Immigration Reform
by Orion Karl Daley


Comprehensive Immigration Reform:

"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" by Emma Lazarus

Today I get hate email about Immigration. An example is Human Events whose message is that "liberal media is advancing an open borders agenda that is threatening our sovereignty and security".

Immigration has suddenly out of no where become a overly important issue in the media and in advocacy groups. We heard in the news that Terrorists can access the United States easily at our borders; the ones that are caught are just sent back to try to get into our country again.

Other messages promoted are 'there is a lot of Human Trafficking of illegal immigrants'; and drugs come with immigrants and some are even used as mules; and that immigrants take our jobs away by working for less; and allot of times they come here to go on welfare by having a child born in the United States and just bring their ways and do not respect ours.

This could sound alarming, and in the media, and in advocacy groups is intended to be. Finally our sitting president after 6 years in office has presented a policy to address his alarming concerns. Part of his policy is in building walls on our borders, and wanting immigrants to periodically leave, and pay hefty fees of over $10,000 per year just to work here. I think George Jr. over looked the fact that 'immigrants' are not intending to just be visitors but want to become US citizens.


    From Dictionary.com: "a person who migrates to another country, usually for permanent residence."

Question: If immigration is not a smoke screen in order to distract from more pressing issues, such as the War in Iraq, or that we might end up going to war with Iran but yet still need to find a reason; or that our economy is on a serious Herbert Hoover like slippery slope; or that we do not have a real nationwide health care plan in place, and that Social Security is in quasi-moto state that the Bush administration would prefer to jettison away from taking the responsibility of gutting, and that there is a serious unemployment issue; and that the tax gap is getting unsurmountable; then perhaps we can consider that the stock market is getting critically overinflated like in Hoover's times; and that the Bush administration is being perpetually scrutinized by over sight committees in both houses of Congress over an endless and perpetually growing laundry list of alleged corrupt polices. With this in mind, then how should we account for the issues on immigration as noted below ?

Unfortunately, like another bolt coming lose that holds the our country together, Immigration has become a real issue for us today like many other things since November, 2000. Due mostly to the current state of our economy we can no longer afford the spirit of Emma Lazarus that is written on the tablet of the Statue of Liberty.

To be Americans, we must strive to be able to do this again once more. For if not, then what do we stand for, and what does Liberty Stand for, if we are to ignore the history of the American Way in light of the 'no mans' land in principles that we have been led into since November 2000. In other words, if we follow our current leadership, where have they not said, cut your losses and run ?

In the following there are:
A- The 7 Noted Issues in the Media

There are 7 that are noted. This is not to say, that there are 20 more, but the one's that have pushed my buttons the most.

"1- Terrorists can access the United States easily"

If this is such a major issue, then should we build walls on our Canadian borders too. After all could this have prevented 9/11, and can it actually slow down the volume of immigrants wishing to find a a future life here ?
    Any organization that wishes to terrorize us can easily forge documentation and papers to get through the airports. This is not to suggest that we should not use prudence at our borders, but perhaps have a better relationship with our borders, and perhaps with our foreign neighbors.

Okay, so lets instead consider bar coded passports. Besides preventing Identity Theft, the bar coded passports can be verified as authentic from the country of origin when given reciprocity.
    Countries can easily provide a reciprocal data base access where anyone can be authenticated as to who they say they are. Its a matter of collaboration and does not need to go to any extremes such as dna prints, etc. If we do this with our passports, and allow other countries such an access service, and prevent others who do not offer the same, eventually, it will attain parity. Whats more, why not login first to airport security to announce your travel plans and purpose. All flights normally do this, and if in question, limits the lines of travelers who need to be scrutinized. Can you imagine the amount of money saved at airports, as well as the amount of your time when traveling ?

So how about the National Guard to be used as is intended by the US Constitution ? In protecting our physical borders and ports, instead of erecting walls , why can't we just put the National Guard to proper use to assist border guards. Considering that we are supposed to have a Homeland Security issue, who else should we depend on in such a perceived crisis. You can dig under a wall, which is costly to put up in the first place, and this does not protect our ports from WMD or containers loaded unfortunately with people who wish to disparately arrive in our country.

