There are lots of feelings floating around about the illegal immigration problem. Some people want to send them all south and build a wall, some people want to give them all welfare and let the rest of us pay for them. Obviously these examples are two extremes and neither one is practical.

We have a lot of smart and inventive people on AlForums, I’ll bet we could come up with some practical solutions that would solve the ongoing problem of immigration and a solution as to what to do with the illegal’s who are already here.

I like the idea of a stronger safer border. Not just to keep the illegal immigrants out but to also keep anyone wishing us harm out. Think of the jobs that could be created by setting into motion a solid and strong border patrol for the land areas and harbor patrol for the seaboard areas.

Many countries will only allow people to immigrate if they have a job waiting for them or they are trained in a job that there is a shortage of people for. I would like to see the US adopt a program similar to that.

I would also like to have something set up that would keep immigrants from collecting on or using any of the “safety nets” that are in place for our citizens until they themselves become citizens. One should have to have held a job here in the states for a certain number of years before they can become a citizen, be able to speak English and have no criminal record. In other words, we would stop accepting deadbeats and unemployable people into our country. (I know that not all immigrants fall into these categories, but some do)

As for what to do with the ones that are already here? Instead of fining business’s that employ illegals, tax them. Tax them very heavily and use the money to pay for the schooling and health care that immigrants are draining us taxpayers of. (Bad wording but you get the idea).

Any one have any reasonable and practical ideas?

You make a lot of great points and I like all your ideas. A stronger border is very important, and great idea about the taxing of the employers.

Providing proof of residency status should be required in more places - signing a lease, having utilities turned on, purchasing auto insurance, plates & vehicles, health insurance ... all that stuff. Some communities are finally checking residency status when an individual is arrested. It simply doesn't matter that things are terrible where they came from - things aren't so great here for the working stiff - even worse when tax dollars are spent on those without legal status. They can come in through the front door as welcomed guests rather than through holes in our back fence like criminals in the night.

Providing proof of residency status should be required in more places - signing a lease, having utilities turned on, purchasing auto insurance, plates & vehicles, health insurance ... all that stuff.

I really dislike putting the burden of policing illegals on private business - at least when we go as far as putting criminal liability on them. It's the government's job to keep illegals out.

I really dislike putting the burden of policing illegals on private business........

Yeah.

But I very much like the idea of punishing those businesses who knowingly employ people who are illegal aliens.

THAT is all it would take to end the problem of illegals coming here.

Punish U.S. businesses for EMPLOYING them, you stop the problem. Period. End of story.

Yeah.

But I very much like the idea of punishing those businesses who knowingly employ people who are illegal aliens.

THAT is all it would take to end the problem of illegals coming here.

Punish U.S. businesses for EMPLOYING them, you stop the problem. Period. End of story.


Agreed.

I like the idea of a stronger safer border. Not just to keep the illegal immigrants out but to also keep anyone wishing us harm out. Think of the jobs that could be created by setting into motion a solid and strong border patrol for the land areas and harbor patrol for the seaboard areas.
That would certainly do a lot to solve the problem, but the expense of doing so is an issue.

Many countries will only allow people to immigrate if they have a job waiting for them or they are trained in a job that there is a shortage of people for. I would like to see the US adopt a program similar to that.

I would also like to have something set up that would keep immigrants from collecting on or using any of the “safety nets” that are in place for our citizens until they themselves become citizens. One should have to have held a job here in the states for a certain number of years before they can become a citizen, be able to speak English and have no criminal record. In other words, we would stop accepting deadbeats and unemployable people into our country. (I know that not all immigrants fall into these categories, but some do)We already have laws like that, and they can only apply to those who immigrate legally. They don't do anything to stop illegal immigration.

Part of the solution needs to be to expand legal immigration. The reality is that, regardless of how much we do to prevent it, there will still be a lot of people entering the country illegally. If we expand legal immigration, more of such people will be able to come into the US legally. That will solve many of the problems associated with illegal immigration -- they can be screened before they enter the country, they will be able to find legitimate employment and pay taxes and, above all, they will not be breaking the law.

Well said, Freethinker.

Echo, when you say some posters want to send all illegal aliens south you are assuming all illegal aliens come from the south of us. That isn't so. Many illegal aliens come from Europe and Asia also. They should all be sent home.

Attrition Through Enforcement Is the True Middle-ground Solution

President Bush and the rest of the open borders crowd constantly tell the American people that there are only two solutions to our nation's illegal alien crisis – give illegal aliens amnesty or round them up and deport them. This is a diversionary tactic to draw public attention away from the most effective and efficient solution – Attrition Through Enforcement.

The principle behind Attrition Through Enforcement is that living illegally in the United States will become more difficult and less satisfying over time when the government – at ALL LEVELS – enforces all of the laws already on the books. It is also imperative that the government with the full cooperation of the private sector, implements certain workplace enforcement measures. The goal is to make it extremely difficult for unauthorized persons to live and work in the United States. There is no need for taxpayers to watch the government spend billions of their dollars to round up and deport illegal aliens; they will buy their own bus or plane tickets back home if they can no longer earn a living here.

We know Attrition Through Enforcement will work because, until recently, it has been shown to work even with little or no enforcement. As it currently stands, almost 200,000 illegal aliens self-deport from the United States every year, but imagine how many more would leave if our government refused to award illegal aliens another amnesty, mandated all employers to verify a person’s eligibility to work here, cracked down on identity fraud, and enabled local police to easily transfer illegal aliens in their custody to the feds.

People Who Left the Ranks of Illegal Aliens in the Most Recent Year of Official Record*
183,000 Self-Deported
152,000 Amnestied (allowed to adjust to legal status within U.S.)
63,000 Removed by Federal Authorities
27,000 Died
456,000 Total
* Source: Estimates of the Unauthorized Immigrant Population Residing in the United States: 1990 to 2000 ; Office of Policy and Planning, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (1999)


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Well said, Freethinker.

Echo, when you say some posters want to send all illegal aliens south you are assuming all illegal aliens come from the south of us. That isn't so. Many illegal aliens come from Europe and Asia also. They should all be sent home.


Yea, I know. I used the term south more as "get out of town". I think that Mexican and Asian illegal immigratuion are about on a par. I don't have any facts to back that up, just a feeling from observation.

Yeah.

But I very much like the idea of punishing those businesses who knowingly employ people who are illegal aliens.

THAT is all it would take to end the problem of illegals coming here.

Punish U.S. businesses for EMPLOYING them, you stop the problem. Period. End of story.

I agree.

discard the idea of the top 1% of society, which in fact manipulates the rest. discard all borders. let communities decide their own futures. not a centralized system.and accept all people as just people, and not a potential "enemy" whether physically, or economically.
if not, you are easily manipulated. and easily destroyed. it may take 10,000 years, but it can and will be done.
your choice.