A modest proposal for illegal immigration

[AndrewH]

My first venture into the politics forum. Be kind...

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Illegal immigration is a fact of life in the United States. The first step to remedying the problem is to acknowledge that it exists, and always will exist. Much like the “war on drugs”, complete control of the problem can never be achieved. Rather, the government must strive to intervene and guide the process in a direction that produces the most favorable outcome.

The real issues with illegal immigration are economic. Unscrupulous companies prefer to hire illegals because not only can they pay less than minimum wage, but the workers will never unionize due to their illegal status. In this manner, the employer can keep wages low and profits high. This, of course, creates a discrepancy in the domestic labor market. Citizens/residents who compete for such jobs are at an automatic disadvantage created by this market failure. Unemployment increases, and GDP begins to fall because of the decrease in spending caused by the lessened disposable income of domestic workers.

In addition to the “ripple effect” in the economy described above, there is the issue of taxes to consider. Since they do not have Social Security Numbers, illegal workers are paid “off the books”. Therefore, no taxes are collected from their paychecks, and no Social Security deductions are made. Despite not paying any money into the system in the form of federal and state income taxes, illegal workers utilize federal, state, and local services that are funded by these taxes. Examples include sending children to public schools, driving on the roads and highways, and even having the use of police/fire/emergency services to protect them. This “free riding”, as it is known in economics, places a heavier burden on the tax-paying population to support their federal/state/local governments. The more troubling economic issue, however, is how this tax effect factors into the previously mentioned GDP. GDP contains 4 components: Consumption + Investment + Government Spending + (Exports-Imports). The previous paragraph covered how the increase in unemployment caused by illegal immigration led to a decrease in the consumption component. The decrease in taxes collected by the government will, in turn, reduce government spending and further decrease GDP.

These are the problems with illegal immigration from an economic perspective. Now, we can construct a solution that will remedy the problem of reduced GDP, by correcting the market discrepancies that cause it. I propose that legitimate immigration into the US be overhauled to implement a “trial period” in which the immigrant must establish his/herself as a productive member of American society. Along with this implementation, the penalties for illegal immigration must be increased, to provide the maximum incentive to utilize the legitimate path to citizenship.

The new system would work like this: a citizen of a foreign country applies to the INS for trial immigration. As long as they meet certain restrictions, their trial period will automatically be granted. The restrictions would include the following:
Must be below a certain age (no one who would become a burden on social security)
Must pass a health/physical exam (looking for healthy, productive workers)
No prior felony convictions (decrease the potential burden on the prison system)
Must pass a test of basic English communications skills (it’s the official language)
A background check by the CIA to check for links to terrorist organizations

Provided these requirements are met, the immigrant would receive a card entitling them to enter & exit the United States. They would also receive a temporary Social Security number. Both of these would expire in 6 months. At the end of that 6 months’ time, the immigrant would have to report to the INS and demonstrate that they are steadily & gainfully employed, and are able to support themselves & any family they have. In short, that they have become a productive member of society. If the INS case officer decides that they have accomplished these goals, a Resident Alien card (Green Card) will be issued along with a permanent Social Security number. They could then start down the path towards citizenship. If the immigrant does not fulfill these requirements, or does not present themselves at INS after 6 months, a warrant for their arrest will be issued. When found, they will be deported.

In order to encourage compliance with the new immigration procedure, illegal immigration must be discouraged. Border security must be tightened, and immediate deportation be implemented for any illegal immigrants caught in the US. The goal is not to discourage immigration, but instead to encourage it through legitimate means.

With the implementation of this policy, immigrant workers will be on the same footing as domestic workers. They will have to be paid a competitive wage, and will be able to unionize without fear of repercussion. True competition in the labor market will bring about a true equilibrium wage. As incomes rise, consumption will increase and push GDP back up. In addition, since immigrant workers will be registered with the government through their Social Security numbers, they will be subject to all taxes and deductions. Government income will increase, spending will increase proportionately and GDP will be pushed up further. Finally, the increased competition in the labor market will increase productivity, allowing for a decrease in costs that will be passed along in the form of decreased prices, stimulating the demand for US exports. This will also increase GDP through the net exports component. The three-pronged increase in GDP will cause an overall increase in the nation’s welfare, and the United States will end up better off than it was prior to implementing this new immigration policy.
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So what do y'all think?

[TrainingDummy]

So is this only for RL's "Burrito Men" or all immigrants to the US? For example Cubans, Vietnamese, etc.

[AndrewH]

Anybody and everybody who wants to come in.

[rcmatthews]

You would have a lot of people coming in at one time. A LOT. The problem that I see with illegal immigration is that there is virtually no penalty for getting caught. You get sent back only to try again the next day. Some sort of stiffer penalty must be applied, maybe like 15 or 30 days in jail just to discourage a little bit. Of course, then we have to pay for it.

