I am writing this article to show two sides to Views on Immigration. What was already a "Hot Button" has now exploded with the outcome of this election. Let us view some factual information:
Immigration is a classic example of an issue that should not be about “left or right,” but “right or wrong.” The United States’ borders and immigration laws are the nation’s first and last line of defense against international terrorists, transnational criminals, aliens with dangerous communicable diseases, and those foreign nationals whose presence in the United States would undermine national security, public safety, and the well-being of American citizens. In fact, a country that is unable or unwilling to take defensive measures to prevent the entry of aliens posing a threat to national security has no justification for a military. The purpose of our armed forces is to keep America’s enemies as far from U.S. shores as possible.
Below You will see Two Lists with Ten Items: First -Hamilton Project believes it is important to ground the current immigration debate in an objective framework based on the best available evidence.
List One: The Hamilton Project Ten Economic Facts About Immigration
1-Today's Immigrants hail From More Diverse Backgrounds Than They Did a Century Ago. 100 years ago 95 % of immigrants were from Europe and Canada. Today large immigrant populations from Latin America and Asia. Largest home Country of Immigrants, not surprising is Mexico.
2-Immigrants Bring a Diverse Set of Skills and Educational Backgrounds- Immigrants are both better and worse educations that US born citizens.11% of foreign born workers have advanced degrees
3- On Average, Immigrants Improve the Living Standards of Americans, the most recent academic research suggests that, on average, immigrants raise the overall standard of living of American workers by boosting wages and lowering prices.
4-Immigrants Are Not a Net Drain on the Federal Government Budget. Taxes paid by immigrants and their children- both legal and unauthorized-exceed the costs of the services they use.
5- Both Immigration Enforcement Funding and The Number of Unauthorized Immigrants have Increased since 2003.
6-Immigrants Do Not Disproportionately Burden US Corrections Facilities and Institutions. Immigrants are institutionalized at substantially lower rates that US born citizens.
7-Recent Immigrants Reflect America's Melting Pot- some groups are concerned that recent immigrants choose not to integrate and assimilate into American social and economic life, in contract to previous generations of immigrants.
8-The Skill Composition of US Immigrants Differs from that of Other Countries. Compared to Countries like Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, the US has a greater proportion of low-skilled immigrants.
9-Immigrants Start New businesses and File Patents at Higher Rates that US Born Citizens. Today's immigrants possess a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Immigrants are 30% more likely to form new businesses than US born citizens.
10-American is Issuing a Declining Number of Visas for High Skilled Workers. With its top-level universities, dynamic business environment, and wide ranging economic opportunities, the US has a history of attracting high-skilled workers.
Now, on to Trump and his ideas on Immigration. "Some actions, like reversing President Obama's immigration executive actions, can be done unilaterally" and others, like building a wall and strengthening border security, will require Congress to change current law or to agree to spend the billions of dollars such proposals will need.
Trump says:
1-Build an "impenetrable physical wall on the southern border" and he says Mexico will pay for it
2-End "catch and release". If anyone is caught illegally crossing the border, that person will be detained until deported
3-Deport immigrants in the country illegal CONVICTED of crimes.
4-End sanctuary cities ( there are cities where local law enforcement officers are not required to alert federal authorities to people in the country illegally)
5-End Obama's executive actions, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and triple the number of US Immigration and Customers Enforcement Agents.
6-Suspend issuance of visas to people in places where "adequate screening cannot occur until proven and effective vetting mechanisms can be put into place."
7-Make sure countries take back their own citizens when the US orders them deported
8-Fully implement at all land, air, and sea ports a biometric entry-exit visa tracking system.
9-"Turn off the jobs and benefits magnet" that attract immigrants who come to the US illegally.
10-Reform legal immigration and keep it "within historic norms", to serve the best interest of America and its workers.
Consider that the primary mission of the armed forces of the United States is to keep America’s enemies as far from its shores as possible. How can the armed forces of the United States protect America and Americans if the enemies of the United States are capable of entering the country by evading the inspections process, running the borders, stowing away on vessels or gaming the visa process? Terrorists who seek to attack the U.S. see the borders of the United States as the enemy lines they need to cross. They know that they cannot launch a frontal assault on the most effective military force on the planet, so instead they seek to engage in asymmetrical warfare which is not unlike guerrilla warfare tactics.
National borders are certainly no less significant than are the property lines of real estate property.
Immigration is a tough issue in our Nation. We are a Great Country because we are the "Melting Pot" but at the same time, we need to protect our borders to ensure National Safety and Security. 1/2 of US technology start-ups are founded by immigrants. The largest immigration Lobby Group FWD.US is backed by Mark Zuckerburg of Facebook:
Silicon Valley has a very high interest in Immigration Reform. They want expansion of the H-1B Visa Program to bring in the overseas talent to high tech. Is this all at Risk? They are fearful. Most of Silicon Valley is, but not Peter Theil. Peter Andreas Thiel is a German-American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, hedge fund manager and author. Thiel co-founded PayPal with Max Levchin and Elon Musk and served as its chief executive officer. Since he is pretty much Silicon Valley’s only conduit to the new administration at this point, it will be interesting to see what he pushes for and what he does not.
The new Trump Administration in 2017 has many large tasks to focus on. Hopefully they will be more than social issues about "who should use which restroom". Hopefully his team, will be diverse, and well rounded enough to come to consensus and be sensible when issuing reforms for and against immigration. Please realize that legal and illegal immigration are two different issues to be addressed. What will happen? Will there be a wall? Should the large immigration populations in places such as very liberal California be worried? Will Silicon Valley have a voice in the reform? Who's Voice will ring loudest during this reform? Let us watch, listen, and see. The Transition team is finding it's voice, and the First 100 Days will say a lot about our new President, Mr. Donald J Trump!
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