"2- Immigrants are just sent back with no penalty to return again"

Being caught and sent back by our border guards, and National Guard, or being refused at the border over and over again can be regarded like getting driver license points. Consider that each and every time one is caught illegally 'entering' our space, that its a matter of time consuming processing as opposed to a quick return.
    The purpose is to discourage, and not to receive inhumane treatment. Each offense requires that one is processed for a period of time where they are photographed and finger printed. There is no fun in this when one's intent is to get into our country. When sent back, if one gets too many points, say starting at 10, then they will be locked up instead for a period of 60 days and then sent back. This should help dissuade coming through our borders illegally.
Please note, that this is not to say, do not let one apply for citizenship as one should if thats there sincere intent. This is something that we should acknowledge in all sincerity too; but it must be on terms that we as a nation can currently afford !
    We must also take into consideration the health, safety and welfare of the people that surge to our shores and are they actually seeking asylum. People that have survived crossing from Asia in shipping containers, or in an over ladened boat in reaching the coast of Florida can not be regarded the same as crossing over the border from Mexico, or Canada where they can be returned easily, and where their lives are not threatened by their place of origin. I hold that Justice must be blind, but its heart must see.

    For example, this is not intended to conflict with Amendment 13 of the Constitution on involuntary servitude or to imply some form of slavery. Although not also intended to be a paid vacation to a country club, those retained for a period of time are to be treated in a humane manner as all visitors to the United States.

This is addressed in section 'C' below.

"3- Human Trafficking:"

As this is unacceptable for a humane society, such business enterprises have to be dealt with harshly. There is no question that our prison systems are filled with people, but we should first fill them with the right people. I am glad that I am not a judge and jury as I would want to lock up those who cause such misery for the remaining part of their lives. This is something that our laws we must rely on, and rely on them, we should.

"4- Drugs come with immigrants"

This is addressed in #2, and 3 above. Drug Trafficking can be viewed as the same as Human Trafficking. What has to be in mind, is that people who are used a mules, can be under a threat of their life by human traffickers. Hence, guilt by association cannot be assumed, but clearly scrutinized.
    While operating in trust and ignorance that someone is going to get you to the promised land where you have paid a hefty fortune for it, the price can change, and one can, when compromised, be put in a life threatening position to do the bidding of the Trafficker. Further, one's children or loved ones can be at risk.

5- Immigrants take our jobs away

5.1 - This is some what of a misnomer. Thanks to the IRS, we know of at least 10.2 million illegal immigrants that file with an average annual wage of $20,000 US Dollars, and pay about $5,000 in Federal Income taxes. This adds about $50 Billion to our government and an over all $200 billion into our economy.

What is more important is to know actually how many unregistered immigrants are on our shores today, as if there are 20 million, then the contribution noted is cut by half, and if 40 million, cut by more, and if 50 million or more, then those contributing to our economy are negligible compared to those who are not.

5.2 - Most first generation immigrants have been hard working people in this country. This is also the fact today. They are likewise entrepreneurs. This picture of the Subway shop represents some European immigrants. In New York City, most small business owners are immigrants.

They are committed people that are not just visiting in order to send money out of the country to return to some other home someday to live off of their earnings. The majority wish to become, if not already, American citizens.

5.3 - Over the past few years our economy and jobs have actually been impacted by foreign labor forces who are willing to work at even less than previous market rates.

Technically, an immigrant cannot work here legally if they are taking a job away from an American person - that is the State Department rule. The perceived reason why there are so many immigrants working in certain sectors is because there is a shortage of required workers. So who told the State Dept. that there is a shortage of American workers, was it commercial enterprise ?
    In retrospect, an IT specialist previous to 9/11 could earn upwards of $90-100 dollars per hour. The same job description is now filled at $40-$50 per hour which is then shipped back to the country of origin, less local temporary living expenses. In a way, this could be viewed as 'Wage Gouging' by commercial interests, where if it was tried in the Automotive Industry, they would be answering to UAW representation.

