Immigration

Proposal 1

by Kyle Supe

Posted January 24, 2007

Issues: Our borders are currently neither open, closed, nor secure. This situation restricts the labor pool, encouraging employers to hire undocumented workers, while leaving those workers neither subject to nor protected by the law. A completely open border allows foreign criminals, carriers of communicable diseases, terrorists and other potential threats to enter the country unchecked. Pandering politicians guarantee access to public services for undocumented aliens, to the detriment of those who would enter to work productively, and increasing the burden on taxpayers.

Principles: The legitimate function and obligation of government to protect the lives, rights and property of its citizens, requires awareness of and control over the entry into our country of foreign nationals who pose a threat to security, health or property. Political freedom and escape from tyranny demands that individuals not be unreasonably constrained by government in the crossing of political boundaries. Economic freedom demands the unrestricted movement of human as well as financial capital across national borders.

Solutions: Borders will be secure, with free entry to those who have demonstrated compliance with certain requirements. The terms and conditions of entry into the United States must be simple and clearly spelled out. Documenting the entry of individuals must be restricted to screening for criminal background and threats to public health and national security. It is the obligation of the prospective immigrant to demonstrate compliance with these requirements. Once effective immigration policies are in place, general amnesties will no longer be necessary.

Benefits: Ensure immigration requirements include only appropriate documentation, screening for criminal background and threats to public health and national security. Simplifying the immigration process and redeployment of surveillance technology to focus on the borders will encourage the use of regular and monitored entry points, thus preventing trespass and saving lives. End federal requirements that benefits and services be provided to those in the country illegally. Repeal all measures that punish employers for hiring undocumented workers. Repeal all immigration quotas.

Author's Comments

Repealing laws that punish employers for hiring illegal aliens is a ridiculous proposal. We wouldn't have an illegal immigrant problem if these laws were being enforced in the first place. The government needs to crack down even more on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. If employers know they can hire cheap illegal labor without any punishment there is no motivation for them to hire American citizens or legal immigrants. The more we punish employers of illegal immigrants the less likely they are to hire them. This leads to less jobs available for illegals and thus leads to a decrease or perhaps complete elimination of illegal immigration! Illegals will only stop coming once we stop offering them employment. Of course, we still need border security measures to keep out terrorists. However, repealing laws that punish employers for hiring illegal immigrants is a backward step on this issue and will gain the Libertarian Party no support from the general public.

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