Immigration Reform Enhancements

Should the "Immigration Compromise” reach the House, the House Immigration Reform Caucus should insist on some or all of the following "clarifications" to add "specificity" to the bill. Each recommendation addresses a legitimate concern of American workers, taxpayers, or both.

Jobs Americans won't do at slave wages:

Before allowing guest workers to enter the country, Congress must ensure that citizens and legal residents have work. Equally important, Congress must ensure that neither guest workers nor newly legal residents impose an economic burden. To that end, the rules for advertising a job should satisfy all of the following conditions:

1. The wage advertised for job must have been at least the higher of:

a. Twice the minimum wage

b. The prevailing wage for that position multiplied by 125% of:

i. The average regional wage for that position

ii. The average national wage for that position

iii. The 65^th percentile of the national wage paid for that position

iv. The 65^th percentile of the regional wage paid for that position

2. Employers wishing to hire guest workers must guarantee they do not become a burden on:

a. The taxpayers

b. The healthcare system

c. Any other service provider subject to current or future mandates by:

i. The Federal Government, including the courts, pseudo courts, and independent agencies

ii. State and local governments, including the courts, pseudo courts and independent agencies

iii. Treaties, international agreements, or Supra-governmental bodies such as, but not limited to, the United Nations, the EC, GATT, WTO, NAFTA, or NGOs

d. Guarantees could take the form of requiring employers to:

i. Provide health insurance

ii. Provide housing

iii. Post bonds

3. Of note: African American unemployment is roughly twice the national average; when adjusted for differing “labor participation rates” the number grows by about 50%--to over 14% earlier this year.

Homeland Security Must Certify the Border Security

The Government Accountability Office should certify accomplishment of all prerequisite controls before the liberalization provisions of the law take effect. The law should not allow any person who serves “at the pleasure of the President” to certify any amnesty trigger. Let us assume the President signed the Bill at noon on June 4, 2007. The Secretary would probably need until at least noon on June 6, 2007, and no longer than June 7, 2007, to “discover” that the Border was secure. Of course, he might speed the process by beginning work on his certification before the Signing Ceremony. Either way, we would learn that the Border was sealed more tightly than the Los Alamos Nuclear Weapons Lab! While some might characterize this example as “a tad cynical,” you will doubtless recognize that “hyperbole” describes it more accurately.

Funding and Timing

Congress must pass funding for all capital and personnel provisions of the bill. Since Congress can only pass a funding bill over a period of two years, the bill must specify that the Corps of Engineers will complete and/or manage the completion of all Border barriers within two years.

Illegals will have to pay a fine

The fines paid by aliens make no sense. First, aliens only have to pay a fine if they want to become citizens. Secondly, the fines amount to less than the fee typically charged by “coyotes” to bring illegals across the border. The fines should equal at least twice the going rate for new illegals.

Illegals will have to pay their back taxes

Americans should receive the same benefits as illegals under this provision of the Bill. As I recall, last year’s bill said that illegals had to pay their taxes due for three of the previous five years. For the sale of equity, Americans should receive an income tax refund equal for any two of the previous five years. To limit this benefit to “hard working Americans,” Congress could limit the refunds to the taxes paid on the first $50 thousand of taxable income. OK! This recommendation might not have much chance of passing. Still, it would give equal protection to American citizens; and, could easily constitute the “ultimate poison pill.”