For many businesses today, off shoring is the way to go in order to save money. I would hazard a guess that there is not a Financial, nor Insurance Institution in New York that does not offshore most of its labor; and hire locally foreign visitors at below fair market rates, and there is a significant volume of temporary visitors that work at below competitive wage rates in this country that do send their money back to their home.
    As noted to me by a friend, there are not enough visas to cope with the demand coming from the U.S. commercial s ector in wanting to offer lower wages that are considered viable for foreign labor forces that meet or exceed their standard of living from their country of origin. This year there were 55k H-1b work visas offered by the government and 150k petitions for individuals arrived at the State Department on the first day in the February - March 2007 time frame.

Further, when you call an Internet service help desk, more than likely you will be speaking with someone in India, or when using a tax preparation service, more than likely your very personal forms are prepared there too.

Most important in this is that the American US Dollar is being shipped out of this country, and is not spent in our local commerce. This is addressed in Balanced Trade and is considered a more significant issue in impacting our economy as opposed to benefiting it.

6- Immigrants come here to go on welfare by having a child born in the United States
Not every one wants to go on welfare, and people do have their pride. This elderly lady has seen the Moa Regime in China, and today searches in garbage cans for redeemable bottles and cans. She is a proud and gracious women who at the end of her day has two very large bags of recyclable garbage tied onto a poll that she carries away on her shoulder. For her this is better than earning 5 cents a day from where she came from. How she got here is also of concern. More than likely, she could have arrived in a shipping container. Besides the National Security issue about this, there is also the Humane issue that we also have to account for. Then we also have to account for what it really means to want to come here in the first place just to dig in our garbage.
She is no less of a human than you nor I, and has no reason to look at herself less than we. She works for her living, and does not ask for any one's sympathy as she is happy to have made it here in her lifetime.

Do we really think that people come here just to live on welfare ? This is the country where people can make something of them selves, where as noted, 10.2 illegal immigrants have made over $200 billion in revenue in this country, where most of this is invested in this country, and $50 Billion of this is paid in Federal taxes.

Compare this to the $130 billion that is to be borrowed from our Asian lenders for the 2007 war budget, that we as tax payers must pay back for our American commercial development interest along with brave American blood and lives in Iraq for 2008.

Immigration has also served as a new target to vent hate. Promoting the image of the lazy, worthless, going on welfare immigrant message can be like a new form of racism. To make the point, consider this thinking compared to how the Afro-American was viewed in WWII when our forces were segregated.
    Afro Americans were considered lazy and worthless, yet they were the Tuscany fliers who protected our day light bombers, and those who worked hard on building the Alaskan Highway. Given the opportunity anyone will rise to the occasion of dignity. Racism comes in all forms and immigration should not be regarded in such a trite manner.

At Universities, where higher learning is considered paramount, this form of racism is becoming so apparent as in our country today. We should look at it for what it is worth and not let it cloud the actual issues about immigration.
    In March 2007, like a mob, NYU Republican Club Students went out to find 'the Illegal Immigrant'. It turned out to be a foreign student, and not an immigrant. The students papers had expired by about a week. This student was humiliated as this NYU political group decided to be the Department of Immigration in their own way.

    These students overlooked the fact that NYU is located in a City, where its neighborhood business are for the most part owned and operated by immigrants. If these students use the copy shop, the pizzeria, or otherwise, it is rare to find a non-immigrant merchant.

    In higher learning, it demonstrates a dysfunctional student body where more history teachers might be helpful. The history teachers can start with Civil Rights and roll back further in to history. This might help the level of introspection of these students when it comes to listening to their political icons. These students might realize that , like the drug traffickers that use human mules, they too are being used in a similar way to spew hate for the sake of other's agendas.

