{"id":2756,"date":"2018-06-30T23:00:11","date_gmt":"2018-07-01T03:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/?p=2756"},"modified":"2018-06-30T23:57:46","modified_gmt":"2018-07-01T03:57:46","slug":"what-a-mess-immigration-is-broken-can-it-be-fixed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/2756","title":{"rendered":"What a mess!  Immigration is broken, can it be fixed?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><strong><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-2757\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_1478-3.jpg?resize=242%2C231&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"242\" height=\"231\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_1478-3.jpg?resize=300%2C286&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_1478-3.jpg?resize=148%2C141&amp;ssl=1 148w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_1478-3.jpg?resize=31%2C31&amp;ssl=1 31w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_1478-3.jpg?resize=38%2C36&amp;ssl=1 38w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_1478-3.jpg?resize=225%2C215&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/IMG_1478-3.jpg?w=465&amp;ssl=1 465w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 242px) 100vw, 242px\" \/><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Today I was watching the immigration protests on my preferred news network, CNN (I know what many of you think of CNN, but I still enjoy them). I do think they are generally a good news source, even if they are left leaning. This is an emotional topic, and as such, feelings are hard and many people are unable, or unwilling, to open their ears to the opinion of others.<\/p>\n<p>Anyway, the protests today really kind of got under my skin.\u00a0 While the protests were focused on the separation of children from families (which, for the record I find disturbing), I don\u2019t think we can separate this issue from the larger issue: illegal immigration.<\/p>\n<p>Illegal immigration into the United States is a problem.\u00a0 Let us be clear of one thing, it was not a problem started by President Trump, and he is trying to solve the problem.\u00a0 While I may not agree with his tactics, he is trying to solve a decades old problem.\u00a0 For clarification, let me give the definition of an \u201cillegal alien.\u201d\u00a0 An illegal alien is anyone who enters the U.S. without authorization, or who has unlawfully remained once their authorization expired.\u00a0 Let me be clear: undocumented = illegal.<\/p>\n<p>Before we can even begin to conquer this issue, we have to know HOW we have come to our present situation.\u00a0 I suggest you read \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.history.com\/news\/the-birth-of-illegal-immigration\">The Birth of \u2018illegal\u2019 Immigration<\/a>\u201d by the History Channel.\u00a0 A few of takeaways from the article:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Immigration to the US didn\u2019t start until after we were an independent nation. Africans entered the country as enslaved peoples, and Europeans entered as settlers.<\/li>\n<li><em>Settlers are not immigrants<\/em> \u2013 they are there to disrupt the current system and implement their own laws.<\/li>\n<li>Groups of one form or another have not been welcomed into America.\n<ul>\n<li>First were the Irish and Catholics who were not welcomed, opposition to Catholics finally ended upon return of WWII vets from the war.<\/li>\n<li>Then it was the Italians and Chinese turn to be frowned upon.<\/li>\n<li>1882 officially banned most Chinese. Those that did migrate legally had to carry a proof of citizenship. Also, if you were a prostitute, polygamist, anarchist, or had a contagious disease, you were not welcome.<\/li>\n<li>1924 introduced quotas based on the country of origin, effectively chocking off the in-stream of immigrants.<\/li>\n<li>1965 saw a replacement of the 1924 law. This restricted the percentage of people from each nation per year.\u00a0 This was the first time the US restricted immigration from Mexico.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Another fantastic article around immigration, is \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fairus.org\/legislation\/reports-and-analysis\/history-of-us-immigration-laws\">History of U.S. Immigration Policies<\/a>,\u201d which was written by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) group.\u00a0 FAIR estimates there were 12.5 million illegal aliens in the U.S. at the end of 2017.\u00a0 In Virginia for example, the Pew research center estimates there were 300,000 illegal aliens in the state, about 480,000 if you include children.<\/p>\n<p>Currently, there are roughly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/popclock\/\">328 million<\/a> souls living in the U.S. of A.<\/p>\n<p>How do our neighbors, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2016\/12\/21\/505538964\/police-and-illegal-immigration-what-our-neighbors-do\">Canada and Mexico<\/a>, deal with immigration?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In Canada, Sanctuary cities work with law enforcement, and law enforcement is expected to help the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) enforce Canadian law. One thing Canada offers their illegal population, more paths to citizenship.<\/li>\n<li>Mexico on the other hand has taken a different approach. With rampant corruption, Mexico decriminalized illegal immigration in hopes of reducing human trafficking. Mexican police do not ask about immigration status unless they have probable cause or the person commits a crime. Regarding sanctuary cities, Mexican police are expected to cooperate with immigration policy.\u00a0 Corruption notwithstanding. Now, what about their borders?\u00a0 As it happens, Mexico has a fortified border to the south (Guatemala and Belize).\u00a0 Guatemala depends on Mexico for trade, and Mexico has problems with them, as we do with Mexico.\u00a0 I encourage you to read a report from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilsoncenter.org\/sites\/default\/files\/Reflections%20on%20the%20Mexico%20Guatemala%20Border_2.pdf\">Wilson Institute<\/a> which addressed some of these issues, and gives introspect from the researchers.\u00a0 Want another take on Mexico\u2019s immigration policies, read <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2013\/07\/11\/opinion\/navarrette-mexico-immigration-law\/index.html\">Ruben Navarrette\u2019s article<\/a> for CNN&gt;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Now that we have a brief history, and have a real basic understanding of their policies, what shall we (the U.S. of A.) do?