HispanicVista Columnists

Reality and Congress

By Raoul Lowery Contreras

To: The House of Representatives and,

The United States Senate

From: Raoul Lowery Contreras

Subj: A nation at peril

Congressmen:

          The Chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the House imperiled the United States of America more than can be imagined by 9/11 veterans for the most specious of reasons. His demands for national driver license standards were emotional, not very responsible and should not have been discussed while intelligence reforms recommended by the 9/11 Commission were twisting in the wind.

          The greater good and a long-range view to handling immigration problems swept him aside.

          The driver’s license controversy is a petty distraction from far more important issues of war in Iraq, the war on terrorists and the problem of illegal immigrants and it must be relegated to #100 out of 100 important issues.

          The war in Iraq, Iraqi elections and the continuing war on terror will continue along historical paths that may very well result in more freedom, economic progress and democracy for millions of Middle Easterners who can’t afford camel dung for their cooking fires. On the subject of illegal aliens working in our restaurants, in our fields and manufacturing plants, here, gentlemen, is a law to solve most illegal alien problems.

          RECOGNIZING that a huge problem exists on the border and, that no amount of border agents can solve the problem and, recognizing that the military is not suited by training or law to enforce civilian laws, be it resolved that:

Passage across the borders with Canada and Mexico should be regulated with the use of U.S. Government issued identifications allowing for (CATEGORY 1) border crossings for visits that can include commercial, business, personal visits anywhere in the United States for limited periods of time.

For work, (CATEGORY 2) identifications issued that allow for work in the United States for limited periods of time (Mirroring Mexican work permits for Americans that have existed for half-a-century).

Applicants for such cards must produce legitimate governmental documents and law enforcement clearance from their respective countries for CATEGORY 1 visas.

CATEGORY 2 visas must be applied for only with bona fide vetted (by Labor Department) offers for a job in the United States with a limit of 7-year duration, with opportunities to renew two times in the future contingent on no serious law-breaking. CATEGORY 2 permits would allow holders unrestricted passage between the countries involved.

Those in the United States who are not presently legally resident could apply for CATEGORY 2 permits with the payment of $1000.00 ($500 from applicant and $500 from employer). Also required would be documentation of present employment from employers, successful application for a legitimate Social Security number, successful law enforcement and health clearance of applicant, and documentation of previous work performed in the United States for proper assignment of payroll taxes. Finally, submission of biometric information, fingerprints and DNA samples for storage in a central DNA bank for future reference.

Employers would be required to produce documentation on work experience of CATEGORY 2 applicants and would have one year to document that each and every employee is legally entitled to work in the USA. All employees would be required to produce a federally issued identification. Such might include a Passport issued by the State Department, or a certificate of Citizenship issued by the Department of Homeland Security, or a new CATEGORY 2 work permit, or a military identification card, all with pictures and federal stamps. Adjunct Social Security identification confirmed electronically (like credit card purchases) by the Social Security Administration would be required, as well. These requirements would apply to all employees in the United States, regardless of legal residency.

After deadline for documentation of all employees in all employment in the country, any employer found to have hired an undocumented worker or any citizenship or residency would be liable for shut down and heavy fines.

          By passing such a law, the illegal alien problem as we know it disappears. By using federally issued documents such as passports, work permits, or military identification cards and instant verification of Social Security numbers, all verifiable identification issues also disappear. By applying employment identification standards to all employees, most problems with employee legality will also disappear.

          The federal government will be the only source of work documentation, thus precluding concerns about driver’s licenses.

          Results: The critical work force of illegals will become legal. More illegals won’t come north because they won’t be able to work without identification provided by the federal government. Federal agents, then, can turn their attention to chasing terrorists, not bus boys.

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Contreras’ newest book—THE ILLEGAL ALIEN: A DAGGER INTO THE HEART OF AMERICA?? -- is available at www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com