[AndrewH]

Yes, you would have a lot of people coming in. However, these people would be contributing to GDP and making the labor market more competetive- and the ones that didn't would be removed.

And yes the problem with illegal immigration IS that there really is no penalty. Which is why under this plan, penalties would be increased steeply. Deportation, obviously. I oppose jail terms whenever possible because the last thing we need to do is fill up our jails any more than they are. But when you're dealing with an illegal who has little to no assets to seize, jail time is really the only possible "punishment".

Get rid of the jail population who are in for nonviolent drug offenses, and there would be plenty of room for illegal immigrants. But that's for another thread- start one if anyone wants to go off on that tangent, let's keep this one focused.

[rcmatthews]

For Mexicans at least, i don't view deportation as a strong penalty, because of the relative ease of coming back across. I don't think its a good idea for the US to let everyone who wants to come in. Even if they pass background checks. i would be willing to be that there are no countries outside of the 3rd world that have an open immigration policy such as that (which does not in itself mean it is wrong). Something just doesn;t feel comfortable about letting anyone in.

[JasminaJ]

Are you thinking Soylent green ? That is a renewable resource. You did say get rid of them.

[JasminaJ]

Hey! Wait! I'm in Santa Ana! You're in New Jersey!
Just exactly how are you affected by this? Oh, politics....
Never mind!
lololololol we brown people are coming to get you!!!! Woooo!
Oh, where I live-friends and neighbors are Mexican-I'm the one who doesn't belong here.

[ReverseLunge]

Andrew, the Mexicans don't care about competitive salaries or unions. They prefer getting paid under the table no matter what. What they want is healthcare and to have kids in the USA.

A couple of months ago I picked up 6 Mexican illegals in front of Home Depot in my pick up truck. I told them that I need some work done on my yard and they demanded $80 each for 6 hours work and they wanted me to provide lunch. Now for a regular person that's like making $120 day before taxes and no free lunch....

Well I decided to give them 85. That's right, 85 MPH in the back of my pick up all the way downthe 5 freeway to the border.

[chefencer]

I think the opening post was well presented, but I have a couple of issues with the assumptions.

"The real issues with illegal immigration are economic. Unscrupulous companies prefer to hire illegals because not only can they pay less than minimum wage, but the workers will never unionize due to their illegal status."

Issue is economic: 100% correct, but most of the under minimum wage jobs are in agriculture. Service industry jobs are slightly more sensitive to market wage except for one Huge (say it like The Donald) factor: lack of job candidates. You left out the fact that many, many of the jobs we're talking about no one else wants - even at market wages. Unions aren't much of factor in service industry regardless of legality of workers.

"Since they do not have Social Security Numbers, illegal workers are paid “off the books”. Therefore, no taxes are collected from their paychecks, and no Social Security deductions are made."

I would wager that most illegals who don't get paid by cash (which is probably most of the service industry) have FICA et al taken out of their check and that they will never see that money again. Tiny businesses might pay with cash, but once a business has a payroll system, forget it - all deductions apply. Sam's going to get his money, don't worry...

As far as English, I understand where that sentiment comes from, but my Swiss relatives would've been left to rot on Ellis Island if that were the case. Language comes with assimilation and I don't understand why we are so insecure as a culture when it comes to our language. We have the most adaptive, living vocabulary on the planet - are we trying to turn into Quebecoi? Do we need to legislate the viability of our language?

I think overall your ideas are reasonable - now getting them to someone who might listen and be able to act...

[AndrewH]

Originally Posted by JasminaJ

Hey! Wait! I'm in Santa Ana! You're in New Jersey!
Just exactly how are you affected by this?

Believe it or not there are plenty of illegal immigrants in New Jersey.

Originally Posted by ReverseLunge

Andrew, the Mexicans don't care about competitive salaries or unions. They prefer getting paid under the table no matter what. What they want is healthcare and to have kids in the USA.

But this isn't about what the immigrants (not necessarily Mexican) want. It's about pushing them down the path created by this "law" in order to benefit the US economy from something that's going to occur no matter what- illegal immigration.

Originally Posted by rcmatthews

For Mexicans at least, i don't view deportation as a strong penalty, because of the relative ease of coming back across.

Hence the need for increased penalties for illegal immigration. I haven't worked that aspect out fully, but as I pointed out earlier, prison terms may be the most effective method, even though I really oppose prison terms for nearly all nonviolent offenses.

Originally Posted by chefencer

You left out the fact that many, many of the jobs we're talking about no one else wants - even at market wages.

I'm well aware of that, that we need immigrants who are willing to do those jobs. Which is why we should allow them in under this plan AND pay them a competetive wage which will end up benefiting the economy as a whole.