\u00a0 Do we take the militarized approach of Mexico?\u00a0 Do we force our sanctuary cities to cooperate with immigration?\u00a0 How should we solve this problem, in a fair, and humane fashion?<\/p>\n<p>Keeping in mind that I am not a policy expert, but I do have some opinions (as everyone does) and some insight from my friends who have migrated here from other countries, let me give my two cents:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>It is not mandatory to become a U.S. citizen. <\/strong>Just because you obtain a green card (become documented, i.e. a permanent resident) you are not required to file for citizenship, but your green card is only good for 10 years before you have to renew it, and there are limitations on coming and going from the USA. So if you want to be ham-stringed, go for it.\u00a0 I know several people who have chosen not to become citizens; for one reason or another \u2013 but they all pay their taxes and are law abiding.\u00a0 If you are a temporary visa holder, you can request a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscis.gov\/i-751\">removal of conditions on residency<\/a>\u201d to stay in the US and eventually become a citizen.\u00a0 Being a visa holder has challenges of its own, as spelled out by Mr. Han in this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vox.com\/2015\/6\/23\/8823349\/immigration-system-broken\">essay about his being deported<\/a>, after working legally in the U.S. for 15 years.<\/li>\n<li><strong>We have to make it more advantageous to immigrate legally<\/strong>. By this I mean, those who have followed the law, migrated to our land, passed the citizenship test (yes, they take a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscis.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/USCIS\/Office%20of%20Citizenship\/Citizenship%20Resource%20Center%20Site\/Publications\/100q.pdf\">test<\/a>!), became citizens (or green card holders) in compliance of our laws, and have assimilated to American society, should be held above illegal immigrants.\n<ol>\n<li>Read this for a good <a href=\"https:\/\/www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org\/research\/how-united-states-immigration-system-works\">review of the immigration system<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Generally speaking, you need to be a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscis.gov\/greencard\">green card<\/a> holder for 3 \u2013 5 years before applying for citizenship. For the record, it took my wife 7 years to become a citizen.<\/li>\n<li>It takes 8 \u2013 12 months to process citizenship paperwork (<a href=\"https:\/\/citizenpath.com\/what-happens-after-filing-n-400-application-naturalization\/\">N400 form<\/a>).<\/li>\n<li>Before any of this can begin however, the person must get to the U.S. of A. That process can take upwards of five to 10 years, depending upon the visa being requested.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Illegal migrants CAN become legal migrants<\/strong>. What did you say, yes, there are currently <a href=\"http:\/\/www.alllaw.com\/articles\/nolo\/us-immigration\/legal-options-undocumented-illegal-immigrant-stay.html\">5 common paths for current, illegal immigrants, to stay in our country<\/a>, and all of them are difficult, at best.\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.alllaw.com\/articles\/nolo\/us-immigration\/undocumented-illegal-immigrant-get-green-card-marriage-citizen-resident.html\">Marry a citizen<\/a>. This may have a bucket load of unintended consequences.<\/li>\n<li>Join the military, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.us-immigration.com\/blog\/undocumented-immigrants-to-be-allowed-to-serve-in-the-military\/\">certain conditions apply<\/a>.\u00a0 This is, bar none, the fastest route to citizenship.<\/li>\n<li>Request a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nolo.com\/legal-encyclopedia\/green-card-through-cancellation-removal-non-lpr-who-qualifies.html\">Cancellation of removal<\/a>\u201d (get a lawyer if you try this) from the judge.<\/li>\n<li>Apply for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscis.gov\/humanitarian\/refugees-asylum\/asylum\">Asylum<\/a>, once again, restrictions apply.<\/li>\n<li>Apply for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscis.gov\/humanitarian\/temporary-protected-status\">temporary protected status<\/a>. Currently, if you are from one of the following countries, you can apply to stay in the US for up to 18 months: El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, or Yemen.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>So how do we fix this?\u00a0 There was a good article in the USA today on Feb 16, 2018 entitled \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/opinion\/2018\/02\/16\/solve-immigration-problem-starting-those-live-here-already-bob-vander-plaats-column\/343360002\/\">Here\u2019s a new, compassionate idea for dealing with illegal immigration<\/a>.\u201d\u00a0 Let\u2019s take a look at what Mr. Plaat\u2019s has to say.\u00a0 He says that the effort needs to community based, and recommends a \u201csponsorship\u201d type program, similar to the one used for legal immigration for work.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Create a formalized \u201csponsorship\u201d program that would allow U.S. citizens to sponsor illegal\/undocumented individuals, currently living in the US. Some suggested measures for success:\n<ul>\n<li>Must learn to speak English and integrate into the community.<\/li>\n<li>Keep a clean criminal record.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This just might work.\u00a0 Why, because it is a local effort requiring our citizenry to become engaged, not just outraged at what a president, or an agency did, or did not do.\u00a0 The more I think of it, the more I like it.\u00a0 I would add a time requirement that is longer than that of lawful immigrant.\u00a0 I would think the sponsorship should have a \u201cwaiting\u201d period of say, 10 years (sound familiar) before their sponsor can aid them in getting their green card and they can begin the citizenship process.\u00a0 From the time the illegal immigrant is sponsored, they should be issued some sort of documentation (work visa?) to officially start their 10 year clock.<\/p>\n<p>No matter how it comes to pass, there are a few things we, as a country, need to accomplish:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>We need to encourage legal immigration, and a good start would be to reduce the amount of time it takes to legally migrate and become a citizen.