Immigration and National Border Security

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No matter what problems we have in the United States, it is almost certain that the conditions here in the country are better than in third world nations. People want to come to the U.S. for the personal freedoms, security, and for the jobs. They want to come here so badly that they are willing to commit a felony by crossing into the United States illegally. (1) (2) (3)

The time it takes to legally immigrate to the United States can vary depending on the type of immigration application and whether there are any per-country backlogs. In general, the average processing time for a visa petition, labor certification, or adjustment of status is between 1.5 and 3 years. However, median wait times for all immigration applications can range from less than a month to almost five years. (11)

Here are some median timelines for different types of family-based green cards as of June 2024: (11)

Spouses of U.S. citizens: 10–23 months if living in the U.S., 13.5–15 months if living outside the U.S.

Unmarried, adult children of U.S. citizens: 7–8 years; 10+ years for those who are also citizens of the Philippines; 20+ years for those who are also citizens of Mexico.

Married adult children of U.S. citizens: 13–14 years, 22+ years for those who are also citizens of the Philippines and Mexico.

Some say that being a U.S. citizen's spouse is the fastest and easiest way to immigrate to the U.S., but it's also the most common source of immigration fraud. To prevent fraud, the law requires both spouses to file a joint petition two years after the marriage to prove it's still valid. (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)

Another way to immigrate to the U.S. is to apply for naturalization. To qualify, you must be at least 18 years old and have been a permanent resident for at least five years (or three years if you're married to a U.S. citizen). The process includes submitting an application, attending a biometrics appointment, attending a citizenship interview and exam, receiving a decision on your application, and taking the Oath of Allegiance. (10)

And still people want to come here. 

After reading through the references and boiling down the list of requirements to become a U.S. citizen it basically looks like the U.S. wants someone with basic intelligence, is law abiding and will be loyal to the country. 

What do we as U.S. citizens want to do about this issue? On the one hand we have a huge population of homeless individuals comprised of those who are out of work, the disenfranchised Veterans, elderly that did not plan for retirement well, illicit drug users, and those hit by mental challenges. We cannot take care of these people; are we to add more people into the country and continue to burden the existing social and economic systems? Or are we adding taxpayers to the rolls who contribute more than $59 billion a year? The fact is the IRS can and does issue  Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) to undocumented worked here in the United States. (12)(13)

On the other hand, when we look at the people coming across the boarder looking for a better life we cannot help but feel for them. Can we turn them away with no compassion at all?

They look to the lady with the lamp that says:

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

It seems we have a small dilemma--do we as citizens close our hearts to the needy or do we help them? Where is King Solomon when you need him? Or, just maybe, we figure this out for ourselves.

Let's take a somewhat arbitrary cut off date of say about seven years ago-- January 1, 2017.  All those immigrants who illegally came into the U.S. before that date would be eligible for a special green card based on any of the the following requirements:

• Brought to the U.S. by parents or crossed on their own as minors
• Came to the U.S. as an adult seeking work
• Came to the U.S. seeking political asylum

Adults would need to show documentation that they are currently working and paying taxes. They would need to show they have or are working towards a GED. They need to show that they are not chronic drug abusers. They need to show that they have only minor criminal offences (parking fines and the like, no serious infractions). This is because that is what the winnowing process of immigration does for us anyway. 

They come to a special center on the boarder with either Mexico or Canada and step across the border outside the country. They request to enter the country by presenting all of the requested data. The center will be built to check and verify that the documentation provided is true and they have essentially fulfilled all of the requirements to qualify for a green card. The individual will sign a special document where they admit that they crossed into the U.S. illegally. An adjudicator will do a review of all information and if they qualify they are given the oath of office for a citizen of the Unite States. They would get a special green card making them citizens. They then cross back over the border and go home a citizen.

 Now the payment is due for this clemency. They must learn to read, write, and speak English and pass a standard history test over the next two years. They special green card does not grant them full citizenship rights immediately. They are felons and must pay a price for those actions no matter their age. They cannot vote in any state or federal election for 12 years. They may not own a firearm for 16 years. They cannot sponsor anyone to immigrate to the United States for 20 years. All of these times are from the date of signing and not the original date of crossing. After the allotted time the individuals can submit a petition to regain the rights by showing that they have “done their time with no additional major infractions” and are ready to obtain the rights that were withheld.  Any U.S. citizens that commit felonies in the U.S. have some of their civil liberties removed as a consequence for their actions; it reasonable to have compassion but it is also reasonable to have consequences for your actions.

Anyone that does not report for the border check and documentation would be considered a fugitive felon and when apprehended will be deported immediately. 

There is a special issue with the children that were brought here who are not yet at the age of consent. These children may be with their parents or they may be unaccompanied.  The parents may not sponsor anyone so the children stay in the U.S. with their parents or if no parent is available they stay in the situation that they are in until they reach 18 years old. At this point they have reached the age of consent and they must choose their path. They may choose to return to their country of origin or stay in the U.S. If they opt to leave, they go--simple as that. If they choose to stay they go through the same process except that they well be looked at for undesirable activities in the years that they have been here. If they show a tendency towards being a delinquent or worse, they are deported. If not, they will receive a special green card and they must show for the next seven years the ability to hold a job and pay taxes. 

For border security there are two things to be done. First, fix the United States immigration policy. Second, build the wall.