Open letter to the Republican candidates on illegal immigration: I am a conservative activist of more than 30 years. Although I want to support one of you for the primary election, I have concerns about a critical issue facing the county today that requires clarification of your positions on illegal immigration.
Some of you have stated that you would deport illegals if you are elected President. First, I think it is an insult to continue the ruse that there are 11 million illegals in the U.S. That number has been used for at least 10-15 years and is in all likelihood more than 20 million.
Stating that you will deport illegals only plays into the hands of your opponents because anyone can see that such an act of mass deportation would turn the country against you. There is a better way forward and I would like to propose it.
First: Under the authority of the National Security Act, security of our borders is a national security issue. Therefore, the President has the authority to federalize the state National Guard units of all border states and deploy those forces along the U.S. Southern border as quickly as possible.
The National Guard could be mobilized for a period of two years and would shift the cost to the federal government rather than the budgets of those border states.
The deployment of forces would be supplemented by the addition of “force multipliers” such as drones and electronic surveillance and the Border Patrol. This action will have an immediate and positive impact on the American people.
Second: A two-year mobilization would be sufficient to construct the needed fencing along border. We have the advantage of seeing the effectiveness of the fencing system employed by the Israelis, which has by all measures, been highly successful. I would suggest we consider contracting with those who have constructed their fencing to build ours, thereby enhancing our security and relations with Israel.
Third: When the fencing is completed, we can begin to address the illegals remaining in our country. The first priority for deportation should be all criminal illegal aliens currently in custody at all levels, city, county, state and federal prisons/jails. This again will send a positive signal to the American people.
Fourth: Establish a “grace period” of at least two years for all remaining illegal aliens to come forward and be identified. A special biometric card could be used to permit a temporary stay and allow those who come forward to work.
Those who come forward would not be entitled to welfare of any type and could not vote in any state or federal election. Those who come forward would be required to appear before a local immigration board similar to the local draft boards to plead their case to stay in the U.S.
Each person would be required to state their intent to become a U.S. citizen at some point and under certain conditions. However, national surveys have clearly shown that the vast majority of illegal aliens do not want to become U.S. citizens. They prefer to work in the U.S. and send money to their home countries. Immigration Reform states that immigrants send home $50 billion annually but cost U.S. taxpayers more than $113 billion.
Those that do not wish to become citizens could be given a work permit for a period of five years. At that time they would be required to leave the country and re-apply for a work permit for another five years.
Fifth: Congress must pass a law that requires all employers to use the E-Verify system before hiring a person and must enact strict and damaging fines on those who do not follow those laws. In addition, the visa entry program must be reformed and there must be a method of periodically requiring contact with visa holders and a process to remove and/or deport those who overstay their visas.
Clearly stating your process for dealing with illegal immigration will surely redound to your benefit and will inform the American people who rightly question the specifics on this issue.
Roger F. Casale
LTC, U.S. Army (Retired)
Peachtree City, Ga.
