Issue One - Voting Integrity
The first thing that every single country in the world besides the US has done is to vet citizens and then to issue identification, usually referred to as a voting card. In order to vote, you must have a card. The card is stamped when you vote and it's good for about ten elections before you need to renew the card. Your photo and fingerprints are on the card.
In the past there has been considerable push-back on the concept of a national identity card, but there is no way to discern which people in this country are here legally and are citizens (and can vote) and those who are here legally and can't vote (permanent resident aliens, felons, etc) and those who are here illegally and can't vote. Either we accept massive voting fraud which presently exists, or we accept national or state voting cards.
Felons, who by their actions have been deprived of their right to vote, need to have cards issued that identify them as felons. Therefore they have status in the US, but not the full rights of other citizens, such as the right to bear arms and vote.
Until the issue of citizenship and voting has been resolved, there can be no discussion of immigration reform.
Issue Two - Secure Borders
US Borders are not secure and ANYONE who wants to cross the border and enter the US without documentation can do so. The Mexican Border is more secure in places than the Canadian Border, but both are essentially wide open. We have fewer Mexicans coming north these days because:
- The birthrate in Mexico has declined sharply over the past decade and will continue to decline off into the future, tending to match the birthrate of other developed nations.
- The Mexican economy is growing at about 8%. The US economy is growing at about 1-2%. (You read about the projections, but the actual growth has been very small)
Secure borders means that they're genuinely secure. No discussion of reform can be considered until an acceptable level of security has been ACHIEVED.
Issue Three - Amnesty
The DREAM Act must be repealed. I have a solution for the DREAM babies. They can serve in the US Military for four years and receive citizenship upon their honorable discharge. Qualified DREAM babies can be granted "legal immigrant status for the purpose of enlistment ONLY".
In order for a non-citizen to enlist in the military under normal circumstances, he/she must first be a legal immigrant (with a green card), permamently residing in the United States. It's important to note that the military cannot and will not assist in the immigration process. One must immigrate first, using normal immigration quotas and procedures, and -- once they've established an address in the United States -- they can find a recruiter's office and apply for enlistment. This is the only accommodation that I feel is reasonable under the circumstances.
Others living in the US need to return to their country of origin without exception. This solves the issue of illegals receiving welfare or using any benefits within the US. Tack on whatever sanctions you think appropriate. With solid borders, we can send them over the border if they're caught in the country without permission and that's that.
Fancy Congressional Tapdancing
The Congress has a way of passing one law and of having the Executive Branch of government whittle it away until the original intent of the legislation has been eclipsed. (Lifeline - to - ObamaPhone is but one example of this evolution) Given this dismal record of failure (road to hell is paved with good intentions), immigration reform can take the form of quotas based on country and qualifications in much the way that they are now with the exception of any nation or nations which have been judged hostile to the United States.
- No nationals of nations hostile to the United States will be granted permanent resident status (Syria, Chechnya, Iran, Syria, etc.) with the exception of those who seek asylum and have been adjudicated under the strictest standards available. This means that human parasites such as Obama's aunt Zetuni and others of that class will NOT be granted any asylum status. The exception would be where an agency of the US Government (State, CIA, DOJ, DOD, etc.) takes responsibility for them (i.e. defector programs).
- Students applying for legal status within the US for the purpose of studying will scrutinized by intelligence agencies and law enforcement agencies. Federal money must be paid to the local police department where the student will reside so that the police can watch them. That would indicate that a student would have to escrow funds with the US for their term of study. If they go 'off the reservation' or violate any law, the bounty would revert to the police and to the federal government - with a court overseeing the process. No more terrorists masquerading as students.
Too harsh?
I realize that the standard charges of racisim, islamophobia, etc. could be leveled against this plan. It is clearly not aimed at generating more "guest" voters for the Democratic Party.