There has been much discussion over the years on immigration enforcement along our border with Mexico. The costs of enforcement are astronomical. According to estimates from the Department of Homeland Security, the costs per mile of fencing ranges from $3.8 million to $10 million per mile due to terrain. Putting more Border Patrol agents and utilizing National Guard resources is costly as well. The area that has been neglected the most, and costs the least, is immigration policy reform.
I have spoken with numerous people over the past year. I purposely reached out to people in our area across a wide spectrum of political beliefs from Libertarians and Tea Party folks to progressives and Green Party individuals. I understand on the Conservative side they want accountability, which I agree with. I also understand Liberals want a path to citizenship, which I also agree with. I say we can have both, and generate revenue for the states at the same time!
Here is my idea. For all those in this country who have not committed a felony, grant them citizenship. However, in exchange for citizenship, they will incur a 1 percent increase in their federal income taxes for a period of five years. This 1 percent will then go directly to the state’s general fund for which the immigrants claim residency. It is not amnesty. Amnesty is something for nothing. This is something for a price. Those that sign up for this program would not receive any federal benefits until after the five-year period.
Robert Leach
Sierra Vista, AZ
chatmandu002 posted at 4:38 pm on Thu, May 3, 2012.
Sorry Robert, but your idea is a no go from the start, 1% of nothing is nothing. No automatic citizenship for illegals until the people already waiting in line legally get a chance for citizenship. The best I can offer is to make illegals register, provide proof of location and date of birth, be employed, not on government assistance for which they get a 5 year green card before they can start the required citizenship process. Of course there has to be a cut off date of December 31, 2008, anyone here after that must go back or be deported.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 4:41 pm on Thu, May 3, 2012.
1% added to their income tax rate for 5 years = SQUAT.
Illegal Alien students (all 30,000+) cost Arizona's hard working Tax-Payers = $7,670.00 per Illegal Alien student per year = Grades 1-12 = $92.040.00....again Folks, that for each of the 30,000+ Illegal Alien students....you do the math...my 99Cent Store computer doesn't go that high.
Can you imagine the Welfare, Social Security, WIC, ACCCHS, HUD, Section-8 and Food Stamp costs for the US Department of Health and Human Services Census for 2011 showing ................360,000 Illegal Aliens in Arizona = BILLIONS.
1% on top of the Current IRS Rates wouldn't even pay the cost of Arizona's Social Services Support for the 360,000 Illegal Aliens for .............ONE LOUSY DAY....ONE LOUSY DAY.
IF YOU WANT ARIZONA TO BECOME ANOTHER CALIFORNIA...OVERNITE....THEN OFFER ..............AMNESTY.
Rational Human posted at 5:02 pm on Thu, May 3, 2012.
Nothing short of mass deportation of all criminal invaders will be fair. After that, we can start talking about immigration reform. I can guarantee you that most want immigration curtailed until ALL Americans are back to work.
Cerulean posted at 7:41 pm on Thu, May 3, 2012.
Mr. Leach I think you have a very good idea.
President Obama has proposed a similar tactic, the difference being that the President’s plan would require eight years of probation (so to speak) where individuals would pay a series of fees and fines before citizenship could be obtained. He is also suggesting a complete background check to make sure that no criminals seek refuge, and that individuals would have to learn English. President Obama also believes that illegal immigrants who complete all the requirements must still go to the back of the line and wait for a visa just like everyone else.
I like your idea of a tax that goes to the state general fund. It seems fair.
Dale Whiting posted at 12:58 am on Fri, May 4, 2012.
Bob,
Let's you and I do the math. You, me, Cerulean = reasonable. Chatmandu02, Leon and Rational = unreasonable.
You started by reasoning that we needed cost effective means to solve our border problems, one that cut costs and generated cash to solve, not exaserbated the problems. You know smaller, not bigger government. But when it comes to immigration, that sort of reasoning is not within the comprehension of the unreasonable. They get caught up on things like "mass deportation of all criminal invaders," and "30,000+ Illegal Alien students....you do the math" while over looking the part about "This is something for a price. Those that sign up for this program would not receive any federal benefits until after the five-year period." They just cannot do math! Heck, they can't even read!
Leon Ceniceros posted at 7:39 am on Fri, May 4, 2012.
Dale made my argument for me......"Those that sign up for this program would not receive any federal benefits until after a five-year period" = NO FEDERAL BENEFITS.
BUT DALE IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT...........STATE OF ARIZONA BENEFITS..................DOES IT.
WHERE IS THE..........STATE OF ARIZONA....GOING TO GET THE FUNDS TO ....FEED, HOUSE, CLOTH AND PROVIDE HEALTH CARE FOR .........360,000 INSTANT US CITIZENS (and therefore ....LEGAL ARIZONA CITIZENS).....WHERE IS THE STATE OF ARIZONA GOING TO GET THE MONEY TO...PAY FOR THESE NEW ...........360,000 ...OBAMA-CREATED = ARIZONA CITIZENS.
