An Illegal Crisis

By Dr. Harold A. Black
blackh@knoxfocus.com
haroldblackphd.com

I am deeply troubled by the report that a group of Trump advisors are working on recommendations to deport the 30+ million illegals in the country. Personally, I do not want to live in a country that would do that. It would take Gestapo-like tactics of home invasion and workplace raids. All foreign-lookers would be subject to stop and frisk. Obviously, there would have to be massive detention facilities and a circumvention of a judicial review. It would be akin to the Nazis rounding up the Jews, cramming them into box cars and shipping them off to concentration camps. The round-them-up and ship-them-out pogrom will result in profiling where those who look foreign will be required to prove that they are legal, resulting in harassment of Latinos and people of color. It will be akin to my being pulled over for driving while black (DWB). Surely there is a better way to deal with the illegals coming across the border and the illegals already here.

I am no expert on immigration. But neither are our politicians who do nothing. The politicians are more focused getting them the most votes than interested in a solution. We seem to forget that the vast majority of illegals come to this country hoping to find a better life for themselves and their children. They come here embodying the American dream – something that many of our native-born have lost. Most are hardworking, and religious, with strong nuclear families. Have you ever seen a Hispanic panhandler? I haven’t. Second-generation migrants are English-speaking and are often more patriotic than most of us. Aren’t these traits that we find desirable? Yes, some illegals commit crimes but conflating that to the majority is at best a stretch. Only xenophobes want us to believe otherwise.

Most illegals come from Mexico and the Northern Triangle (El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras) with growing numbers from Asia (India, China and the Philippines). What is interesting is that they are not from Venezuela which has had the largest outflow of any country in the world with 8 million fleeing the repressive socialist regime. Venezuelans have migrated mostly to other Latin American countries, notably Columbia. Yet about 200,000 a year are coming to the US and the Biden Administration has granted them Temporary Protected Status, essentially giving them legal status to enable them to get work permits. I didn’t know that Biden had the legal authority to unilaterally grant asylum.

There are some common sense (to me) actions that would address the problem of the massive movement of illegals to our southern border. Here are my ideas. Please tell me where I am wrong.

First, develop separate policies for those from the Americas and those from the rest of the world who cross at the southern border.

Allow the circular migration of old where workers primarily from Mexico come into the country and then go back home once the work is over. Ironically, the tightening of immigration laws stopped the circular migration, forcing the illegals to stay in the country and bring their families with them.

– Provide a pathway to citizenship for the “Dreamers”

– End citizenship for children born in the country to noncitizens

– Require guest worker permits for all able bodied adults

– Deport able-bodied adults without work permits

– Deport “got-aways” without exception

– Jail those who reenter the country after being deported

– Provide an easier pathway to citizenship for legal immigrants

– Provide a pathway to citizenship for migrants with guest worker permits

– Provide financial support to communities on the border

– Require visas for entry at the border (obtained through US Embassies or consulates)

– Return all unaccompanied minors to their home country

– Tie aid to the illegals’ home countries to their citizens immigrating from those countries

– Reinstitute remain in Mexico policy

– End automatic granting of asylum at the border

– End all federal assistance to “sanctuary” cities

– Do not deport criminals. Rather put them in jail with minimum sentences so that the Soros-backed DAs cannot release them back to the streets

Lastly, move Homeland Security to Eagle Pass, Texas, the epicenter of the illegal crisis. If Mayorkas had to live on the border, I bet he would work to find a solution.

The question is one of assimilation of those who choose to stay. All those who desire citizenship must have work permits, be in the country legally, be required to pass a citizenship examination and speak English. Lastly, grant citizenship to those noncitizens who serve in our military.