Immigration

http://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/63.pdf
No Consensus on Immigration Problem or Proposed Fixes
AMERICA’S IMMIGRATION QUANDARY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THURDAY, MARCH 30, 2006, 2:00 PM

This Author must first say he is among the 22% of American citizens who view both legal and illegal immigration to be an immediate problem and hazard needing to be fixed. Only about 4% of those surveyed, though, found Immigration--legal or illegal--to be a priority Problem. Congress and President seemed destined to fail at any Immigration fix brought into law before the next Election. I believe this is the real Problem.

Overall, the public divides about evenly
among three main approaches for dealing with people
who are in this country illegally: 32% think it should
be possible for them to stay permanently; 32%
believe some should be allowed to stay under a
temporary worker program under the condition that
they leave eventually; and 27% think that all illegal
immigrants should be required to go home.

None of the three approaches settles any primary issue. The first leaves illegal immigrants capable of legally drawing upon tax-funded Social Services, while the Second approach functionally demands the provision of these Social Services--in order to forestall Social conditions unacceptable to American culture. The last approach threatens the American economy with a lack of alternative Labor supply.

I oppose almost all Tracking devices, but may have to concede to Work Cards. My assessment of Work Cards, though, would insist on universality; this meaning that all Labor would have to be registered--a seeming vast bureaucracy, but it can be simplified. The chartering act should declare Employers could not declare Labor Costs for purposes of Taxation without a Work Card assignation in terms of hours worked--both inside and outside this Country. Economists could use the exact assignment in many Economic models surveying the flow of Trade, the flow of Immigration, the transfers of Funds, etc. Law Enforcement could identify Immigration flows, and track questionable immigrants. Failure to comply with the Law will lead to high-level Fines, this Author suggests $200 per Hour worked with the Employer held responsible in last resort assessment. Work Cards, themselves, would be issued by the U.S. Treasury, and designed for forestall any but technologically-intense counterfeiting procedures; they specifically using exact identification of Employee information.

Work Visas, and the means of their Issuance, would thereby become irrevelant. Work Cards would only be issued to certified Employers--only when the exact personal information is advanced along with Photo, and issued like current Drivers's licenses. Employer recruitment Costs would increase, but this Cost would bring longer-Term employment based upon qualified Skill levels of Labor. A better design, in the Author's estimation, than the current suggestions which are destined only to bring congestion and bureaucratic confusion. lgl