. This is scare talk by people who are either silly or else have an agenda that will not stand the light of day.
Of course we can just continue what we are doing now and let their employers use these folks to keep wages low and our politicians use their situation to incite our Hispanic citizenry.
Future Versus Past: Palestine, Russia, Freedom.
13 hours ago
The laws are already on the books ( see http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98164,00.html ) so now we are down to enforcement.
ReplyDeleteIt was my understanding that "verify that each new employee is legally eligible to work" did not include a requirement that the employer confirm legal status through the government's database. On a similar note I thought that the employer was not required to get confirmation from the government that the documents offered by the employee were valid.
ReplyDeleteIn any case you are right about enforcement. At least 5 consecutive presidents have neglected it.
You are correct. All the employer has to do is sign a "to the best of my knowledge" statement on the I-9 form that the potential employee is eligible to work. I tend to see that as a lack of (a means of) enforcement. I would agree the employer is the logical point of control and that we need, as you suggest, legislation or rules changes that require actual “verification” of eligibility to work.
ReplyDeleteDidn’t this come before the courts as an undue burden issue?