A WORKABLE ANSWER TO THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ISSUE

…Undocumented Immigrants

 

It may not be the ideal answer, but it’s way beyond Trump’s idea and it’s workable.

 

Those of us that live in California are very aware that the foreign-born slice of the American population has more than doubled in the last three decades.  According the US Census Bureau, the foreign-born population is at its highest point in a century.

 

But what may be surprising is that most Americans do not want to support the mass deportation of immigrants, including the so called “Anchor Babies” as does the TV huckster billionaire, Donald Trump. 

 

Mr. Trump is very correct when he says that America would not be talking about illegal immigration if he hadn’t brought up the subject.  That's because the American public is more concerned about other important issues.

 

In reality, today’s Americans are more concerned with today’s income inequality, the shaky state of the world economy, our crumbling infrastructure, the need for more jobs and the high cost of a US college education.  The issue of illegal immigration is way down the list of what most Americans are concerned about today.

 

From one survey to another, when the question is asked: “Should illegal immigrants stay or go?”  Sizeable majorities say they should be permitted to stay.

 

The reality is that the polls continue to underscores the disconnect of Donald Trump, with public opinion.  Even with the majority of his own Republican voters.

 

 

Mr. Trump’s immigration plan calls for deporting 11 million undocumented immigrants, then letting “the good ones” back in.

 

Of course, as usual “The Donald” has no specifics as to how you find and round up all those illegals; what that cost of all those actions would be; or even how to determine which immigrants are “the good ones”.  In addition, the southern border “Wall” that Trump wants to build, that he says “Mexico will pay for”, there are no clues as to what the Wall would really cost or how Mexico would be required and held to actually  “footing the bill”.

 

Even if we forget the devastating costs of these deportations to the individual lives, the many families and local communities.  Not to mention, the nation’s agriculture areas that would be effected by Mr. Trump’s plan.  The whole program is overwhelmingly opposed by the majority of the American public.

 

In a recent Pew Research Center Poll, 74% of Americans said undocumented immigrants should be allowed to remain in the country.  Slightly less than half of the respondents even supported a full citizenship program for the illegals. Only 24% said they should not be allowed to stay in the country legally.

 

Overwhelmingly, Republicans have disagreed with mass deportation. In a poll conducted last month by CNN, Republican support for deportation appeared somewhat greater, but still less than a majority. Most Americans, including Republicans, have little stomach for expelling millions of their neighbors from the country.  Even those that do support expelling these immigrants, most don’t think it is economically or actually possible to pull it off.  Just the cost of finding, then housing and feeding them before they were legally deported would be astronomical.

 

Deporting those that are criminals is fine.  But over 90% of undocumented immigrants are working here and paying taxes and are as loyal to the US as the average American citizen.

 

Most of those polled agreed to programs that were 180° from Donald Trump’s proposals and most agreed to a sensible policy for a long-term path to citizenship, provided they meet certain requirements.

 

But as usual, what is sensible may not be what’s doable in Washington, no matter the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.

 

It is appearing that the final solution might be a compromise that withholds US citizenship, but would grant undocumented immigrants legal status that would allow them to live and work unmolested in the country.  Obviously, some Republicans would still cry “amnesty,” and some Democrats will cry about the injustice at creating a group of “second-class” Americans.

 

But the reality is that most illegal immigrants, drawn to this country primarily for the chance for a better life for themselves and their family, they would welcome staying here, free from the threat of deportation.

 

Just being legal, yet short of citizenship may not be the ideal solution.  However, it would be far more humane and rational than the ridiculous status quo.

 

If you ignore the loud, harsh voices on today’s Republican campaign trail, all the polls suggest that working illegals being allowed to be here legally, would be a welcome answer for most Americans.

 

Copyright G.Ater  2015