Rochelle Yeung

 

Coping with Illegal Immigrants by Sylvia Ann Hewlett

 

This article discusses the problems of illegal immigrants, and poses some solutions to the problem.

 

Tightening controls and reducing the flow of immigrants will raise costs for employers, raise prices for consumers and may worsen relationship with those countries the immigrants seek to leave.  Immigration will accelerate because of the inability of many third World countries to absorb their rapidly expanding populations into productive, decently paid occupations.

President Regan set up an 11 member Presidential Task Force on Immigration and Refugee Policy, which included some Cabinet members.  The problem with the Task Force was that the more they learned about the immigration problem, the harder it became for them to recommend the expanded legal immigration preferred by the Administration.

Proposed Task Force Package:

a)      short run ways to reduce the inflow of undocumented workers: better police borders and make it illegal for employers to hire workers who are not authorized to work in U.S.  Civil fines of $500 to $1,000 would be assessed for each illegal alien hired.

b)      They advocated the use of a counterfeit resistant Social Security card.  The Administration voted against a new system, and opted to use existing documents to serve as proof of eligibility to work (resident alien card, drivers license, birth certificate…)

c)      To avoid the big social and political cost of mass deportations, illegal aliens who entered the US before January 1, 1980 can apply for the new status of “renewable-term temporary resident” which could be turned into permanent resident status after 10 years.  They would have to renew their visas every three years, have to pay income and Social Security taxes but would not be able to access benefits like welfare or food stamps.

d)      Recommends increasing the legal ceilings for both Mexico and Canada from 20,000 immigrants to 40,000 immigrants a year. Any visas not used by Canada would go to Mexico.

e)      Recommends a “pilot” guest worker program with Mexico of 50,000 workers per year for an initial period of two years.

 

In trying to legalize immigration and cut down on number of people flowing into the country, the proposals compromise both points.

a)      in rejecting proposal for a secure work ID system, the number of counterfeiters has in reality increase.

b)      By making conditions for winning amnesty so harsh, it further undermines the efforts to legitimize immigration.  Most illegal immigrants would rather stay underground.

c)      The guest worker program is bound to draw opposition from labor groups yet it doesn’t satisfy those who want expansionist policy

d)      Advocates of the guest worker program say that the program is essential to meet labor needs: they argue that some sectors of the US economy have become dependent on illegal immigrants

e)      Some opponents say if the special program if just for Mexico, why can’t there be a similar program for all other countries? And if there are spots to fill, why not fill them with American citizens or legal aliens to ensure that standards of pay and living are brought up.

 

Employer Sanctions:  author suggests that the fine for employers that break the law by hiring illegal aliens should be fined heavier, close to 5,000 dollars per illegal alien. 

Worker Identification:  social security card never meant to be an identifier.  The cost of issuing new identification cards would cost around anywhere from $850 million to $2 billion.  Department of Labor suggested that there be a “Work Authorization Enrollment and Verification System.”  A federal agency would determine eligibility for work and would verify the work authorization of all applicants for the employers.

Control of Borders: author suggests that the INS budget be increased-double its $350 million current budget.

Amnesty: amnesty is desirable because it avoids massive deportation and it solves the problem of continued underground existence for millions of people currently in the US.

Any illegal immigrant that has been in the US since January 1, 1980 and who has been a continuous residence for three years, should be permitted to remain in the country as a permanent resident alien.  Since more resident illegals would qualify, it avoids the problem of dealing with a class of temporary residents with restricted human rights.