Let’s Formulate A Plan (For Immigration Reform)

This is a follow-up to The Silent Majority Wants Immigration Reform

The method for computing the number of illegal aliens in the US is flawed. Please review this paper by Bear-Stearns from January 2005 concerning a more accurate picture of the actual numbers and problems involved.

For those not old enough to remember what the US was like prior to the changes brought about by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, I offer these quotes from a supporter of that Democratic sponsored Bill that got us into this mess, Sen. Edward “Ted” Kennedy.

"First, our cities will not be flooded with a million immigrants annually. Under the proposed bill, the present level of immigration remains substantially the same … Secondly, the ethnic mix of this country will not be upset … Contrary to the charges in some quarters, [the bill] will not inundate America with immigrants from any one country or area, or the most populated and deprived nations of Africa and Asia … In the final analysis, the ethnic pattern of immigration under the proposed measure is not expected to change as sharply as the critics seem to think … The bill will not flood our cities with immigrants. It will not upset the ethnic mix of our society. It will not relax the standards of admission. It will not cause American workers to lose their jobs." (U.S. Senate, Subcommittee on Immigration and Naturalization of the Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, D.C., Feb. 10, 1965. pp. 1-3.)

Fact: The total number of legalized immigrants entering The United States since 1990 has averaged 962,000 per year. Several credible studies indicate that the number of illegal entries has recently crept up to 3 million per year, triple the authorized figure.[Bear-Stearns]

Fact: Undocumented immigrants are gaining a larger share of the job market, and hold approximately 12 to 15 million jobs in the United States (8% of the employed). [Bear-Stearns]

Fact: Since 1980, the Asian American population has almost tripled, Hispanic American more than doubled, Native American increased 62%, and African American increased 31%, while the non-ethnic population has remained almost the same.  This is a trend that is expected to continue.  The latest estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau predict that the minority population will comprise fully half the U.S. population by the year 2050. This agrees with Roy Beck’s numbers. [See “The Silent Majority Wants Immigration Reform”, Gumball Immigration]

US History.Com has a simple chart showing the population growth of America.

Yesterday (5 May 2008) we discussed immigration concentrating primarily on illegal immigration. One commenter asked me about my plan.

As Beck states in his presentation, the effects of immigration are economic and environmental and long lasting. They will affect your children and your grandchildren. Do not base your suggestion on what will pass Congress or is popular but on what is right for America. I am looking forward to your input.

I am planning on offering a few of my suggestions for points that I think should be included in immigration reform. They will be just that, suggestions. What I would like now is your input… your suggestions. If you haven’t already, please read yesterday’s diary, “The Silent Majority Wants Immigration Reform”. Be sure to read and/listen to all links.

This is an emotional issue for some but it is good to have some basic facts. Review the information and submit your suggestions. Then later this week I will compile suggestions and we can try to find some common ground.

See: Some Draft Immigration Reform Points