American Analysis: We Must Register All Well-Behaved Undocumented Immigrants

Food for Thought

We Must Register All Well-Behaved Undocumented Immigrants

What person here illegally (and in his right mind),

will go to the government, announce being here

illegally (e.g. plead guilty), provide all sorts of

information as to where that person lives, etc.

to get a work permit only to be a target for

deportation in two years?

Greta Van Susteren

Now that the southern border is effectively closed, and as we continue with the aggressive deportation of criminal aliens, the all-important question remains, how do we humanely manage the 20-30+ million undocumented residents already in our country? Technically, they are all criminals who violated our immigration laws and are living in hiding in our country, as clearly expressed by the new White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt.

Nevertheless, do open borders, sanctuary cities and states, and lack of immigration law enforcement constitute an invitation by the United States (U.S.) for poor people to come over? Regardless of which federal government administration was responsible, they were actions of the U.S. as an actor on the world stage. We, as a nation, are morally liable for the consequences. Treating law-abiding undocumented immigrants, whom we enticed to come over illegally, as criminals comes dangerously close to legal entrapment.

There are some things on which both sides of the aisle can agree, as follows:

· Let's agree that the undocumented immigrants whom our nation has lured here with an open-border policy and who have become law-abiding, productive members of society and loyal to our nation must be granted gradual legalization and, ultimately, voting citizenship.

Let's agree that all criminal aliens should be deported as soon as possible (a.s.a.p.).

Let's agree that we should not cast a broad net to fish for all illegal immigrants in the general population. It is common sense; we cannot deport tens of millions of human beings inside our country; it would create national chaos.

Let's agree that we will not grant another 'blanket amnesty' for undocumented immigrants. We have done this in the past, seven times since 1986, without seriously preventing the ongoing flow of illegal entry. It was disingenuous and divisive, and it prolonged the suffering of the millions living in the shadows. So, the impasse continued.

Nevertheless, the American people have a right to know a.s.a.p.: Who are these people, where are they now, and who among them are committing crimes? Where are the 300,000+ unaccompanied children that the system lost, and are we earnestly looking for them?

I propose the following framework for a national immigration solution:

1 1. Restructure our legal immigration system.

a. We must continue bringing large numbers of immigrants through a legal process that must be expanded.

b. We should permit the American government, businesses, and institutions to recruit qualified personnel from around the world as long as those newcomers participate in the national registration program, express their intent to become Americans, learn the English language, and pledge allegiance to our nation instead of merely residing here.

2. Begin a universal program of national registration of undocumented residents.

a. Recruit the involvement of government agencies, churches, and private non-government organizations (NGOs).

b. A set registration period should be established, with well-advertised national intake locations, for those undocumented immigrants who pledge to become Americans through a mandatory, gradual legalization program.

c. Those individuals participating in the national registration program shall be granted official identification documents and sanctuary from deportation.

d. Those adequately registered would be granted conditional work permits.

e. When the authorities detect individuals who fail to register, they will face immediate deportation. Employers of any kind who provide work to unregistered undocumented immigrants would incur severe penalties, including potential imprisonment.

f. The next national population census must ask for and identify non-citizens; their voluntary disclosure must grant them sanctuary from deportation, provided that they are also willing to participate in the national registration program.

We must remain one nation under God, with a united population ruled by laws and transparent to each other. We are the sovereign United States of America in the global family of nations.