No question America is a country of immigrants, and I strongly support legal immigration. Immigrants from so many different countries, faiths, and cultures have merged to make America great. Legal immigration is a good thing. However, for the past several decades, there has been an alarming increase in the number of undocumented immigrants pouring into our country especially our southern border. Frankly, to some degree we have encouraged this undocumented immigration in order to get cheap labor to do jobs Americans do not want to do. Once here we have facilitated their stay by providing schooling, and health care thus in a way we developed an implied contract with the undocumented immigrants to stay.
Now over 100,000 undocumented immigrants cross our southern border each month. The porous border leaves the door open to the bad guys including cartel members, terrorists, MS 13 gangs, human traffickers, and drugs smugglers. The DOJ recently reported that 64% of Federal arrests are noncitizens yet only 7% of the U.S. population are undocumented immigrants. Undocumented immigrants also contribute to our homeless population. According to the LA Times, undocumented immigrants make up approximately one third of the homeless population. In addition, undocumented immigrants undercut the wages of our working class citizens. For us to have a safe and sovereign nation we must secure our borders and control who comes to America.
What to do about Undocumented Immigration?
We must secure our border in order to have any meaningful immigration policy. Open borders as advocated by my Congressional opponent Ted Lieu would create chaos. Securing the border requires multiple modalities with emphasis on a physical border. A physical barrier prevents ingress and all the issues with undocumented immigrants on our soil. Once they are on American soil they become our responsibility. Better to have a physical barrier so we don’t have to. It also discourages migrants from coming in the first place. A physical barrier has worked well in Israel to stop terrorist attacks and a physical barrier can help stop undocumented entry from our southern border.
We also must revise our laws regarding asylum. Too many migrants are unjustly claiming persecution in order to gain asylum, while others use fake family units and children to facilitate undocumented entry.
Another growing problem is visitors who over stay their Visas. The Federal Government needs to provide closer monitoring and enforcement of Visa violations.
How about Undocumented Immigrants Already the U.S.?
It is difficult to determine but there are around 14 – 20 million undocumented immigrants here in the U.S. So what do we do with so many living in the shadows? Somehow it doesn’t seem fair to deport them when for years we encouraged them to stay by looking the other way and proving services. My suggestion is to offer a Residency Status to noncitizens including the DACA immigrants who are law abiding and self-sufficient – not on welfare. This is not citizenship. As Resident Status they must pay their fair share of taxes, are not eligible for welfare and cannot vote. Those here undocumented will have 12 months to register for Resident Status. If they do not qualify for Residency or just fail to register, they must return to their home country or face deportation. Those with Resident Status will have the option to apply for citizenship, but must go to the back of the line behind others who are in the process of obtaining U.S. citizenship – no “cutting” the line.
Sanctuary Cities do not enforce our federal immigration laws. These cities allow undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes, even violent crimes to remain in our communities after being released from prison- they are not deported. Kate Steinle was 32 years old when she was shot by an undocumented alien Jose Garcia who had been recently released from jail into the streets of San Francisco. The San Francisco sheriff department did not hold Garcia despite a request from federal immigration officials to hold him for deportation. Sanctuary cities violate Federal law, is dangerous to the community and must be stopped. Unfortunately, my Congressional opponent Ted Lieu supports sanctuary cities.