Thread: Alternatives to Amnesty: Proposals for Fair and Effective Im

http://www.heritage.org/Research/LegalIssues/bg1858.cfm



Research - Legal Issues
Alternatives to Amnesty: Proposals for Fair and Effective Immigration Reform
by Edwin Meese III, James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., Matthew Spalding, Ph.D., and Paul Rosenzweig
Backgrounder #1858

June 2, 2005


For the sake of national security, the rule of law, and responsible immigration policy, Congress and the President must take credible steps to reduce the numÂÂ*ber of individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States. Immigration reform must not encourÂÂ*age or exacerbate this problem.

In particular, any new initiative must not grant perÂÂ*mission, as a matter of principle or policy, for unlawÂÂ*fully present persons to remain legally in the country. Such a program would undermine the credibility of efforts not only to control America’s borders, but also to advance reasonable legal immigration reform.

A better alternative would be for policymakers to establish a comprehensive solution that fosters betÂÂ*ter national security, a growing economy, and a strong civil society. Part of this solution should be a realistic and reasonable program to assist unlawfully present individuals in returning to their countries of origin before applying for legal reentry to the United States.

Why We Care

Estimates of the number of undocumented foreign workers in the United States vary widely.

*
In March 2005, a Pew Hispanic Center report estimated the number of currently undocuÂÂ*mented U.S. residents at nearly 11 million, based on extrapolations of data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2004 Current Population Survey and estimates that annual net growth of unauthorized migrants has averaged about 500,000 since 1990. Of the 11 million total, over 7 million were undocumented workers.[1]
*
The Federation for American Immigration Reform estimates that 13 million illegal immiÂÂ*grants live in the United States, which transÂÂ*lates into approximately 9 million unlawful foreign workers.[2]
*
A widely cited (and challenged) estimate by a senior managing director at Bear Stearns calcuÂÂ*lates that as many as 20 million illegal immiÂÂ*grants could now reside in the United States. If correct, this figure implies that as many as 15 million undocumented workers could be employed here.[3]

There are no signs that the overall trends of illeÂÂ*gal entry and unlawful presence in the United States will change any time soon. As long as the economies of nations on or near our borders do not provide sufficient jobs to keep up with their popuÂÂ*lation growth, their citizens will look elsewhere and seek to cross our border in search of work.

According to a Pew Hispanic Center study in 2003, individuals working in the United States sent almost $30 billion to their families in Latin America and the Caribbean.[4] As the single largest form of direct foreign investment in the region, in many cases providing families with essential goods and services such as food and rent, remittances have become the economic engine of Latin AmerÂÂ*ica. Figures do not make distinctions between the sources of remittances, but contributions from undocumented workers are undoubtedly signifiÂÂ*cant.[5] As long as the unprecedented economic importance of remittances remains, individuals will seek access to the United States labor market by legal or illegal means.

Opportunities for undocumented workers in the United States encourage thousands to enter the United States illegally each month. At legal points of entry, such as seaports, airports, and established border crossings, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has implemented and is improving mechanisms for screening people and cargo to idenÂÂ*tify legitimate security threats, including terrorists, transnational criminals, and illicit cargo. However, many cross into the country at places other than the established points of entry, and the DHS cannot easÂÂ*ily distinguish national security threats from other criminal activities along the territory and coastline between the legal points of entry.

The wave of illegal entry along this vast expanse significantly exacerbates the challenge of border security. Additionally, illegal border crossings put lives and property at risk for the individuals crossÂÂ*ing, for those enforcing the law, and for local comÂÂ*munities. In some areas, crime, property damage, and the risk of death from austere environmental conditions or reckless acts are becoming endemic. All of these factors force the DHS to deploy ever-greater resources to the point at which they are arguably less effective in achieving the department’s primary purposeâ€â€

NO, NO, NO, AND NO! I AM TIRED OF READING LENGTHY GOBBLY-GOOK, THAT SOUNDS LIKE AMNESTY DISGUISED AS SOMETHING WE REALLY NEED, IN ORDER FOR OUR COUNTRY TO PROSPER! THAT WE BASCALLY HAVE NO CHOICES! HA HA HA!
YOU CAN BEAT ME DOWN A THOUSAND TIMES AND MY SAME ANSWER WILL ALWAYS BE NO!
ASK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT! IT'S SO SIMPLE! PUT OUR TROOPS ON THE BORDER!!!

This is compliments of the Heritage Foundation.