The video by C-Span 3 offered some very useful insight on the immigration problem that America is experiencing. One of the top issues that I found interesting is interior immigration. Most illegals currently in America come from people that originally came here legally on a visa and overstayed their visit. Normally when people talk about illegal aliens we talk about Mexicans who have managed to sneak across the border; this is certainly part of the issue especially since border patrol failed numerous inspection tests, but it does not appear to be the main issue of immigration. A lot of talk has been around President elect Trump and his “build the wall” rally cry, but perhaps it should be around E-verify instead. If employers were actually fined for employing illegals, then employers would have more of a reason to stop doing it. If illegals could not finding jobs anymore, they would be more motivated to go back to their home country.
The panel of speakers were all very good, but the one that I found most compelling was Chris Cane. He spoke about how there was an investigation done on him, an employee of ICE for no reason, when at the same time there are illegal aliens in America prisons not getting deported because they can just lie about their background and get released. No investigation is conducted because ICE agents are on orders not to make arrests of illegally aliens. “ICE has essentially prohibited its agents from enforcing these laws. ICE agents can’t arrest aliens solely because they entered the United States illegally or because they overstayed their visa, it’s basically not illegal anymore generally speaking not unless the alien has been convicted a criminal offense.” (Crane, 2013, 9:08). In addition to ICE agents being told not to enforce the law, they are understaffed and under budgeted which makes it harder for them to the jobs that they are doing.
The amnesty law of 1986 was put in place by President Ronald Regan to create a starting point for fixing the illegal alien problem. President Regan wanted to push for tighter security at borders and stricter laws for employers hiring aliens. At the same time, he granted amnesty for everyone who arrived prior to 1982. “The law granted amnesty to nearly 3 million illegal immigrants, yet was largely considered unsuccessful because the strict sanctions on employers were stripped out of the bill for passage.” (NPR, 2010). Work place enforcement was one of the issues what was addressed in the 1986 IRCA law, and it was supposed to stop the continued influx of illegally getting hired. Unfortunately, employers did not take the sanction seriously and as an example only 3 employers got fined in 2004 for hiring illegals. Since then the numbers have been on a roller coaster but mostly business got fined for paperwork instead of hiring illegals. Amnesty may be the answer for a few of the illegals currently here in the United States who have contributed to society through their work, but for those that have committed crimes misdemeanor, felony or reentered after being deported should not be granted anything to deportation.
References:
C-Span, Immigration Policy, Panel 2: Immigration Policy, Panel 2, National Cable Satellite Corporation (C-SPAN.org Feb. 5, 2013), available at https://www.c-span.org/video/?310814-3/immigration-policy-panel-2.
NPR, A Reagan Legacy: Amnesty For Illegal Immigrants, (July 4, 2010 at 2:12PM), available at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128303672
Reply here in 250 words;
Student 2
Immigration Policy, Panel
An interesting forum with sufficient information and honestly could go on and on in regards to writing about items presented at the Senate hearing that was most interesting to me and why. Based on this testimony and most recently on issues that covered “Oversight of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement” presented by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Sarah R. Saldaña on 22 September 2016. In reviewing the video as well as the transcripts the selection has been narrowed down to what was interesting the most in the top 5 items.
First, Mr. Chris Crane presented the issue of agents not being allowed to do their job based on regulatory guidance or the fear of being reprised. A fair statement that is still in many ways attributed to a minimum basis of work completed in the Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) (possibly observed first hand but cannot speak in regards to facts it may have against current employment). Secondly, Mr. Cane begins his introduction by explaining how many background checks and investigations one must go through the be hired on with an agency such as Immigration. Followed by the duties of an agent not having the capability to ask or phrase a question as to gain a particular response or acquire the documentation to be presented to show proof of residency. Although, these actions are being clarified and rectified with a more or clearer resolution of discretion. Often more times than others it is easier to go with the lesser of the two actions. In a personal observation in some cases, it may depend on the day of the week it is and how one management interprets the fact verse another. I reiterate in the job position currently holding assisting and providing what the customer (ICE) request if it is morally and legally bounding, I will perform the duties of. When stipulating in my position and specifically asking if a detainee affiliated with a security threat group (gang) it is strictly only for housing purposes only. Thirdly, this brings another aspect up regarding the capability of providing relief of ICE agents from performing duties mentioned as correctional staff or transportation officers to act as Enforcement Removal Officers. With the private sector providing more on these areas allocates the officers to carry out their duties. Fourth, is an issue not necessarily ICE or Immigration but government overall is the implementation of a disparaging pay scale. With the government pays, enabling the inculcation of supervisors and higher headquarters to establish and mandate a specific percentage of hours to work on the routine known as Administrative Uncontrolled Overtime (AUO). The masking captures hours worked but cannot pay out respective to the equivalent of overtime on the government pay scale. Fifth, the issue is the mentioning of E-Verify being a broken system that has made a few steps forward but needs much work to complete. An alien can produce identification. An employer’s only concern is that passes through the federal system to establish employment. E-Verify alleviates the employer (not in common law just not something that prosecutors tend to do) as if the future employee is an undocumented immigrant or not.
The Most Compelling
When thinking of all the members to select from just like the subjects I could not just narrow down to one. Suggesting a top three, provided in no numerical order. The following individuals compelled the most meaningful purpose to me overall beginning with the Honorable Representative Spencer Bachus (R) Alabama, Julie Myers Wood Assistant Secretary (Former) Department of Homeland Security-Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Mr. Chris Crane President American Federation of Government Employees-National Immigration and Customs Enforcement Council Local 118.
Reply here in 250 words;