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Illegal Immigration
Issue
Building a fence along the southern border with Mexico doesn't seem to be very effective in discouraging many people from entering the country. An alternative should be considered or the flow of illegal immigrants will continue to be a problem.
Justification for Action
Some may say that illegal immigration is not a big deal and resources shouldn't be spent fighting the problem, but there are a number of serious issues associated with it. Illegals are typically paid less than the minimum wage, and employers who hire them are violating federal law. Also, an influx of illegals increases the unemployment rate as well as introduce a possible health or crime concern for the nation.
The nation's reputation is also negatively impacted if officials do not adhere to the law, show leniency when none is warranted, and require legitimate immigrants from other countries to follow a standardized procedure while illegals just have to cross the border.
It ends up being an unfair and unjust handling of the law, and questions America's resolve in upholding its noble ideals and principles.
Solution
Rather than spending billions of dollars to build an ineffective fence, perhaps a better use of those funds would be to implement an automated interview system by the Department of Labor (c.f. Worker's Civil Rights).
Since all businesses will be required to enter their employment information into the system, a more accurate number of job offerings will be known, which will be used to determine the number of work visas that may be granted in a given year. By using this system, the number of foreign immigrants admitted into the country, by asylum or otherwise, won't overwhelm the number of job openings that may be available.
The procedure for attaining work visas should also be changed in that the applicant will be required to apply for the visa at their local government office (in person). This is necessary to verify their identification and to start the process between the two governments (a new requirement). Only after being granted a valid work visa may the immigrant be allowed to apply for employment on the Labor Dept.'s automated system, and if accepted for a job, entry into the country.
The automated system will also ensure compliancy by businesses who may have violated such rules in the past and hired undocumented workers or those with invalid visas. It also prevents the careless disregard of past officials towards admitting foreign workers into this country without first verifying their actual need or skillset for jobs.
A national registry of employment by the Labor Dept. may also assist investigators when such employment information is cross-referenced with the productivity level of the business (from tax filings and such). If revenue is greater than what is possible with the number of workers that are registered, then that would raise a red flag that something is amiss, and the company could be investigated for the possible use of undocumented workers.
When this law enforcement effort is combined with the automated interview system that requires the change on how work visas and asylums are granted (in that approval is required prior to entry into the country based upon the actual need of such workers), illegal border crossings in this country would cease to exist since there would be no possibility for them to gain employment.
Overall, an automated interview and national employment registration system will reduce, if not outright prevent, illegal border crossings into the country.
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