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Nightmare at the border
Finding solutions for illegal immigration problem

By Terry Paulson, terry@terrypaulson.com
October 10, 2005

With new evidence that illegal immigration continues to outstrip legal immigration, it's time to explore practical solutions. As frustrating as the illegal immigration problem is to most Americans, there is no political will to deport over 10 million undocumented aliens living here.

It would take a bureaucracy and resources Americans would not tolerate -- thousands of lawyers and immigration officials trying to manage the exodus of millions of people. Most Americans won't stand for actually uprooting that many people, most of whom are positively contributing to our society and have woven their lives into the fabric of our communities.

President Bush deserves some credit for starting serious dialogue by releasing more details on his proposed guest worker program. But his administration also deserves criticism for failing to articulate a workable plan and a sustainable vision that balances caring and accountability. Progress will come when an overwhelming majority of Americans have a vision for the future that is strong and fair enough to force politicians to act or lose elections.

Here's my vision. Any solution must start with a renewed commitment to deploy resources to close the Mexican border to illegal immigration. The volunteer "Minutemen" who have patrolled part of the Arizona and California border have shown what can be done with additional manpower. No plan will work unless technological and human resources are deployed to secure the border from illegal immigration. It's what must come first, not last.

With a secure border, Bush's temporary guest-worker program makes sense. Such a program would allow both illegal immigrants already in the United States or someone abroad to apply for the right to work legally for a three-year term. Temporary worker applicants already in the United States illegally should have to pay a registration fine and show a current employment status.

Legal applicants still in their home countries would pay no fee but would need to secure an American job in order to qualify. These temporary guest workers should be protected by U.S. wage and workplace safety laws allowing them to confront abusive employment practices and demand higher wages and benefits.

Contrary to the Bush plan, guest workers who are still employed after three years should be permitted to renew their permit a maximum of two times. If extensions are not permitted, most undocumented aliens will not sign up for fear of being sent back before they can qualify for a green card.

Guest workers should be allowed to move freely back and forth between the United States and their home country. Currently, border security does a better job of keeping people in than keeping them out.

To ensure accountability, U.S. citizens need a National ID standard requiring a fingerprint, a picture, retina scan and DNA coding that serves as a driver's license and national identification for voting and other services. Guest workers' ID cards would look distinctly different but require similar identification data.

To discourage illegal immigration, employer fines for hiring undocumented workers should be increased and enforced. With high-tech ID documentation, eyeballing documents will not be enough. Employers must be mandated to use the new Department of Homeland Security Internet program to check immigration status.

Benefits should be structured to encourage temporary guest workers to leave instead of stay. The Social Security taxes paid could be credited to the workers under their countries' retirement systems. It would increase the number of guest workers and employers who pay taxes and give guest workers benefits and an incentive to return to their homelands.

There should be no blanket amnesty. Citizenship should require a higher standard, but responsible, undocumented aliens should have a way to earn citizenship. It should not be easy, but it should be possible.

The path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already here should require a long probationary period, additional fines and the need to build a strong case for citizenship -- no criminal record, a good employment history, tax compliance and proficiency in English. Undocumented aliens who are caught at the border and those who are convicted of crimes should be deported within a 72-hour period.

Finally, America must continue to expand the Mexican and Central American economies. By helping our southern neighbors strengthen their social, political and economic infrastructures, we make coming to America less necessary.

Now, give me your alternative ideas. The illegal immigration nightmare won't go away unless we discuss our differences and look for solutions together.