Should we kick out all the Mexicans? (Conclusion)

As I mentioned in the first entry to this series, many in the right wing would think it ridiculous to even talk about "fair wages" and other legal rights for people who broke the law in entering this country.  Anti-immigrant legislation in states like Arizona have clearly demonstrated that far-right conservatives are willing to create an environment of fear and hostility in hopes that undocumented immigrants will leave this country voluntarily.  However, I believe that an enforcement-only approach to this social issue is not only inadequate but also impractical.

The Department of Homeland Security has steadily increased its watchfulness along the southern border over the last decade using armed Customs & Border agents, fences, and various mechanized detection technologies.  However, we see no end to illegal immigration.  Undocumented immigrants used to cross the border independently; but now, they are paying "professional" transporters called coyotes---who often have links to criminal organizations in Mexico---thousands of dollars to bypass the increased militarization on the American side.  American agents, undocumented civilian immigrants, and coyotes have all suffered casualties as a result of armed conflicts and harsh natural conditions in the deserts.

Furthermore, research from organizations like the Migration Policy Institute has shown that many Mexicans who seasonally crossed back and forth along the border are now staying put in the U.S.  This phenomenon implies that, if the level of illicit entry remains constant, there will be a continuous rise in the number of undocumented immigrants in the United States.

So what should policy makers in Washington do?  While there probably isn't a neat, cookie cutter solution to this social problem, I think that we can start by doing the following:

• Amnesty with built-in penalties and conditional incorporation 

I recognize the fact that amnesty is at best a symptomatic treatment.  It does not address the real incentives behind undocumented immigration and might even create some motivation for those south of the border to risk entering the U.S. illicitly in expectation of eventual forgiveness.  But something must be done in the short term to address the existence of some 12 million individuals living in the shadows.

I think it's fair to say that it is both immoral and impractical to allow prejudiced Americans to grab a shotgun and shoot every Latino they see.  Furthermore, even a federally directed mass deportation would be extremely costly and cause unwanted instability in the U.S. economy.  A much better alternative would be to bring people out of the shadows and incorporate them into the legitimate labor market.  This would also help boost the government's tax intake.

To address the fact that federal immigration laws have been broken, possible remedies include taxing amnesty recipients at a higher rate for a given period of time or imposing a one-time financial penalty.  The government can also implement a temporary residence phase that eventually converts into a permanent status contingent upon good behavior.

• Expansion of the Guest Worker Program 

Given that there is a strong demand for unskilled labor, an expansion of the current Guest Worker Program would represent another partial solution.  Guest workers should have access to legal remedies against unscrupulous American employers so that both unskilled Americans and foreign nationals are not victimized; otherwise, the current trend of below-minimum wage compensation will continue.

• U.S. investment and diplomatic foreign policy in Latin America 

This might sound a bit strange at first but I believe that the key to solving the undocumented immigration puzzle lies not in immigration policy but economic and foreign policy.  People from developing nations immigrate to the U.S. because life is hard back home.  Even a casual study of migration trends reveals that countries like South Korea send fewer of their citizens to the U.S. as economic situations improve domestically.

As much as globalization receives ample criticism from those who feel uncomfortable about developed nations' exploitative behavior in less wealthy regions of the world, foreign direct investment is a crucial factor in delivering poor countries from poverty.  Rich nations outsource jobs and provide financial capital in return for poor nations' cheap labor and manufacturing costs.  As developing countries experience an increase in GDP and conduct large scale industrialization, living conditions steadily improve and emigration rates fall.  Yes, American investment in places like Mexico will certainly lead to certain abuses in the short term.  But if Latin Americans carefully manage their debt and foreign currency reserve levels (to prevent a destabilizing currency speculation) while Americans lend wisely, I daresay the future looks brighter.

But in order for investors to invest confidently, America must seriously scale back its imperialist military actions abroad.  Hidden from the American public's scrutiny, the Pentagon and the CIA propped up oppressive dictatorial regimes throughout Latin America and trained foreign death squads in American military installations.  Firm and confident diplomacy should replace unnecessarily aggressive and destabilizing military tactics.  A United States that strives to become a cooperative neighbor will be a prime ingredient in global development and stability.