South Carolinians are frustrated with our immigration system. They know the
system is broken and we all pay the price.
It's a concern I share, along with President Bush, who I recently met with at
the White House to discuss this issue.
As a former border-state governor, he clearly understands the seriousness of
the immigration problem facing our nation and the need to comprehensively
address the problem.
So how do we get a handle on a situation currently out of control?
First, we must secure our borders.
Over the last decade, the number of people illegally crossing the border has
dramatically increased. Without better border security any congressional
immigration reform is going to fail.
Under the Senate immigration compromise I support, we will authorize the
hiring of 12,000 new Border Patrol agents over the next five years. We will also
create fences and walls in certain high-traffic areas to prevent illegal
crossings. In other areas, we will create a 'virtual' fence which relies on
cameras, motion detectors and other technological devices.
I authored a provision, accepted in committee, which gets more individuals
with military backgrounds into the Border Patrol. Due to modernization, in the
coming years we're expected to have a reduced number of people serving in some
areas of the military. These veterans, with years of military experience and
training, are excellent candidates to serve in our expanded Border Patrol.
Second, we will increase employer enforcement and verification of legal
workers.
Comprehensive immigration reform should simplify our laws to solve the
problems facing employers. In the compromise, we establish an efficient worker
verification system that lets employers know if the person standing before them
can legally work in the United States.
Particularly important is preventing the rampant fraud in our current system
where Social Security numbers and drivers licenses are fraudulently procured.
Replacing that system with a tamper-proof verification card containing
fingerprints and other identifying data of guest workers would be
beneficial.
After reforming the system and giving employers the opportunity to comply
with new laws, it's imperative that we have the national will to punish
employers who intentionally break the law.
We have been too lax in enforcement of our employment laws. With
winks-and-nods, people looked the other way as illegal immigrants filled
positions. As a result, the illegal workforce has become firmly entrenched in
some of our state's largest and most important industries such as agriculture,
construction and tourism.
Third, we will address the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the
U.S.
We must come up with an honest and rational solution on how to treat those
who are already in this country illegally.
Like President Bush, I don't think we are physically able to remove 11
million illegal immigrants. We do not have the resources or detention space to
do this. Also, an immediate roundup and deportation of this workforce would send
our economy into a tailspin. This "solution" is simply not an option.
The Senate compromise will bring illegal immigrants already in the U.S. more
than two years out of the shadows and require them to meet rigorous standards in
order to remain in our country.
In essence, we place them on probation. The terms are strict but fair.
They would have to register with the government, be proficient in English,
show proof of employment, pay $2,000 in fines, undergo two extensive and
comprehensive background checks to ensure they do not have a criminal record or
pose a danger to society, pay back taxes and attend classes on American civics.
Failure to meet any of these requirements would result in deportation. Guest
workers must meet very strict criteria over an 11-year probation period before
going to the back of the line to apply for citizenship.
The program isn't amnesty. Amnesty is what President Carter gave to draft
dodgers who fled to Canada.
Our immigration system has been in disarray for so long there are generations
of families with legal and illegal members. Some families have parents here
illegally and children that are American citizens. Some husbands are illegal
while the wives are legal.
More importantly, there are many military members, particularly young
Hispanic Marines serving in Iraq and Afghanistan who are legal citizens by
virtue of being born in America. They have chosen to fight and die for their
country. Creating felons out of their parents who are illegally in the country
would not make America a better place.
The last days of the Senate session before Easter recess represented the best
and worst of the United States Senate. Our comprehensive immigration reform
bill, combining border security, employer verification and guest- worker
provisions, would have garnered nearly 70 votes on the Senate floor. The
substance of the deal held, only to be hijacked by the unfair procedural tactics
of Democratic Leader Harry Reid.
It's now time for the Senate to get back to work.
Lindsey Graham represents South Carolina in the U.S. Senate.
