Part III: A Win-Win Solution to the Immigration Debacle in America

Secure the Border

Any attempt at immigration reform must first control the border. In addition to millions of people, tons of contraband flow into this country from the south. Creating an impenetrable barrier between our nation and Mexico will benefit both countries. It will help America win the war on drugs, and help Mexico defeat the drug cartels by depriving them of their primary customer. Acknowledging that we are involved in a global war on terror gives us even greater incentive to want to know who and what is coming into this country.

Erecting a two thousand mile fence is not the answer. A full audit of the conditions on the border must be conducted to determine the requirements in each area; thousands more Border Patrol agents, electronic surveillance and fences must be used wisely and in combination. Our Border Patrol agents must have the tools they need available to them and the support required to ensure that they don’t end up like Ramos and Compean – a truly horrendous situation that must never, ever be allowed to occur again (and a situation which I’m still waiting for President Bush to resolve….and waiting….and waiting…).

Form a Coalition of Governments

Beginning with Felipe Calderón in Mexico, we should create a coalition dedicated to the elimination of corruption in Mexico and Central and South America. I’m not talking about invading or occupying, or pouring good money after bad in trying to aid our less fortunate neighbors. There have been strong signs recently that Calderón is making a sincere effort to clean up his country. A big part of the problem he is facing is corruption in the police force and armed forces. If we invest in technology for their use, such as video cameras in police cars, we can help him root out the bad players. In addition, we can assist with training replacements; many of the illegal immigrants in our country are good, decent people, and would make excellent law enforcement personnel if properly trained. Our coalition would be a shared operation, open to any nation which makes an honest effort to reduce crime and corruption and improve their own economies. It could not be merely cash given to corrupt politicians – rather, it would have to be a council of cooperative and motivated nations, discussing, advising and working together to improve the lives of all their citizens. For each dollar we invested, we should insist they invest two. Oversight teams of thoroughly vetted individuals from all member nations would be appointed, and regular audits would be conducted to ensure that the money and effort were being properly applied to the most critical problems.

This commitment should not be open ended in terms of time or money. An investment in the range of one hundred billion dollars over five years time should be enough to facilitate a major change in the living conditions of our southern neighbors.

Improving conditions in their home countries is the best way to slow the flow of illegal immigrants. Few people living legally, in their own nation, with gainful employment, neighbors who share their cultural values and a web of extended family and friends would throw it all away to enter an unknown land illegally.

More to come....