Losing Track of Illegal Immigrants

Washington Post ^ | 10/7/01 | James V. Grimaldi, Steve Fainaru and Gilbert M. Gaul

[JD86]

Good start for a discussion. I agree with your points 2-5. On your proposal #1, I also agree with immediately deporting anyone who is in the country illegally. However, I have a suggestion for those who have, or seem to have, legal visas to be here to work or go to school. What would you think of having an alternative?....perhaps a time frame of 30 days for them to present themselves to an immigration office and provide documentation that they are really attending a school or working at a job. They could then be given a new DATED visa which would allow them to stay for a specific time period, ie the end of the school term. That would allow the "good, law abiding guests" to stay and also give the govt a way to know where they are and when they are supposed to leave. If they overstay the date on their visa they go on the "unwelcome, to be deported" list. Of course those who did not show up to get the new visas would go immediately to the deportation list. Comments?

[madrussian]

Oops, who needs discussion when censorship will do?

All, remember who call for censorship and what their position on other subjects are.

[Bob]

My question is: does anyone have a practical solution to suggest as to how to correct the situation? Not rants on why it is the way it is, but ways to fix it?

While this is obviously not a complete solution, it may help:

One of the problems with 'losing' people is that INS doesn't seem notice that they've disappeared until long after their visas have expired. Chances of finding them are slim to nonexistent after that length of time.

How about instituting a condition on visas that anyone here on a temporary visa must check in (in person and with residence address verification) at an INS office or some other government agency? Anyone failing to appear would be in violation of his visa and subject to immediate deportation.

Monthly check-ins would probably be too expensive to implement but even quarterly ones would be better than what we have now.

[JD86]

I am certain your comment was not directed toward me. I only started posting yesterday so there is no way for anyone to know my positions on anything.

I asked for discussion because I am more interested in being part of the solution instead of part of the problem. And I thought someone might have an idea I haven't thought of yet. I may not agree with the ideas other present but I will try to disagree in a polite and civil manner.

[JD86]

I am certain your comment was not directed toward me. I only started posting yesterday so there is no way for anyone to know my positions on anything.

I asked for discussion because I am more interested in being part of the solution instead of part of the problem. And I thought someone might have an idea I haven't thought of yet. I may not agree with the ideas other present but I will try to disagree in a polite and civil manner.

[madrussian]

Check out the thread kommissar.

[JD86]

sorry about the double post, I told you I was new here..:)

[fredtaps]

I don't think Madrussian was referring to you. You have to look at the post number to which someone is replying.

[JD86]

I think that is an outstanding idea. I suggest new visas be issued in a laminated format with the date of expiration on the front....and use a photo, like a driver's license. Also require them to have it in their possession at all times.

They are guests in this country and we can make the rules. If they don't like the rules, they don't have to come.

Anyone with an expired visa would be deported, no questions asked. If that is the rule up front, there is no due process issue.

This doesn't solve the problem of the ones already here but it would start a verifible system on all the new ones coming in.

[JD86]

Thanks, I need all the pointers I can get....and my apologies to madrussian for jumping the gun.

[madrussian]

I am certain your comment was not directed toward me.

Not at you.

[RnMomof7]

People on visas should have to report to the INS ever 6 months..failure to do that should result in immediate deport..

Visas should have to be checked by schools and employers and hospitals.Failure to notify the INS of a change in the status of a visa holder ( enrollment in or drop out of school,birth of a child,a new job etc) should be a fine.In the case of a school or a hospital the loss of all federal aid for 1 year per incident..

This is no joke..it is the responsibility of every citizen to report illegals

[Don Myers]

"IT SEEMS TO ME THAT AT THIS TIME OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY, ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SHOULD ROUNDED UP AND PLACED IN DETENTION CAMPS."

Depending on what happens in the next few weeks, you may get your wish.

[1 FELLOW FREEPER]

It is a hot DAMN shame that it takes the wholesale slaughter of 6000 Americans by illegal immigrants for the average American to wake up and smell the coffee.

[JD86]

if I am not mistaken, all the known terrorists entered the country legally....

[Don Myers]

I just hope that they are smelling the coffee now.

[JD86]

I agree that a wake-up call was needed, and we paid a very high price for our inattention. I am concerned though when we loosely interchange the words "illegal immigrants" and "legal immigrants". I think the entire process of allowing "guests" into the country needs to be reviewed and overhauled.

It is my understanding that most, if not all, of the terrorists entered the country legally and then just disappeared. This is the threat to the homefront which must be contained or we will see more days like 9/11.

Visas must be dated and periodically reviewed. Once the visas expire, those people are here illegally and should be deported immediately.

[B-Cause]

With computer and communications technology the way it is this should be a fairly easy problem to solve. People on visas could be required to check in quarterly. If they don't a red flag comes up and a warrant issued for their arrest. Don't put them in jail. Send them back home. Our bureaucracy bosses just don't feel responsible for their effectiveness.

How about holding these INS bureaucrats liable for what they allowed to happen to our country.

Treason!

[FITZ]

Libertarians have been VERY quiet for over three weeks, concerning open immigration and drugs.

Of course you have to admit the Libertarians haven't been the ones in power while all the borders were open and the drugs were flowing in.