There is no doubt we have a problem of illegal and unvetted people entering the country. This poses an imminent threat on many fronts.
I also believe most Americans are welcoming, compassionate people who understand the need for labor workers and appreciate the human desire to make a better life for one’s self and their family.
We should approach deportation from a soft but stern approach: use less resources tracking down the mother who has been working and providing for her family, and more on violent criminals.
I believe the central focus of deportation efforts should be policy that says:
-
if you’re here working and obeying the laws, we understand. You may not be able to stay permanently in the end, but we don’t want to divide families and we appreciate the hard working American dream.
-
if you come here and commit a violent crime, particularly against a child - your due process is expedited and you will be sent out immediately without any leniency.
This would allow us to deport as many of the violent offender types as possible, thus reducing the risk of a serious violent event. And we would also be able to provide a humanitarian response to the honest and hard working immigrants that most people don’t take issue with. We may also be able to expedite the process for all peaceful people who want to come and help our economy thrive.
Remember: 5,000 well-armed men could absolutely destroy any major US city. With 10-20 million having come in already, we need to make sure they’re vetted and do not attempt to cause harm, and many of them need to be sent back because they’ve already committed crimes.
Compassionate but tough.