    Simply - what is the difference between the hate demonstrated in the 'We Got Him' focus compared to McCarthyism, KKK, Nazi Germany, or what even is the attitude found currently in the Middle East. Can they aspire to more noble goals ?

    What ever their issues are with immigration, perhaps they should put more study into Economics. If you have a boat that fits 10 people, then putting 20 will capsize it. The size of the boat is based on Economy of Scale. This spells out the maximum number of passengers. Can these student political groups learn to build better ships ?

    When we hear that the Economy is booming, and yet have immigration issues, it might help to question who this economy applies to. As it is lopsided, perhaps the young leaders of political clubs might want to embrace an issue that will confront their future where immigration is only a symptom of it. Perhaps they could find a cure for the cause ?

    Being rich in the United States with a weak American dollar while heading towards a 3rd world economy does not say much. It is a luxury to be a college student compared to what awaits one after words. It is also an opportune time to get an education.

    What ever their political affiliations, hopefully its purpose is for a better tomorrow and not to use these students as mules for political polarization.
"7- They just bring there ways and do not respect ours"

The United States is made up of culturally diverse people. Most all have customs. Sometimes it is apparent that it is 'not like the old days when most of us looked like each other'.

One of the bones that Campaign 08 candidates can toss at us is that immigrants should learn English. This can be a legitimate concern, but from this Candidate, does not advocate that we can only have English, and only English, as that then puts our first Amendment rights on a slippery slope.
    Newt Gingrich is well known for promoting the idea that the official language of the United Stated should be English. This is like selling 'air' that we are already breathing as English is already the official language.

Lets also consider what speaking English means. If you were to put natively born US citizens from different areas of the country in the same room, it would take some time for each to understand the other's English due to local accents as is the case in every country.

To Press this point, unless you are a literary scholar of Shakespeare, and have studied the 'Tempest', what does "Bate, I beseech you, widow Dido" mean ?

In some cases, we should define 'What are our ways, and what are not our ways'. In the spirit of the First Amendment, we should further consider those ways which do not prevent other ways which do not conflict. For example, one of the biggest issues we have today in our communities is a matter of tolerance with each other. This is also not due to immigrants, but can even be due to politicians that want to create a red and blue divide in our country; or even others that create such divides to distinguish themselves while tossing the hungry for guidance and leadership the cake of illusion.
    An easy example is comparing the 'Newt Gingrich Conservative Green position' in accusing others as being the 'Liberal Environmentalism'. Newt's message is that the others are not real environmentalists, but he is. So much for being a Uniter, and not a divider.

We can also look at what Immigrants see when they get here as our ways. Part of the issue is how we are cast in terms of our diminishing self image. This is another reason why we must never forget the Dignity of Human rights as a principle.
    With the message, 'let them eat cake', it becomes easier and easier to defer on true regard, and responsibility by those responsible for upholding standards for our nation. A tangible example is how FDR gave a damed compared to Hoover which brought in his wake 'Hoovervilles' across our nation.

    For a government that is supposed to serve the people, like any service, it is easier to provide diminishing returns when led by incompetent management . This is then compounded by the growing complexity of our social structure that is then left to Capitalism at its worst to take advantage of.

    An earlier example is Reagan and Big Government, and how private enterprise should run our lives. Since Reagan, we now have a population of disenfranchised citizens called the homeless, and a government that is inept in serving such fundamental needs as health care.

    Consistent in form , today, the Government does very little for us, and we are given immigration as a focal point to vent our frustrations. Hence, we are told that the American Dream is only a dream.

    The more we are told to lower our expectations and standards, the more we ultimately devalue our own sense of self esteem. In other words, why are we told in media that we must have such a low value of life ? It is simply easier then to offer only diminishing returns by our leadership and those who they serve.

    Once upon a time when buying gas for your car, they would clean your hub caps check your oil, and clean the windshield. Like today's gas station attendants, election 08 candidates don't even have to demonstrate a plan, but press the message instead that you are lucky with what you get as leadership. So much for 'Hopes and Dreams' , as under the hood its dog eat dog !

