The immigration debate is getting louder again as the 2012 presidential election is set to begin (face it, the day after the mid-term, it’s on). Here’s what I think.
Closing America’s borders is impossible. They are too long, often too remote, and the temptation to enter the U.S. (it’s where they keep the money and jobs) is too strong. Admitting this means admitting that America’s current immigration policy is unenforceable.
Unenforceable laws should be changed. We learned this during prohibition. Adding more unenforceable laws (hi Arizona) only serves to increase the burden on a law enforcement network that is already overtaxed.
There are options to changing the laws. We could conquer the rest of North America. If everyone is American already, immigration becomes moot. That’s a lot of territory though, and Brazil, Argentina and Chile are sure to take offense. That means taking, or at least subduing, South America too. I don’t think the European Union would much care for the American invasion of Canada either. Queen Elizabeth is on their money still, after all. This is probably a bad idea. Let’s set it aside.
How about this? We could invite the other North American nations to join the United States. You never know; there might be some interest if the deal was right. Everyone votes. Each smaller nation becomes a state. Mexican states become American states, as do Canadian provinces and territories. Congress adds seats to accommodate the new populations (don’t be surprised if southern Canada and northern Mexico break into smaller states to buy their highly populated areas a few more Senators). Everyone learns English (everyone in the world is going to have to know English in another fifty years) and at least one of the other two major North American languages in school. Everything else could be worked out in congress and with elections. We could even change the name; how about the United States of North America? Do you think Colombia would mind if we were Columbia? Probably. How about Lincolnia? Maybe one of the native tribal languages has a strong word that means “home” or “land”. I think even the politicians could find something to like about this idea. Liberals get to deliver wealth and equality to developing areas and conservatives will have vast new populations of people who are very concerned about maintaining state’s rights and a weak federal government. Ok, ok… I know this is another science fiction idea.
There is no way around it; U.S. immigration policy has to change. Here’s my real solution. Anyone born in North America is welcome to live and work in the United States. When immigrants cross the border, they will be registered, given tax I.D. numbers and sent on their way. They will pay taxes like everyone else. They will obey the law, like everyone else. If they commit crimes, they’ll be prosecuted like everyone else (which we’ll be able to afford after we implement prison reform… but that’s another post). North Americans will be allowed to visit their home nations as often as they like. After five years or so of a consistent, stable, productive life in the U.S., a path to citizenship will be offered. Anyone who completes four years of military service will be offered citizenship. If a service member on the citizenship track dies in honorable service (not in a car crash on the way home from the grocery store), his or her family will be offered citizenship. No one convicted of a felony on U.S. soil will be offered citizenship, but a criminal offense will not automatically be grounds for deportation either. Misdemeanor convictions reset the timetable for citizenship. Immigration policy for citizens of non-North American nations will remain the same.
A caveat: workers may bring their spouses and their children as dependents, but not their parents. This may seem harsh, but America’s current entitlement systems cannot sustain the burden of an elderly, non-participatory population.
Honest people will enter legally. Honest companies will employ legal workers. There are already laws on the books that deal with dishonest employers and illegal immigrants. With the vast majority of workers entering legally, law enforcement agencies will be able to enforce existing laws. The only people dying in the desert trying to enter the country illegally will be drug dealers (at least until we rethink the war on drugs… yet another post).
Some people will complain that open borders will make it easier for terrorists to enter. This would be true, if the borders weren’t already like a sieve. I suggest that he registration process at the border will have a better chance of catching terrorists than a barbed wire fence.
Some people will be concerned that Real Americans will lose their jobs to new immigrants. Tough shit. By the way; you screaming warriors of freedom look pretty silly cowering there behind the lacy skirts of equality. Real Americans cherish freedom above all else, right? Well cowboy, freedom means competition. Man up, Real Americans. Earn your jobs. You’ll be proud that you did and the country will be better for it. A competitive workforce means higher productivity. Higher productivity leads to a strong economy. A strong economy creates more jobs… and that’s good for everyone, even Real Americans.
Some people just don’t want a bunch of Mexicans in their town. Those people are too stupid to rebut.
Some people will be concerned about the exodus of higher quality workers from Central American nations to the United States and the economic disaster they might leave in their wake. I’m concerned about this too. I want to believe that more opportunities will be available for younger Central American workers once their more established elders move to the U.S. to earn more money. I want to believe that a U.S. economy, strengthened by an influx of Central American labor, will invest in the home nations of its workers in order maintain the flow of quality workers. Honestly though, that may just be another science fiction answer, no more likely than the second option above (the one without all the war).
Tell me what you think? Do you have anything to add? Do you have a better solution all together?
Jack Bronn was born in Illinois, raised in Florida, misses his home in New Hampshire, dreams of living in New York, and resides with his wife and son in North Carolina. He writes.
Love to read such things, they always interest me and usually I have a question: why?
Actually, its where they USED to keep the money and jobs. Now its all in Manhattan.
Manhattan still counts. I read today that TARP may end up costing taxpayers little or nothing… which should mean that business is starting to rebound. The money should start flowing again soon. I know that’s a lot of “may” and “should”… we’ll see. I already wrote the post about money sitting in piles.
Well Jackie, this stuff will just float around in my skull unless I let it out. Better on the web than in my head. Glad you liked it, hope you’ll come back.
I am just curious what will be next. Usually people think only about themselves but this could really change because we have such people who partake their knowledge and information – thank you!
Love your site man keep up the good work