That is a smart proposal. Follow Singapore’s example. It is the most prosperous country per capita in SE Asia. They have no food stamps program, no unemployment compensation program and low corporate tax. Result is they have more jobs than citizens which number 3.5 million.
So what is Singapore’s immigration program?
WORK PERMITS!
There are 2 million foreign workers on 2 year work permits in Singapore. They must return after 2 years are up and then re-apply for another work permit.
The work permit system tells Singapore who is there, where they work, and where they live. Unlike USA which has no clue who is here and what the heck they are doing.
Whatever is proposed is absolutely worthless without enforcement. That’s the real problem.
So we create a work permit system, and then what? Think we’re going to deport those who overstay their work visas? We don’t do that now. What if employers would rather keep their illegal labor off the books in order to pay less and undercut their competition? The incentives that currently make illegal alien labor profitable would still exist. What if the illegals themselves don’t want to participate? Maybe they don’t want to become Americans and pay taxes.
Again, no plan is going to work if the federal government will not enforce the law. You cannot offer a carrot if you aren’t also willing to use the stick, and there’s no will in DC to do that.