Posted by
Patrick Henry on Saturday, July 03, 2010 2:47:09 PM
A bipartisan effort in which concessions by one side are linked to concessions by
the other is the only way to decide upon and pass real immigration reform. In this
post we examine one of those necessary linkages that could lead to a package
acceptable to most Americans.
Due to the debt and deficit crisis, the first question on everyone's lips will be, "What
is it going to cost to grant amnesty to illegal aliens?" This is a bigger issue for fiscally
conservative Republicans than for more fiscally liberal Democrats, but it doesn't
really matter. The audience it will have to convince is a bipartisan national one that
has had it with deficit spending for any reason. Both sides must be realistic about
the fact that the costs will be very real. Hiring enough case agents to speed up the
logjam of those wanting to be processed will cost. Based on past figures the median
incomes of those granted amnesty is low, and does not rise appreciably over a
ten-year period. Amnesty is a commitment to formally importing poverty, and the
social safety net for twelve million newly legal residents will be accompanied by
formidable costs. Those costs may be the most formidable argument by skeptics
for not doing it at all.
There are some ways to offset or defer those costs, however. In the DREAM Act
co-sponsored by Senators Schumer and Graham, the caveat for amnesty was payment
of a $5,000 fine and all back taxes. How a family living on $26,000 annually could
come up with that money is uncertain, and it could be a deal breaker. But if they
could, even over time (like a student loan) and you multiplied twelve million by
$5,000, that's a lot of money that could be used to offset the costs. One might also
fine companies that currently employ illegals at, say. $2,000 per. That would also
cut the cost while imposing a long overdue justice.
Additionally, legalization might be laid out as a five to seven year process during
which social benefits accrue progressively from start to finish. This would blunt the
up front "sticker shock" and perhaps help those in the process learn to earn and
appreciate citizenship and its real benefits. Add to this the fact that newly legalized
workers will have to be paid at least minimum wage and provided with employee
benefits. They will therefore have to pay taxes that will increase the federal revenue
stream and, over time, entitle them to unemployment benefits should they lose their
job. Meanwhile they'll be paying into social security, unemployment and income
tax just like everyone else.
To sell alien amnesty to a country slogging through a deep recession with 10%
unemployment, a flagging stock market and freefalling consumer confidence, the
financials are going to have to somehow be a virtual wash. On this, one would
think legislators beholden to a very nervous electorate would agree.
In tomorrow's post, we'll look at the most effective means of stemming the
northbound tide of illegals, and the bullets that must be bitten to accomplish it.