    For the state of the nation, we have to look at collateral influences in our social structure and to whose and what purposes are served. Hence 'Transparent and Accountable Government' is a mandate for us to have any viable future.

    The only means of social welfare is through Government Reform, which will require in its evolution, Corporate reform. We are taught by them over time to be self serving for our very survival. For me this is so much the case as it explains why street crime ultimately is the prodigy of white collar crime.

    For Standards, it will take time, as we have been led into No Man's land.
8- "Should we follow the Bush plan"

On the books, for an accountant, it would look great to send illegal immigrants back to their place of origin each year, and then charge them a $10,000 if they wanted to return.
    "Under the plan, undocumented workers could apply for three-year work visas, which the plan dubs "Z" visas. They would be renewable indefinitely but renewal would cost $3,500 each time. The undocumented workers would have legal status with the visas, but to get a green card, making them legal permanent residents, they would have to return to their home country, apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate to re-enter legally and pay a $10,000 fine. " Source CNN.com
There are a few Constitutional hurdles that George Jr, and his council will have to address. They are:
    a- Section 9 Limits on Congress: 'The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think propoer to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax, or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.'

In addition in doing the math, 10.2 million people are expected to leave the country, and their stores, place of business, and homes, which jeopardizes the $200 billion annual revenue, and $50 billion in Federal taxes, just so they can return to where they originated, and come up with an additional $10,000 ( or $100 Billion ) somehow without their stores, places of business and homes in order to return to the world that they built which could be ransacked while in their absence.

Early on in George Jr's presidency, he noted that living in the White House was like being in a fish bowl. Perhaps this is where he was correct in his thinking.

I believe we can do better than that. See C below.

B- What are the real Issues about Immigration

On Immigration, in my opinion, our real issues pertain to a- our current Economy which can or cannot support the influx of immigrants; b- and then who really wants to swear an allegiance to this country and who really does not.

Lets keep in mind that in addition to the 10.2 million unregistered immigrants, that there are registered foreigners that are shipping about $800 Billion dollars out of our country every year legally, and that we can expect at least 7 million Iraqi refugees who are expected to immigrate here that like the legalized foreign work force don't have swearing an allegiance to this country in the forefront of their minds.

From the standpoint of Education, we also have to account for 10% of young students who do not currently speak English, and that this is expected to increase to about 25%, or 1/4 qtr of young students in the next 10 to 15 years.

We also have to account for the fact that many adolescent age immigrants do not have any education from their country of origin, and that many adults likewise do not either.

This also fits the case of many native born Americans, as after all what is speaking the English Language, and how many native born Americans do even get a High School diploma.

Speaking English does not say that we are literate, or that we have enough education to understand the exploits of 'Binding Arbitration Agreements' even in Cell Phone Contracts, or how not to be entrapped by Pay Day Loans from predatory lenders.

As a nation, we have much to improve in our quality of life, where we must put the breaks on in becoming a 3rd World Economy in the next few years or we are due to many new HooverVille's. And thats regardless of any immigrants that arrive on our shores and borders.

In the meantime, we are faced with an an ever more rush of immigrants that want to live in our country, and must have workable solutions for this as we recover what we once had; The American Dream.

C -Proposed Immigration Reform

1- Send Visitors home for now Before we can competently address immigration with respect to our economy, we must first address other aspects of how we are affecting our Economy in terms of labor.

From Balanced Trade:  There are a multitude of work visa based visitors in the USA that are not willing to swear an allegiance to our country, they are cheap, and for the most part, send their money home.

    This compromises free market trade in terms of pricing for the labor pool in this country. Any country that so wishes to import their labor force, should be required to not under price going rates for the standard of living in the United States, prove that an American cannot fill the job ( at the wage level that is, and has been for the job in question ) at not below earlier market rates; and provide the US with an equal export monetary value. For those institutions which offshore their labor, such labor should be taxed in order to encourage such institutions to hire American labor.

