The fact of the matter is, we do have an immigration system that needs to be reformed. We have to continue to ensure border security, as we have thanks to President George W. Bush doubling border patrol agents. We also have to have an employment verification system and to prosecute those who hire people here illegally knowingly. But let's also keep in mind that the cost of deporting illegals is $12,500 per person. If we have 11 million people here, that's a cost of $135 billion. While we should not grant amnesty to anyone, deporting 11-20 million people is fiscally irresponsible and logistically impossible, and we wouldn't end illegal immigration by doing so. What we need to do is have a pathway to legal status. In my opinion, that means folks here illegally should pay a penalty, learn english, and not be on government assistance in exchange for legalized status. After a period of time when they are on the right side of the law, then they should have the chance to earn citizenship. I also believe we need a guest worker program.
At the same time, I agree with the notion that we should limit family unification and instead get folks to come here legally that can work here. Immigrants are twice as likely as native born citizens to start a business and thus, create jobs.
What Donald Trump has done is hurt the level of dialogue. He has made this about hispanics. The truth is, hispanics are humans, some are good some are bad, just like anybody else. Trump's bigotry is an embarrassment to the nation.
Additionally, Trump doesn't understand that while there are still issues at the border, we are moving in the right direction. Illegal border crossings are at record lows right now.
There it is, folks. Everything wrong with the GOP summed up in a single sentence fragment.
So you believe that deporting 11-20 million at a cost of $12,500 per person is fiscally responsible? We have $18 trillion in debt. Also, not all of these folks are dangerous criminals. In fact, the vast majority of them are not. We need to deal with this issue in a humane way also recognizing the rule of law. A path to legal status doesn't give anyone special treatment, but it wouldn't cost $135 billion at a minimum.
I think that the problem is ILLEGAL immigration, and illegal immigration from Mexico in particular. And it's a problem because of who, in particular, has been coming.
Although the problem has eased somewhat lately, a stream of illegal immigrants were coming into the United States THROUGH Mexico, but FROM not just Mexico, but a number of Central American countries, making their way through Mexico to America. And many of these folks WERE associated with organized criminal gangs. All of them were illegally in the United States, and "off-the-books" farm labor and restaurant work aren't the only occupations such folks seek out. Many of these folks are drug runners and engaged in illegal activities, and while they can be deported once they have been apprehended and pay for their crimes, they can do quite a bit of havoc before they are caught.
And they do this, in part, because they know that there are such things as "Sanctuary Cities" where, essentially, immigration laws won't be enforced. They do this because there are places where they can be hide, and their hiding will be condoned by local officials. Females will have "anchor babies" who will enjoy birthright citizenship and entitlement benefits, even though their mothers are here illegally. This is a real drain on Medicaid and (in California) Medi-Cal.
Is it so outrageous that the folks who foot the bill for all of this and whose public safety is lessened because of this desire our government to do something about all of this that will cause it to reduce and to deter others from illegally entering the United States? I'm not someone who views this as my top priority, but I don't view my point of view as racist or xenophobic, and I don't see why people shouldn't be up in arms over cities that provide sanctuary to illegal immigrants, when government requires the rest of us to follow the rest of the laws. For myself, I would prefer to give amnesty and pardon to Americans who have criminal records for mere Drug Possession before we give amnesty, pardon, and citizenship to those who came here illegally.
