Sensible Immigration Reform
The United States stands out as the greatest example of the benefits of immigration - to democracy, freedom, and economic development. Unfortunately, our current system is broken, and cries out for reform. We need a realistic and sensible system that reduces exploitation, secures our borders, respects the rule of law, and promotes long-term American prosperity. Sensible Immigration Reform requires a three-part approach. REGULATE, ENFORCE, and GROW.
(1)REGULATE undocumented foreign nationals who have established roots in our country, by offering an earned path to towards legalization.
(2)ENFORCE penalties against employers who exploit unauthorized workers and undercut fair wages for U.S. workers (3)GROW our economy with a vibrant workforce, built on the American tradition of innovation and business productivity.
WHY REGULATE?
(a) The immigration status quo is a disaster. Our current myopic fixation on border enforcement has created a huge underclass of over 12 million people living outside our normal social and legal system, exploited by shady employers who drive down fair wages and create unfair competition for U.S. workers. We need to get these people out of this permanent darkness to become open members of our society, learning English, going to school, getting insurance, and paying taxes like the rest of us.
(b) Many of these undocumented workers have deeply established lives here, with jobs, property, many years of residence, and US citizen children. Many came here as children through no fault of their own, but know no other home.
(c) Mass deportation is simply impossible. Even an army of hundreds of thousands of Immigration Agents, kicking in doors and tearing families apart, would not unearth most of these people.
WHY ENFORCE?
(a) Lax enforcement against unscrupulous employers creates an unfair magnet to attract undocumented workers. We need enforcement to control our borders.
(b) It is unfair to U.S. workers to have to compete for jobs with exploited undocumented workers, who often are not paid fair wages, do not pay taxes, and do not comply with labor regulations.
(c) Openly disdained employment rules cause disrespect for the immigration system, and for the rule of law. Rules must be enforced to foster respect for a realist and sensible immigration system that rewards those who play by the rules.
WHY GROW?
(a) Immigration has been an essential element to America's strength and economic growth for over two hundred years. We need to build on this tradition by attracting the best and most skilled workers around the globe, to continue America's leadership in economic innovation and productivity.
(b) We need to be realistic about our genuine labor needs. If there are millions of unfilled job opportunities on one side of the border, and millions of unemployed willing workers on the other, the two will try to find a way to get together. If our American companies cannot hire the best-educated and most creative workers, those pacesetters will go to work for our competitors.
(c) We have serious demographic and fiscal challenges in the coming decades, with a huge population of pending retirees and giant unfunded obligations, such as Social Security, Medicare, and the National Debt. We will need a large, vibrant and productive workforce to help face this challenge, and the right immigrant workers can play a vital role.
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