A Compassionate Approach to Protecting Our Borders
James Carvin - 1/18/04

In the light of 9/11 it seems sides are being drawn between conservatives who wish to enforce immigration laws and liberals who understand that illegal aliens have lives, have families. Enforcement stands opposed to compassion and understanding. Compassion stands opposed to homeland security. Complicating the matter is GW Bush's appointee, Tom Ridge, suggesting the legalization of nearly 12 million illegal aliens. Conservatives are angry at him for it. Liberals are mocking Republican hypocrisy. And the most obvious answer to 9/11 goes neglected. Protect the borders so terrorists can't get in. Boot out the illegals and keep a watch on the perimeter.

From what I hear, there is only one federal patrol personnel for every 400 miles of American border. Step one in the fight, it seems, should be to get the National Guard and the US Coast Guard to reduce this to one person every one mile, or every one tenth of one mile. INS is obviously underfunded and understaffed. Keeping illegals out needs to become a priority. There would be a huge cost to such protection. But there will be an even greater cost if we fail to provide it. We have to face this.

But what does this mean for Mexicans and others who are fleeing hardship or want a better way of life? Few of these people have any interest in politics. What of our motto, "give me your tired, your poor, your hungry"?

Yes, I am aware that there is a tremendous cost associated with absorbing immigrants. I am aware that it is unfair that many receive benefits, social security, health benefits, welfare, food stamps, soup kitchens. There is a drain on our society, on our churches, on our hospitals, on our tax payers, on our schools. And on our jails. Some are criminals. But I have a solution.

You see no one objects to legal immigration. We conservatives are not nearly so stony hearted as we are made out to be. It is illegal immigration that is the problem. And our current immigration law states that if anyone enters the country illegally that they can not become legal afterwards.

Unfortunately, that policy means that illegals have to be removed. When we know these people, these illegal aliens and their families, and we consider the implications of deportation, our bleeding hearts are moved very deeply and we are angered by the mercilessness of the enforcers and those who advocate enforcement. Compassionate conservatism then caves in and suggests blanket legalization of millions. It puts deadlines and dates on the issue. Most of us have forgotten, but this was one of the few very unconservative things Ronald Reagan did during his presidency. And it is what the GW Bush administration seems to be doing all over again, even though the Gipper's first wave of legalization seems not to have fixed the problem. It has come back even worse than at first.

That said, it is obvious that something very different must be done. I would suggest that instead of reigniting a new wave of Proposition 181 we institute nationwide reform. What is needed is a national policy and procedure that works - a comprehensive program that addresses every conceivable concern. I believe very strongly that this can be done. And just as with border patrol, I don't suggest that the solution is a cheap one. Rather, I declare that it is a necessary one.

Namely, in addition to watching our borders with the National Guard and Coast Guard, we need to staff enough people in Homeland Security that we can screen the existing immigrants. Seeing that the individuals are determined to be here, so long is there is not a security issue, for the most part I see no reason, other than economic concerns not to receive them. The cost of screening would be in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Something similar to the Roman Census is required. And, like the Romans, we can't pander. A little insensitivity is required, but it will beat random searches and raids. Here is my proposal.

1. Create a national ID card. Technology now exists to make cards that can't be forged. The cards would be scanned like credit cards. Every man woman and child in the country will be issued a US ID card. Only legal immigrants and citizens would receive cards. Illegal immigrants would have to apply for them. The cards would be associated with social security numbers or alien ID numbers as appropriate.

2. Homeland Security will set up a schedule for every person to have their picture taken for the US ID. I expect resistance, but fingerprinting, voiceprint and DNA data ought to be part of this too. That might be unfeasible due to cost and time. But it is theideal. Anyway, legal citizens all need to show proof of their legal status as they come to their local Homeland Security offices to get their cards. This is not a mail out. Current address data is also acquired from this effort.

3. The new US ID card replaces Drivers Licenses and Social Security cards as standard ID used by banks and other institutions as proof of identity over time.

4. Those who are illegal aliens may apply for a US ID card. This would not be the same thing as amnesty. Homeland Security is staffed to look at each individual case. The burden of proof is on the illegal alien to show that they pose no risk to American security. HS either rejects or accepts them. They also keep copies of all records received in their files. Fingerprints, voiceprints and DNA data are received and kept on file. To be accepted would require references who have already been accepted. Interviews would be conducted by those who speak the same language, preferably of the same national origin. Interviewers would be accountable to one another. Interviews would be recorded and subject to audit and investigation to prevent corruption within HS.

5. In the event of lost or stolen US ID cards all that is needed is a replication of 1-4 above. Use of a stolen US ID would be a federal crime. There would be a significant cost of reissue to anyone who lost their card that would help pay for the program and act as a deterrent to losing cards at the same time. Anytime a person changes their address or contact data they have to report it to Homeland Security. When a newborn receives an SS# parents or guardians have to report it. Family relationship data and updates such as divorces and name changes also are entered into the card data along with references and documentation. Surviving family members would obtain a death certificate to retire a card. Otherwise, taxes will be required and the survivors will have to pay them. If a person leaves the country they have to notify HS both of their departure and their return.

6. For the sake of privacy, the card would not know where a person was at any given time within the country. It would only know current contact data as provided. Correspondence would take place from time to time requiring a reapplication, for instance to verify. Law would require notification of change of address within 90 days or some period of time or the card would be revoked. Rules could change for those on probation, etc. The card could be used to verify a location for those with restricted rights.