START DEPORTING 50,000 A MONTH RIGHT NOW....50,000 ILLEGAL ALIEN CITIZENS OF MEXICO, GUATAMALA, HONDURAS AND EL SALVADOR.
IF DEMOCRAT PRESIDENT HARRY TRUMAN COULD DEPORT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ILLEGAL ALIENS AFTER WORLD WAR II......OBAMA CAN DO IT TOO........(PUT MICHELLE IN CHARGE...LOL)
Dale Whiting posted at 9:09 am on Fri, May 4, 2012.
Leon,
Don't be such an A H. It does not take much imagination to include State benefits, too. But apparently you lack sufficient imagination to do anything but fear monger!
Arizona Willie posted at 9:15 am on Fri, May 4, 2012.
It was Eisenhow with " Operation W*etback " that deported 10 million invading aliens.
It can be done quite easily.
There are railroads that run across the border.
Load 'em up by the boxcar and send 'em South.
Once they go home they can get in line behind the people who have filled out the forms and paid their fees and been waiting their turn to get legal papers to come LEGALLY.
THEN THEY WILL BE WELCOME.
chatmandu002 posted at 11:49 am on Fri, May 4, 2012.
Dale,
I'm being unreasonable? What part of my plan is unreasonable? I don't like my plan either but at least it's a start closer to the middle than either the far-right deport them all or the far-left amnesty and open border sides.
Dale Whiting posted at 12:23 pm on Fri, May 4, 2012.
chatmandu002,
I take it back. Your's is a reasonable approach. I read through it too quickly. Why it's almost like comprehensive immigration reform. And that is reasonable. I find it odd that I like your plan but you don't!
I do disagree with you on one point. I am aware of no group who favors pure amnesty and open borders. Who are you referring to, George W Bush? He was for comprehensive immigration reform.
VofReason posted at 2:04 pm on Fri, May 4, 2012.
Isn't it supposed to already be the law that they cannot seek welfare etc etc, how is that working? Yes, let's create another Government program and hire a load of bureaucrats to administer and get back to the same place. Fantastic idea- not
truth posted at 2:39 pm on Fri, May 4, 2012.
FIRST ELIMINATE THE ANCHOR BABY LAW.
Rational Human posted at 8:18 pm on Fri, May 4, 2012.
Truth, it would cost very little to remove all incentives for illegals to come here and for those here already to stay. It would be a simple task that could be completed in very little time and without having to pay very much in deportation fees. They wish to make it seem complicated or impossible so you will give up and let the criminal invaders stay. The drug problem could also be eliminated just by legalizing drug use. If people want to live their lives on drugs they should be allowed to. It would bring down the cost to practically nothing and that would eliminate the drug gangs who could no longer make a profit. Legalize drugs and seal the border and take ALL incentives to invade us away and the problem is solved.
chatmandu002 posted at 9:58 am on Sat, May 5, 2012.
Truth, I have to agree with on the anchor baby law. The law should be that only babies born to citizens and persons with permanent legal status should have citizenship. No babies born to illegals, tourists, student visas or work visas should become automatic citizens.
Rational Human posted at 8:39 am on Sun, May 6, 2012.
This anchor baby thing is a no brainer. No reason for it at all. What are the valid reasons for supporting this rediculous law?
"If anyone's going to be deported, it's going to be you! ... Get out! We are the future. You're old and tired. Go on. We have beaten you leave like beaten rats. You old white people, it is your duty to die. Right now, we're already controlling those elections, whether it's by violence or nonviolence. Through love of having children we're going to take over." Augustin Cebada, information minister of Brown Berets, militant para-military soldiers of Aztlan shouting at U.S. citizens at an Independence Day rally in Los Angeles.
Amendment XIV - U.S. Constitution
Section 1. "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
Mexican Constitution - Chapter II
Article 30. Mexican nationality is acquired by birth or by naturalization:
A. Mexicans by birth are:
I. Those born in the territory of the Republic, regardless of the nationality of their parents:
II. Those born in a foreign country of Mexican parents; of a Mexican father and a foreign mother; or of a Mexican mother and an unknown father
So you can see that they are Mexican citizens at birth no matter where they are born and not American citizens.
Masterrogue666 posted at 9:50 pm on Mon, May 7, 2012.
If you are going to tax them, tax them so that they have to pay back what they've stolen in the meantime. The longer they are here, the more they owe. Also, when they bring their ILLEAGAL ALIEN children, they should be taxed and/or fined for that!
It's time they stop living off our taxes....