<\/li>\n<li>Allow more paths to permanent citizenship for those here on a working visa (we, as a country, want to retain good talent).<\/li>\n<li>Create a sponsorship program, which involves local citizenry, to bring illegal immigrants out of the shadows and into the fold of the community.<\/li>\n<li>Support law enforcement, while holding them accountable, so they do not overstep their bounds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Going back to my opening paragraphs, are illegal immigrants actually settlers?\u00a0 What say you?\u00a0 Click to see my other <a href=\"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/?s=immigrants\">writings on immigration<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today I was watching the immigration protests on my preferred news network, CNN (I know what many of you think of CNN, but I still enjoy them). I do think they are generally a good news source, even if they &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/2756\">Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"kt_blocks_editor_width":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[8,4,16],"tags":[50,79,85,54,88,103,91],"class_list":["post-2756","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-life","category-politics","category-rants-raves","tag-america","tag-doing-good","tag-fairness","tag-foreign-policy","tag-immigration","tag-politics","tag-responsibilities"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15061,"url":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/15061","url_meta":{"origin":2756,"position":0},"title":"In-Decision 2024 \u2013 Presidential Election 2024","author":"DR D","date":"October 17, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Today, my cat was telling me to start writing again.\u00a0 So, to shut him up; I\u2019m stealing the name of a segment from the \u201cDaily Show,\u201d as I\u2019m sure you\u2019re aware, it sums up this year\u2019s election cycle quite nicely. As you all know, one of the primary purposes of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Politics&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/category\/politics"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/2013-11-05_08-28-25_109.jpg?fit=688%2C689&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/2013-11-05_08-28-25_109.jpg?fit=688%2C689&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/2013-11-05_08-28-25_109.jpg?fit=688%2C689&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":935,"url":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/935","url_meta":{"origin":2756,"position":1},"title":"American Gestapo","author":"DR D","date":"April 23, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"With the recent shootings, and the bombings in Boston, MA, there have been new calls for gun legislation, immigration reform and prosecuting the bombing suspects as terrorist.\u00a0 We (as a country) need to be very, very careful about the precedents we set.\u00a0 Look at what we got from our rush\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Rants &amp; Raves&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Rants &amp; Raves","link":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/category\/rants-raves"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":15065,"url":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/15065","url_meta":{"origin":2756,"position":2},"title":"Virginia vs. the Fed\u2026. Who\u2019s got the better case?","author":"DR D","date":"October 26, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Recently, the governor of Virginia, Glen Younkin, ordered the removal of 1600+ individuals from Virginia\u2019s voting roster.\u00a0 These 1600+ people were previously identified, and are known non-citizens.\u00a0 According to the governor\u2019s press secretary, \u201c\u2026everyone who was removed from the voter roll [has] 14 days to come back and demonstrate that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Politics&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/category\/politics"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/virginia_Seal.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":849,"url":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/849","url_meta":{"origin":2756,"position":3},"title":"The Pope, the Church, and me&#8230;.","author":"DR D","date":"February 12, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation.\u00a0 He will resign at the end of this month.\u00a0 He stated he was resigning for the good of the Church, and that is a reason that I can, and will, fully respect. There has been a lot of discussion on the news boards\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Life&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Life","link":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/category\/life"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1075,"url":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/1075","url_meta":{"origin":2756,"position":4},"title":"Let Loose the hounds!!","author":"DR D","date":"June 14, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"DDD has been a one man show for quite awhile. It's my baby; but from time to time it is nice to hear another persons take on an issue. Today is a \"mark your calendar\" type of event here at the dive. We have another person who will be contributing\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1102,"url":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/1102","url_meta":{"origin":2756,"position":5},"title":"Happy 237th Birthday America!!","author":"DR D","date":"July 5, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Good morning.\u00a0 Yesterday was a great birthday party!\u00a0 Had burgers and dogs on the grill all day, good friends; talked politics...it's what the fourth is all about. What did you all do yesterday?\u00a0 How did you celebrate our nations independence? What do you think 'ol George would think of America\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Politics&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/category\/politics"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2756","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2756"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2756\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2765,"href":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2756\/revisions\/2765"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2756"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2756"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2756"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}