Originally Posted by chefencer

As far as English, I understand where that sentiment comes from, but my Swiss relatives would've been left to rot on Ellis Island if that were the case. Language comes with assimilation and I don't understand why we are so insecure as a culture when it comes to our language. We have the most adaptive, living vocabulary on the planet - are we trying to turn into Quebecoi? Do we need to legislate the viability of our language?

I didn't mean that a potential immigrant would have to be fluent before coming in. Just a basic command of English, enough to get by in everyday life. Of course the rest of the language would be learned over time with assimilation. Besides the obvious cultural element of requiring English, such a requirement would force the immigrant to demonstrate their dedication to becoming a resident and productive member of American society.

[lochinvar]

Originally Posted by chefencer

"Since they do not have Social Security Numbers, illegal workers are paid “off the books”. Therefore, no taxes are collected from their paychecks, and no Social Security deductions are made."

I would wager that most illegals who don't get paid by cash (which is probably most of the service industry) have FICA et al taken out of their check and that they will never see that money again. Tiny businesses might pay with cash, but once a business has a payroll system, forget it - all deductions apply. Sam's going to get his money, don't worry...

Actually, the IRS has a special Taxpayer Identification Number that they issue to people who don't qualify for a social security number; i.e., for illegals. The numbers begin with the digit "9" and are used exactly like SS nos. for tax return purposes. (I find it hugely funny that the IRS doesn't talk to the INS...)

Persons with such numbers do not qualify for any of the credits that people normally qualify for--Earned Income Credit, Child Tax Credit, Education Credits, etc. So you could argue that the illegals actually pay more tax than their legal brethren...

[lochinvar]

Originally Posted by AndrewH

I didn't mean that a potential immigrant would have to be fluent before coming in. Just a basic command of English, enough to get by in everyday life.

Many and many an immigrant of the 19th Century did not, in fact, have even a rudimentary command of English. The history of Ellis Island is replete with people whose only language was German or Polish or Swedish or Italian or even Yiddish.

They came (admittedly legally), settled, and built America. English wasn't a prerequisite then, and I don't think it should become one now.

[lochinvar]

P.S.: My first wife's grandmother didn't speak English at all up to the day she died. She came here in the 1920.s.

Her children were bi-lingual, and my wife spoke only English.

[Morion]

Well, for better or worse I might as well weigh in on this issue. One thing nobody seems to have addressed is the cause of illegal immigration. We here in the USA are amongst the "haves" while those sneaking across our borders are mostly from countries that shall henceforth be referred to as the "have-nots". As long as there is a chance for a better life here they will come no matter what barriars we put up. One way to currently to prevent this would be to install such a draconian dictatorship of law enforcement that they wouldn't want to come and we would be trying to get out.

The other way which this can be ended (and I might add that I think we are headed this way) is when our economy is depressed to the point where it isn't that much better here than anywhere else. Start teaching your kids Chinese folks it will help when they try to sneak in there to look for a job in 30 years!

[AndrewH]

Originally Posted by Morion

Well, for better or worse I might as well weigh in on this issue. One thing nobody seems to have addressed is the cause of illegal immigration. We here in the USA are amongst the "haves" while those sneaking across our borders are mostly from countries that shall henceforth be referred to as the "have-nots". As long as there is a chance for a better life here they will come no matter what barriars we put up.

I didn't address the cause so much as I addressed the inevitability of the situation. Illegal immigration will happen no matter what, so the government needs to make it as attractive as possible to immigrate through legal means, while using these new immigrants to boost the national GDP.

Originally Posted by Morion

One way to currently to prevent this would be to install such a draconian dictatorship of law enforcement that they wouldn't want to come and we would be trying to get out.

Patriot Act anyone?

[Dr. Pfleschbach]

My Grandfather was an undocumented immigrant from Scotland who came to the US in his early 20's and didn't become a citizen until he was 80. I was an undocumented immigrant in Canada for 7 years and didn't get my papers until the week before I returned to the US. No, I wasn't a draft dodger. I did a lot of work for the CBC and National Film Board and everyone knew I was not there legally. Neither my grandfather, nor I worked for less pay than legal residents. We paid our debts and our taxes. With the exception of our immigration status we obeyed the laws and adopted the customs of our adopted homes. NO ONE CARED A RAT'S #$%! Why? Because we were white, spoke English and no one viewed us as a threat to their way of life.

My point is this: I think the arguments about the need to police our borders and that undocumented workers are breaking the law by coming here are red herrings. If the illegals coming here weren't black, brown or yellow and the employers hiring them paid them a wage that an American would find acceptable, deducted taxes from their paychecks and provided health care coverage there wouldn't be any uproar about them. For one thing, there wouldn't be much reason for them to come in the first place because the jobs they come for would be filled by working class Americans. Take a look around, who are the ones that are the most upset about illegal immigration?

[achilleus]

Does this mean we'll have to pay more for fruit and meals as businesses pay more for employees? If so, that sucks.