Immigration
One thing we can all agree on is that the majority of immigrants who are coming to this country are looking for the opportunity for a better life. This is exactly the reason my and many others’ ancestors came here too. But there is no realistic way for undocumented immigrants to get legal within a reasonable time frame under the current system—including children who were brought here at a very young age.
Politicians have been talking about this problem for years. Given the state of today’s economy, now more than ever we need less talk and more solutions. Part of fixing our economy is fixing our immigration system, which will reap far-reaching benefits, including:
Increasing tax revenues at all levels of government
Lifting wages
Creating a level playing field for all workers and employees
Getting immigrants working on the books
Restoring the rule of law
I support immigration policies that will:
Allow people a realistic path to citizenship and punish those who don’t become legal
Require everyone to pay their fair share of taxes
Target bad employers who take advantage of workers, drive down wages, and create an uneven playing field
Expand requirements to learn English
Keep families together
Encourage people to fully participate in the US economy and society
Throwing money away on fiscally irresponsible and unrealistic plans, such as paying for the mass deportation of 12 million men, women, and children, is not a solution. We need a practical plan that will reduce illegal immigration, strengthen the economy, and move us forward together as a nation.