New at Reason

March 13, 2007

In a feature from Reason's April issue, Malia Politzer spends a few days with the U.S. Border Patrol and watches America's immigration crisis go completely unsolved.

Comments

Guy Montag|3.13.07 @ 7:34AM|#

Where is the outrage at the coyotes and the Mexican government not bothering to do anything about their treatment of the underprivileged?

I really don't like that typical cop answer by Officer Vasquez, that he has to round the illegals up or he will be fired. How about it is your freaking job to enforce the law? Something more like 'I can't let you go, you are in violation of US law and I am detaining you.'

Terms like 'undocumented migrants' when speaking of illegal aliens are about as meaningful as 'unregistered vehicle offenders' when speaking of car thieves or 'undocumented bonuses' when speaking of embezzlement. Until you get a law change, they are illegal aliens.

And now for the Congress. If this is a real "crisis", why didn't they increase the appropriate visa caps to some level that the illegal alien supporters will be happy with? They have full control of that and the Executive Branch is charged with enforcing that limit, not the other way around (not accusing the writer of having any confusion there at all, just a general discussion item).

|3.13.07 @ 8:55AM|#

Mr. Montag,

The "crisis" is that cheap labor may be bothering some voters. It is a dodge away from health care costs (if we blame it on illegals, the executive salaries won't be perused,) our stupid drug war (ask the illegals who were shot to pieces on Tucson's West side a few weeks back,) and the fact that we need people to work seasonal jobs (even in Tucson, home construction has seasons.) Congress' crisis is that it may lose votes.

As for Agent Vasquez' words: I work in government and have to enforce sometimes-stupid rules. I feel for the customers I can't help. I'm human, but it's my job. It's one of those things about all sorts of jobs: people hate the rules, but usually follow them.

As for the Border Patrol itself, I'm much more comfortable with them there than I would be without them. They aren't effective at controlling the border, but they do keep it from being out of control. And if anyone claims it's already out of control, they really lack imagination.

|3.13.07 @ 10:07AM|#

I'm no more outraged at coyotes than I am drug dealers. Both are a market response to our old buddies, supply and demand.

Guy Montag|3.13.07 @ 10:18AM|#

I'm no more outraged at coyotes than I am drug dealers. Both are a market response to our old buddies, supply and demand.

I am not outraged by the peaceful ones. The violent ones, on both topics, I do have a problem with and think they should be dealt with harshly. No, not harsh as the UN defines it either.

LarryA|3.13.07 @ 12:14PM|#

I am not outraged by the peaceful ones. The violent ones, on both topics, I do have a problem with and think they should be dealt with harshly.

We've been dealing with smugglers harshly since the 70s, and it still isn't working. If your profession is illegal you can't use law to resolve disputes and must resort to violence.

OTOH, invent an adequate guest worker system and end the war on drugs, and coyotes and drug dealers will be supplanted by travel agents and pharmacists.

|3.13.07 @ 1:38PM|#

I'd like to inser the "Is there anyway to enfore the border" question here. Frankly. I'd like the situation stabilized. Then I would like legal immigration simplified. I've had family members, very recently, rejected on grounds that were purely a matter of paperwork, but who decided to wait in line in order to stay legal. I don't care what color, religion, nationality we are talking about, as long as we are dealing with people who respect laws.

But I'm tired of the notion that being for border control is tant amount to racism. Maybe that's the case for some, but not for most of the folks I know.

The current state of affairs -is- pointless. We should either do something or admit that we aren't going to do anything, and stop wasting resources.

|3.13.07 @ 2:29PM|#

Frankly. I'd like the situation stabilized. Then I would like legal immigration simplified.

High fence. Wide gate.

Roughly what Bush has been pushing for, although he seems to want the gate first.

|3.13.07 @ 2:51PM|#

Then I would like legal immigration simplified.

So would I, as long as "simplified" means "everyone is allowed entry unless they are a security or public health risk."

But I'm tired of the notion that being for border control is tant amount to racism.

Border control as currently practiced is more the result of protectionism. Interestingly, as the protectionist arguments lose credibility, the anxieties turn more and more to culturalism and nativism.

|3.14.07 @ 11:05PM|#

OTOH, invent an adequate guest worker system and end the war on drugs...

Good point. So here are my suggestions.

Given that the current legal alien admission is based on the "Green Card" let me suggest two more.

First, the "Yellow Card". This card would be issued to any North American wishing to seek work in the USA who could pay a fee roughly equal to the current "coyote" price for crossing the border. Part of this fee would be no-refundable to cover the cost of paperwork to process the application. This cardholder would then be able to seek work in the US and as long as he/she did not break the law or seek public assistance he/she could stay in the country. The remainder of the fee over and above the processing costs could be refunded to the applicant upon their return to the old country.

Second, the "Blue Card". This card would be issued to any North American who had a corporate sponsor to work in the USA. In this case the necessary fees would be paid by the corporate sponsor who could the apply for a refund of the unused fees, etc. Upon the end of the employment contract the immigrant would be required to return home.

The fact of the matter is that many of the attitudes about immigration are based on the attitude that immigrants want to be citizens. The fact of the matter is that most don't. They just want to make a few extra bucks before they go home. I think we should take advantage of that and adjust policy accordingly.