2- The Laws: Consider what are 'Fines' and what is 'Amnesty' when it comes to the existing residing unregistered Immigrants.

We have to look at what law was actually broken, and what purpose does it really serve; and do we want really want to know actually how many unregistered immigrants are in the USA. Consider, we could even have 20 million, where our infrastructure and economy is not prepared for this.

I view that it serves no real purpose to penalize those who are contributing to our economy, such as the 10.2 million taxpayers that bring in $200 billion each year into our country; and that we need to understand what we are really dealing with in terms of immigration. Witch hunts will not serve this purpose as people normally hide when in fear.

As the Economy is the primary factor for the level of immigration, in volume, that can be allowed, and in compliance with the noted proposed criterion ( a - e ) below, The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 so shall be proposed for revision by Congress. This is to allow the United States to have fair and just law for immigration subject to the level of economic burden that can be supported by our nation.
    a- For those who are paying taxes, should be able to register with out fear of reprisal. They are contributers to our economy, and therefore our country. For those who are not paying taxes, are in fact taxing our economy. In both cases we have to know, who is willing to swear an allegiance to our country, and who is not.

    b- Those not willing swear an allegiance to our country, and are employed, must leave until our economy can support their presence. In other words, when Americans are no longer out of work, can we afford to have foreigners here that want to ship money out of our country; and not before. That is regardless if they pay taxes or not. The jobs can be for Americans at realistic and fair market rates, that are not suddenly below earlier market rates, who can also pay the taxes, and not have to them need to collect unemployment.

      For example, an IT Specialist previous to 9/11 could earn upwards of $90-100 dollars per hour. The same job description is now filled at $40-$50 per hour.

    c- For those who are employed, and willing to swear an allegiance, allow them to do so. They want to be Americans, and this is what our country was built on.

    d- For those who are not employed, and willing to swear an allegiance, they are to register with the Government for employment; If below the age of 60, and able bodied, they are allowed 60 days of residence, and if not gainfully employed by then, must be sent to the country of origin, where they can await notification of employment. If they are not able bodied, and/or over 60, I think we really have to search who we are, if to want to send them away.

    e- For those not willing to register, and employed or not employed demonstrate no intent to work with the constraints that we must have for immigration. This includes Iraqi Refugees, or anyone who is not natively born in this country. They cannot be permitted to live here. In our current economy, We can only allow those who are, or intended to be Americans the right to live here under our laws as a Civil Society.

    As noted in A-2 above, each offense requires that one is processed for a period of time where they are photo graphed and finger printed. There is no fun in this when one's intent is come into our country. When sent back, if one gets too many points, say starting at 10, then you will be locked up instead for a period of 60 days and then sent back.

    Further as noted, this is not intended to conflict with Amendment 13 of the Constitution on involuntary servitude or to imply some form of slavery. Although not also intended to be a paid vacation to a country club, those retained for a period of time are to be treated in a humane manner as all visitors to the United States.

3- No Open Borders  We cannot just have open borders, and that is not recommended here either.

Our Borders must be secure, and in our current times, this is where the National Guard should be deployed. We can build walls, but this becomes a permanent fixture that walls us in as much as walls others out. The current administration has done this over and over again. This is not in our history, and it is not the American Way.

Noted earlier, in our current economy we also cannot afford the spirit of Emma Lazarus that is written on the tablet of the Statue of Liberty, but we must strive to be able to do this again once more, some day. For if not, then what do we stand for. What does Liberty stand for, if we our to ignore the history of the American Way ?

We must strive to better our country, and in challenging times, makes it that much more important that as a united people that we do stand for what we stood for. But just as much as the hungry can not feed others, in our current times we must accept the rude fact that we must shore up the standards of our way of life in order to have the American Way.

In this manner, we can return to being able to afford others in the way that the Statue of Liberty has stood for in symbolizing our American Way of life and freedom for others as we care to have for ourselves.