Making Sense of the Illegal Immigration Debate ...

The national debate is forceful and confusing.  Both parties advance flawed solutions and talking points pandering to their faithful.   One side paints the other as heartless; the other attacks in turn suggesting that political benefits are behind the talking points.  One side emphasizes humane treatment while the other emphasizes  border security.

Rome is burning and the politicians are playing the fiddle …

The illegal immigration is not just an American problem.  The same is playing out in the European Union as thousands of people are flooding in from North Africa in rickety and overcrowded boats.  Many die in transit due to inclement weather, leaky boats, and unscrupulous traffickers.  So far, about 90,000 have reached the Southern borders.  Many more are ready to come from Syria, Libya, Tunisia and other parts of the Maghreb.  Most come from sub-Sahara Africa, the Middle and Far East.  They are escaping flash points, dire straits, and inhuman situations.  Some are born during the crossing, while others come as toddlers.  A few are young unaccompanied men and women.  They are exploited, like their distant cousins crossing the Rio Grande.

They are our brothers and sisters. 

They come in search of a safer and better life.  Yet they are easily demonized and unwelcome by many. 

It has been estimated that 45% of the world’s population lives on two dollars a day.  A $ 100 donation, for example, feeds one meal to 250 people in impoverished parts of India.  Philanthropic initiatives abound, but they are not making much of a dent on world poverty.   Billions in government grants are sent to poor countries, but they do not seem to reach the poor.  Somehow most find their way to the bank accounts of despots and unscrupulous government officials.

There are, I am told, over 200 million people all over the world in transit, in search of a better life, displaced by famines, wars, and despotic regimes. 

What drives this illegal immigration to the European Union? The same one that what drives illegal immigration to the U.S.: the lure of more opportunity, more freedom, and more safety.

Our Response to the Crisis?

The administration has sent a request to Congress for $ 3.7 billion to finance the influx’s handling until September 2014.  There is a backlog of 400,000 immigrants waiting their day in court already.  Most will wait 2-3 years before their case comes up for judicial review.  The backlog is increasing on a daily basis.  According to current law, unaccompanied minors have to be released to HHS for placement after 72 hours.  Most wind up joining family members, who might also be undocumented, dispersed throughout the country; most will never show up for their judicial review. 

There are 225 judges at the border handling this enormous surge.  How much of the $ 3.7 billion request is set aside for increasing judicial capacity?  Just enough money is ear marked for about 40 additional judges.  You do the math.  Almost half a million cases for 260 judges already.   Ludicrous!!!

Long Term Versus Short Term

In the short term, we need to address the humanitarian crisis.  There are two suggestions on the table: (1) make sure people are processed humanely and in keeping with our values, and (2) beef up enforcement by updating the 2008 law that gives authorities the option of repatriating folks more quickly, but in a humane way.   

Both merit our support.

In the long term, the USA must help improve the economic situation of our neighbors to the South.  Not, in the way we have done it in the past with dismal results, but in ways that get to the root cause of the problem.   

But first, existing immigration laws need to be changed.  Quotas for family reunification must be more realistic. Temporary and seasonal workers must be allowed to come in as needed.  The number of HB-1 visas must be aligned with the business needs of the country.  Current law-abiding undocumented immigrants, who have been in the country for more than 10 years, should be allowed to stay but pay penalties for having violated US laws.   A national identification system must be devised.  We are the only country in the world that I know of that does not have one.  Employers must be given the tools to verify legal residence.

Archaic procedures must be replaced with modern ones.  Key components of the revised law must look forward to the country’s needs of say 25-50 years from now, rather than just fix “leaks” in the existing law.  Undocumented immigrants entering the country should be quickly processed, say, in less than 72 hours.  The number of judges must be increased sufficiently to whittle down the enormous backlog.

The US cannot afford to periodically grant amnesty to those who violate its borders.  This makes a mockery of the law.   Any loopholes will be exploited to gain access to the country.

Borders need to be more secure.  Although they are not going to stop all those intent on trespassing, they eliminate the perceptual problem that we are defenseless.

Observation on Globalization

We talk about globalization and its benefits.  The truth is that only 35% of the world’s economy is globalized, the rest is pretty much local or regional. 

Who has benefitted the most from globalization?  I believe that it is the developed countries.  They can buy things at a much lower price, and in a faster turn around cycle.  It is the developing countries that set prices on the commodities from under developed countries. And, they obviously set them as low as possible.  

So the jury is still out!  Some question whether it will deliver the promised benefits.  I am one of those skeptics!