Immigration is a big issue on this country and overall a financial burden, despite the $95b paid in taxes by illegal immigrants. There is also the issue of criminality from those who enter illegally. However, there are many immigrants genuinely seeking a better life and doing their best to contribute to American society without receiving many of the benefits.
My proposal would be that those who have a record of paying taxes and have not committed crimes (other than illegally entering the country) should be granted a temporary work permit, with a track to legal residence and eventual citizenship, like any other law-abiding permanent resident.
I believe with this policy we keep those who will value American life, preserving those families, while not damaging the workforce too drastically.
It is easy to demonize everyone but I think a balanced approach would be the best way forward for this country.
So they just get a pass on breaking federal law and entering the country? Seems to me that if your first thought is to break our laws, then you don’t truly believe in what our country stands for. This isn’t demonizing, it’s a fact. The amount of taxes they pay fall far short from the amount of money they take from our services. They are a net drain on our country. Here is some testimony that may open some eyes…HHRG-118-BU00-Wstate-KirchnerJ-20240508.pdf .
I agree to a degree. Trump said himself that people would be deported and be able to return legally. Instead of disrupting a number of workplaces by deporting people who actually ARE paying taxes and doing their part in society while keeping the door open for them to return, why not focus first on deporting those who are non-contributors? In the meantime open a process of work-permits for those who are paying taxes. This would only apply to those who have already been here, not new/recent entrants.
Many of these people who will be considered illegal have been brought/flown in and possibly believe they are legally allowed to be here since the government (illegally) aided them and therefore may be unwittingly breaking federal law with the assistance of the federal government. It’s a shamble.
I think it’s like ~$150b that it costs the government, while undocumented migrants pay $95b in taxes. If we work to keep those who contribute the $95b, while removing those who don’t, we’ll be in a much more stable place. Legitimizing those who are paying taxes will likely also increase the amount they pay in taxes.
If they have to be deported and return, so be it. I just think it’s more prudent to allow those paying taxes to apply for a work permit, instead of incurring the additional cost of deporting them, losing their taxes, and potentially destabilizing certain workforces only for them to eventually return in a worse state than before.
Citizenship would be WAY later. Start with a work-permit application. Followed by residence application, permanent residence and finally citizenship once the timeperiod of naturalization has passed. In that time, there are criteria a person must meet to qualify.
The democrats policy of granting citizenship immediately or expeditiously is not what I’m saying. That’s dangerous and certainly a very slippery slope.
“In the meantime open a process of work-permits for those who are paying taxes. This would only apply to those who have already been here, not new/recent entrants.”
This is a critical distinction. Recent entrants (over the past four years when the borders flew open) receiving benefits (rent, medical, food, etc.) should not qualify for this proposed exemption.
It is important to note that not all illegal migrants are seeking financial assistance. Some are equally as shocked that the recent entrants are being given handouts. I believe there should be a LIFO (Last in first out) approach to deportation as the recent illegal migrants are the ones who were promised everything but the kitchen sink to break the law.
Also, consider that illegal migrants from communist countries have a sense of entitlement that previous illegal immigrants don’t share. We should account for the distinction in the deportation process.
And voting rights should be OFF the table. This comes with citizenship.