Video
Transcript
The preceding proposals will create an educated and trained workforce but where advantageous, augment domestic human capital with legal immigrants. The U.S. must implement a merit-based program for the immigration of skilled or other prosperous persons. Temporary visas like the H-1B visa will act as a trial run for permanent residency. Increase the number of Permanent Resident visas. Points will be awarded based on skills versus U.S. skill shortages; work plan; age; and net worth. The potential burden of the immigrant’s family on social services will be considered.
Eliminate extended family and “diversity” immigration.
Implement an “indefinite stay” visa for visits without an end date.
Retain immediate family reunification, defined as unmarried minor children and spouses only. Eligible persons must register if currently in the US illegally. They will be permanently deported if they don’t register. These people will be allowed a conditions-based path to citizenship.
Smooth the issuance of Student visas. Persons holding a Student visa may apply for residency via the merit-based skilled immigration system while still using their Student visa. This will facilitate their transition directly from studies to work without interruption.
Smooth the existing temporary unskilled labor visa programs. The government will expedite visa processing; continue to limit job categories; but will not tie workers to a single employer. Employers will advertise for domestic workers first; pay the prevailing wage; and not be required to provide housing. Workers will be allowed to work in the U.S. between the ages of 19 through 25, inclusive. Or, they may work in the U.S. beginning at age 18 with a high school diploma. They must leave the U.S. for at least 26 whole days out of every year.
Temporary workers must participate in Social Security with the following modifications. Employees must make additional contributions of 15% of labor income. Employers must make contributions of 7% of the first $7,000 of labor income. Former temporary workers will receive lifetime payments beginning immediately after temporary worker status ends if not residing in the U.S. illegally; otherwise, the payments will be forfeited.
Resolve the illegal alien situation by steering them into temporary unskilled labor visa programs. They must register as temporary unskilled labor but need not leave the U.S. They must follow the rules for temporary unskilled labor modified as follows. They will not be restricted in their occupation. They will have no age limit; they may stay for 7 years. And, they must leave the U.S. for at least 12 days rather than 26. Spouses can divide time between them as they desire. Theoretically, one spouse could stay in the U.S. for 14 years if the other spouse left the U.S. immediately.
For persons qualifying under the 2012 Presidential order for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA, the 7 years begins at age 19 if they are still minors. They may apply for residency via the merit-based immigration program while still residing in the U.S.
With respect to all aliens, in general, aliens are not entitled to any social services including health care. In general, aliens are not allowed to work. This includes illegal aliens, minor noncitizen children of noncitizen adults and those with family reunification or “indefinite stay” visas. Those aliens who are allowed to work are discussed below. Aliens are not eligible to receive federal or state unemployment benefits. Legal aliens are exempt from the unemployment tax.
Legal aliens must arrange and pay for, directly and indirectly, their own health care plus VAT. Legal aliens who are allowed to work include permanent residents, temporary workers and, to a limited extent, students. Legal aliens will participate in workers compensation and Social Security.
The minor citizen child of a noncitizen adult living in the U.S. is entitled to all benefits except the SIF. The requirements for a minor noncitizen child of a noncitizen adult living in the U.S. are like those for temporary unskilled labor but they are not allowed to work in the U.S.
Make illegal immigration less attractive by welcoming legal visitors and discouraging illegal immigration. Improve the entry experience for visitors to the U.S. from preparation for the trip to the physical border crossing.
The relative economic opportunity and safety of the U.S. incent Latin Americans to illegally emigrate to the U.S. These problems must be addressed if illegal immigration into the U.S. is to be staunched. To accomplish this, the U.S. must support good governance and economic opportunity with trade and investment in Latin America; in particular, we must fight trafficking in Latin America because it fosters rampant criminality. The best way to fight trafficking is indirectly by replacing the “war on drugs” with the “struggle against substance abuse.”
Immigration laws and the legal system must be improved. The U.S. must end automatic birthright citizenship. Under the current interpretation of law, any baby born in the U.S. is considered a U.S. citizen, even if the baby’s parents are foreigners – even if they are in the U.S. illegally. This must change so that America gets to decide which foreigners can become American citizens. The change will not be retroactive. Then, ensure the fair and timely adjudication of cases by reforming immigration law and adding legal resources as needed. Then, make refugee and asylum law more flexible and conditions-based.
The border must be secured with the following measures. Replace current visa fees with large refundable deposits and reduced, nonrefundable fees. Before immigrants enter the U.S., they must pass a criminal background check and be issued secure identification cards. The border must be fortified; for example, using physical security measures. Exit visas must be implemented so immigration officials know which foreigners visiting the U.S. are still in the U.S., including foreigners who have chosen to stay on in the U.S. illegally.
The federal government must eliminate employer checks like E-Verify because that would put the power to allow or disallow hiring in the hands of the government. Law enforcement must deport illegal aliens immediately. Foreigners must be deported after prosecution and/or imprisonment if they commit a felony, significant misdemeanor, three or more misdemeanors, or pose a threat to national security or public safety. The federal government must work with state and local governments that wish to help enforce immigration laws and allow state governments located along the border to deploy their National Guard along the border.
State and local governments must provide all assistance legally required to help federal law enforcement officials charged with enforcing federal immigration laws, cease providing incentives for illegal immigration and protect the integrity of the franchise with voter identification laws.
Slides
FixAmericasFuture_Present_No_Audio-compressed-pr-Immigration
Cost Estimate
See Human Capital (i.e., education and training)