The linked story demonstrates why we need deep immigration reform for the LEGAL immigration process. Without a reasonable legal process, it's just tossing money down a well to combat illegal immigration. In this case, you have a couple who followed the legal process, and then did not correct a marital status change. In effect, they were penalized for getting married, since, you know, we don't like stable families in this country.
This is actually relatively common--if a couple applies under a fiancee visa and then choose to get married in the long-ass interim, they may be charged with immigration fraud and face deportation, even if it is discovered long after the fact.
The economics of the immigration dynamic make it even more ridiculous--people will continue to come and employers will continue to hire them as long as there is economic opportunity and demand. It makes no sense to stop that dynamic--which has bolstered our economy for centuries--with a muddled, maddeningly, life ruining, family separating legal immigration process.
The process should be quick and simple:
1. Register and demonstrate interest in coming to the U.S.
2. Demonstrate a plan to survive and work within the country.
3. Check-in several times over the next half-decade to confirm that your family unit is working and productive.
4. Receive citizenship.
With a streamlined, easy legal process, it will HELP sort the tiny minority of those who have ill-intention for our country from the massive majority who will provide the hard-working, adventureous spirit that all waves of immigration--no matter their ethnicity or national origin--have provided us.
But if not, let's be real. It would take me about 5 seconds to decide to illegal enter this country if it was necessary to keep my family together and fed.
And I speak from familial experience.
It almost sounds like you're arguing free market principles here. Like too much government regulation over labor has created a massive black market for labor... and the solution is reducing the government involvement to what is absolutely necessary and allow the free market forces to do what they do best. Amazingly enough in the process helping to bolster national security and allow greater protections for liberty.
Thumbs up!
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Glock21 Op/Ed
America's legal immigration process is a disaster.
I'd like to remind Glock21 that all that "government regulation over labor" is what has given us safe workplaces and reasonable limits on the workday. We already know that there are plenty of people in the world willing to come to this country and work in illegal immigrant conditions for 15 hours a day, very little pay, and live 12 people to a one bedroom apartment. If we have zero limits on immigration, and that seems to be what xian is suggesting, those wouldn't be unusual working conditions, those would be the norm. Outsourcing would go away. Manufacturers wouldn't need to outsource, they could just ship in a truckload of immigrants who would be happy to work for an American minimum wage in just about any job.
I think the problem is that everyone says illegal immigration is bad, but when it comes to mowing the lawns and cleaning the toilets and picking the strawberries we just turn a blind eye to who's actually doing it. That's why I'm always skeptical when people talk about immigration reform. We rarely enforce the laws we have now, so I doubt any "reformed" laws would get paid much attention to.
Narc... I was arguing for necessary regulations... not zero regulations.
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Glock21 Op/Ed
Yeah, while some groups will attempt to use freer legal immigration as a way to sabotage working conditions, this would give us the opportunity to more widely enforce humane working conditions. With the current situation, the huge population of undocumented immigrants aids unethnical employers in blackmailing their employees against reporting extreme violations.
Rather than saying, "We want you here, but we might deport you at anytime so keep any abuses to yourself!" we should say, "If you work here, you are protected like anyone else helping build this country."
So this could conceivably prevent the slave plantations in Florida and countless other squalid working conditions.
Will it initially exacerbate relations between newer immigrants and working class Americans? Sure. That's what history has shown us. But then those groups become cohesive and the tensions ease.
On December 1st, 2007 at 11:21 PM, xian said:
Yeah, while some groups will attempt to use freer legal immigration as a way to sabotage working conditions, this would give us the opportunity to more widely enforce humane working conditions. With the current situation, the huge population of undocumented immigrants aids unethnical employers in blackmailing their employees against reporting extreme violations.
Rather than saying, "We want you here, but we might deport you at anytime so keep any abuses to yourself!" we should say, "If you work here, you are protected like anyone else helping build this country."
So this could conceivably prevent the slave plantations in Florida and countless other squalid working conditions.
Will it initially exacerbate relations between newer immigrants and working class Americans? Sure. That's what history has shown us. But then those groups become cohesive and the tensions ease.
Cosign
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Glock21 Op/Ed
I realize that; sorry if it was unlear. Xian appears to be arguing for zero regulations.
Sorry, I didn't address the employer end in my initial post since I assumed that companies would be able to skirt around laws the way they would with a temporary worker program. Obviously, any potential Americans should receive the same workplace protections that American workers do. Otherwise, it will simply be a case where companies exploit these new workers.
I do believe it would be worth studying where the magical "incentive to work" line is. Obviously some government programs to support those who can substantiate full-time or greater work would make sense from both an economic and civil rights perspective.
Unfortunately, many employers are just too self-profit focused to see long-term economic benefit.
the government illegalaliens all citizens - lol its a balance-of life of the game of life- youare not just players you are also marks - step outside of all this political drama- and get real if you have immigration questions click here http://www.deportation-solutions.com/eloy/index.php