Immigration, Amnesty, Guest Workers and Politics
Immigration reforms weren’t a particularly potent issue for either the Republican or Democratic Parties in this year’s election. For the cynical, the cause was that neither party wanted to risk alienating, no pun intended, the Hispanic vote; for the realist, because neither party has a particular feasible solution to what is one of the more challenging issues of our day.
That being said, the news that President Bush is once again going to consider pressing for a guest-worker program, whereby euphemistically referred to foreign workers, otherwise know as illegal immigrants, would be eligible for a three year work visa, renewable once, despite having been in the U.S. illegally. It would be contingent on their meeting qualifications, most notably being employed.
The issue is of course divisive. Tom, David, Digger and David A. have posted on the issue, as have many others I’m unaware of. Should the program be supported, and if so, why?
First, let’s acknowledge that the intent of the program is to give a legal status to those who are in the U.S., and working, illegally. There is great merit to the argument that we have laws concerning how to immigrate and while many wait patiently to join come to America, any effort to support or legitimize those who’ve subverted the law to be here, primarily aided by their governments policies and their natural proximity to the U.S. is wrong.
Second, let’s acknowledge that both fiscally and morally the nation is not prepared to prevent illegal immigration or to deport known illegals in the U.S. We can’t get state and local police agencies to detain illegals long enough to report or turn them over to immigration authorities. Thus the primary financial impact comes from the services provided to immigrants and their families, many which are citizens after being born in the U.S., and from the mountains of dollars sent to Mexico by illegals to support their families that remained behind. From a moral perspective, the liberty of citizens is neglected by permitting tax dollars to support illegals. Yet we are unable to address tax policy or spending as a moral issue in general.
It may be possible, although unlikely, that this program will limit additional illegal immigration. It is more likely that the program will provide an additional incentive for illegal entry and for employers to hire illegals prior to their seeking a guest worker visa. Thereby exacerbating the issue. This being said, taken in conjunction with the detention, reporting and deporting of illegals outside the program, it may serve as a means to account for those who’ve entered the country and send a message that the system works in your favor to a greater degree than working outside the system does.
That brings us back to the real issue, enforcement of current law, and economic and civil constraints in Mexico which encourage the practice. Both from a moral and fiscal perspective it is unpopular and regarded as implausible. When politicians address the issue they find civil libertarians in opposition, fiscal hawks in opposition and the public quiet. No wonder we have a mess on our hands.
As for my personal view, close off the border, cease social, medical and education service offerings to illegals (not their children who are citizens), force Mexican officials to liberalize their economy, end the programs which support the transfer of money from the U.S. to Mexico, enforce the law so that companies and individuals do not hire illegals and by all means give local law enforcement the responsibility and authority to deal with illegals when found, as they would any other violator of the law. And if in conjunction with these measures we want to permit guest worker visas outside the current system for skilled workers, then so be it.
