The Titanic is sinking, and the ship will soon capsize. The passengers are demanding that the rescue boats be deployed. Yet the whole management crew is drinking and rearranging the deck chairs.
Slippery Alex, as the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security is affectionately called, says that if DHS just had more money, the problem would be solved. No, they would just throw a bigger deck party. This is the Biden immigration policy. Although I was legal counsel to the head of the old Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), almost any moderately informed person could come up with a simple, straightforward policy that would solve the crisis. Except perhaps congressmen.
The congressional “compromise” that was being prepared last week by Sens. James Lankford and Chuck Schumer, and rejected by Speaker Mike Johnson, was a joke and an insult to regular Americans looking to their leaders for an actual reform solution to border security and out-of-control immigration.Slippery Alex, as the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security is affectionately called, says that if DHS just had more money, the problem would be solved. No, they would just throw a bigger deck party. This is the Biden immigration policy. Although I was legal counsel to the head of the old Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), almost any moderately informed person could come up with a simple, straightforward policy that would solve the crisis. Except perhaps congressmen.
A business associate of mine has applied for a visa, and is eligible to immediately migrate. Yet, he has been waiting in line almost three years, because DHS has no available personnel to timely process visa applications.
The same is true for law-abiding tourists, persons seeking medical treatment, and business people, for example. Meanwhile terrorists, criminals, cartel enforcers, human traffickers, foreign sleeper agents and economic migrants just walk in.
That is not right nor just. Let us try this simple solution. Although most of the actions would require legislative action, they are a fair trade for adequate aid to Ukraine and Israel. As well, countless billions of taxpayer dollars would be saved.
1. Deny all pending asylum applications, and indefinitely into the future accept no more. Exemption could be made for diaspora groups specifically invited recently, like Ukrainians, and for the president to accept perhaps 25,000 special cases a year. This moratorium would give Congress time to write a thoughtful and rational asylum policy, while quickly rejecting “economic migrants.”
2. Strengthen, and enforce, the law to make it a serious felony to hire anyone without an I-9 (E-verify) employment authorization.
3. Prohibit the federal government and all states and cities from giving any form of safety net benefits, such as housing, drivers licenses, free phones, food stamps, and health care to persons illegally in the country or seeking asylum status. Without this safety net or the ability to get a job, most would voluntarily return to their homes, and others would be discouraged from coming. Exceptions could be make for temporary short-term emergencies, and for those seeking assistance to return home.
3. Prohibit the federal government and all states and cities from giving any form of safety net benefits, such as housing, drivers licenses, free phones, food stamps, and health care to persons illegally in the country or seeking asylum status. Without this safety net or the ability to get a job, most would voluntarily return to their homes, and others would be discouraged from coming. Exceptions could be make for temporary short-term emergencies, and for those seeking assistance to return home.
4. Offer DACA Dreamers a path to citizenship by serving eight years in the United States military.
5. Offer a conditional amnesty to anyone illegally in the country or seeking asylum. If they register and supply biometrics to the DHS, and self-deport within a year, they would then be eligible to legally apply to return in an appropriate category.
6. Reinstitute the old Bracero seasonal worker type program, making it cheap, fast, and easy to acquire seasonal workers, yet assure the workers adequate wages and health care. This seasonal program would not provide a pathway to a green card, although the worker is allowed to apply through the normal process. The existing H2 A agricultural visa is too slow, cumbersome, and expensive.
7. Support the men and women of the Customs and Border Protection agency. No more diaper duty. No more catch and release. They are enforcement professionals. Let them enforce the law, and secure the borders. As well for all Citizenship and Immigration Service employees – free them up to process legal entrants.
8. Abolish “chain migration,” except for spouses and minor children, and perhaps elderly parents if a support bond guarantee was procured by the applicant.
9. Abolish the diversity lottery. What a stupid way to choose who should come to America.
10. All people deserve a fair and liveable wage. By restricting the number of undocumented workers and asylum seekers, wages will rise for lower-paid jobs. Combining this with a tightening of welfare work requirements would put millions of workers into our economy, all earning fair wages.
Brad Cates served four terms in the New Mexico House of Representatives from 1975 to 1982, representing District 27 within Bernalillo County.