Blogcabin California

We need to have a formal way of distinguishing between “guest workers” and new immigrants (folks intending to make USA home).

Group A: “Guest Worker” (designed for unaccompanied workers who intend to send money home). These folks get red “worker cards” with a 3 year expiration date. They need not contribute to either the Social Security or Unemployment systems and are not eligible for the associated benefits. (To keep a level playing field, their employers will still be required to make the same hourly dollar contributions to the Government with will go into a general fund used for emergency medical care.) These cards can be used for unlimited border crossing, emergency life saving medical care, and for applying for special drivers licenses clearly marked with their status and expiration date. There is no provision for their children to attend public schools - the children are eligible for free immunizations. Children above the age of six must be returned to family outside the US. These folks are not expected to master English and some reasonable provisions need be made to accommodate their needs (bi-lingual signage and some government forms). An employed guest worker can request a change of status to permanent immigrant to accommodate having a family (this change of status should not adversely affect his employer). Guest worker cards can be renewed periodically upon proof of previous employment. If a guest worker desires to keep a family in Mexico and do migrant labor in the US he should be able to do so. All Guest Workers must be sponsored by another nation that agrees to accept the applicant’s deportation, if necessary, (workers needing on-going medical care, those convicted of serious crimes or being released from prison, and those with minor children age 6 or more accompanying them are subject to deportation). If Mexico balks at this we’ll speak to them about a bigger, fortified wall; other nations not agreeing are subject to loss of US Aid and stricter controls on their citizens Visa requirements. Current residents of any status may apply for a Guest Worker Card at their country or origin’s Consulate (no silly requirement of returning home to become a Guest Worker).

Group B: Permanent Immigrant (designed for folks intending to make a life-long commitment to becoming a US Citizen). These folks get green “immigrant cards” and must enroll in the Social Security System. They are expected to learn English, and adequate public-funded ESL classes will be offered. All immigrant children who can not pass an English proficiency test will be enrolled in a special one year public school transition program in order to attain the necessary language skills - these children will have one year added to their formal public education; time in the transition program can also be utilized to strengthen the new arrivals learning base to ensure an appropriate transition into the mainstream. (We might want to consider a six-month transition for children with limited English skills on admission.) Single Permanent Immigrants and heads of households must have a bona fide job (or job offer) offer upon applying for permanent immigrant status (some provision should be made for sponsorship for unemployed applicants). Guest Workers with a three year history of employment are exempt from any immigrant quotas when applying for permanent immigrant status - can be retro-actively applied to current illegals on payment of a $2000 fine for illegal entry).

There should be appropriate adjustment to laws on the books that can be interpreted to require delivery of government services to non-residents.

The system described above would address regularizing the current illegal population without encouraging further border hopping (current illegals can request Guest Worker status and apply for permanent status after three years of employment, or payment of the $2000 fine). Smoothing the way for legal border crossing will make cracking down on illegal crossing easier. These programs ease the way for employable “good citizen candidates” to migrate to the US to augment our labor pool, and where appropriate, become permanent residents.

The “sticking points” are:

Getting the America-firsters off the “your rewarding law breakers” band wagon.

Convincing the legislatures to craft bills that will withstand Judicial obstacles to a multi-tiered system of social services delivery.

Convincing foreign governments to sign on to the “Country of Origin” sponsorship requirement.

BUT IT WOULD WORK!!!!

Bruce Albert