Government & Politics Comprehensive Immigration Reform Subterfuge – Patriot Post
A couple of politically tone-deaf GOP congressmen, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO), have introduced the State-Sponsored Visa Pilot Program Act of 2017, a proposal aimed at allowing individual states to set up their own guest-worker programs. My concept of border security includes a robust guest-worker program, Johnson declared. Its going to be a whole lot easier to secure the border when youre not having to clamp down on people coming here to seek the opportunities that America provides.
While the federal government would still control the issuance of visas, states would be granted the discretion to admit guest workers for as long as three years, after which their visas could be renewed.
Johnsons proposal allows each state to issue visas to as many as 5,000 workers, and draw from additional pool of 250,000 visas based on the states population relative to its percentage of the nations total population. The House version reduces those numbers to 2,500 and 125,000, respectively.
In addition, states could increase their caps by 10% in any year where 97% of their sponsored guest workers comply with their visa requirements and stay out of the black market. Any year a state missed that target would engender a 50% cap reduction. A state missing its target for four years would be suspended from the program for five years.
To make the proposal more palatable, participating workers would be barred from accessing welfare state benefits, such as ObamaCare or the Earned Income Tax Credit, and granting citizenship or permanent resident status to these workers would be prohibited. Workers would be able to change jobs, ostensibly as protection against possible abuse, but would be required to seek other employment only in the state that issued the visa, unless states formed compacts allowing workers multi-state employment access. Violators would lose their status and be subject to deportation.
Unsurprisingly, champions of comprehensive immigration reform are extolling the proposals virtues. Columnist Shikha Dalmia hails the great upside of an approach that would sidestep the messy politics in Washington that have long made sensible immigration reform well nigh impossible. The libertarian Cato Institutes David Bier applauds an approach in accordance with Americas long tradition of federalism in almost every other policy area, one that has the potential to increase support for immigration across the country, allowing America to set aside harmful protectionism and move closer to an economically competitive system.
At what price? We begin with the American Lefts dream of unassailable power, underscored by the reality that the 500,000 guest workers who could enter the country on renewable three-year visas per year would be allowed to bring with them their spouses and children who would not be counted as part of the cap. Under Johnsons proposal, this would allow more than a million people to enter the country annually a country in which more than half of illegal aliens overstayed their visas rather than crossed the border.
Enter birthright citizenship. As the law stands now, the hypothetical American-born child of state-based guest workers would be granted immediate U.S. citizenship and access to federal benefits, National Reviews Fred Bauer explains. At the age of 21, a U.S. citizen can sponsor his or her parents to become permanent residents and, eventually, citizens.
As the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) notes, those citizens would overwhelmingly support Democrats. The enormous flow of legal immigrants into the country 29.5 million from 1980 to 2012 has remade and continues to remake the nations electorate in favor of the Democratic Party, a 2015 CIS report stated. A follow-up study by the University of Marylands James G. Gimpel confirmed that assessment, revealing, Each one percentage-point increase in the immigrant share of a large countys population reduces the Republican share of the two-party vote by nearly 0.6 percentage points, on average.
Add incrementalism to the mix. As Bauer warns, it wouldnt be long before Democrats would demand that guest workers and their families have access to at least some federal benefits, health care likely chief among them, even as they would smear Republicans as cold-hearted and anti-immigrant for resisting.
Bauer further notes the horrendous optics ripe for leftist exploitation, including tenements swollen with guest workers and their beleaguered families and tearful U.S. citizens waving goodbye to their guest-worker parents, who have to leave the country because theyve lost their jobs. He also worries about the diminishment of civic health attached to a large class of residents who are viewed purely as economic resources with no stake in American society.
If that sounds familiar, its because America abided a similar arrangement once before it was called slavery.
Hot Air columnist Jazz Shaw focuses on security, warning that though the H-1B visa program is exploited by large companies to replace American workers with cheaper foreign counterparts, its also one of the only ways to find out if someone is no longer complying with the rules or is in an overstay situation. This proposal would engender a red carpet invitation to abuse the visa system and disappear into the crowd.
Regardless, Johnson remains wedded to the prevailing and demonstrably false assertions driving ideas like this. We have a shortage of workers in all different areas of the economy, he insists. We need to recognize that a one-size-fits-all federal model for visas or guest workers doesnt work.
No, we need to recognize that, as is so often the case, government is determined to fix a problem on the wrong end. If there is a shortage of high-skill American workers in certain fields, it makes far more sense to reform a failing educational system that churns out Americans ill-equipped to compete in the 21st century economy.
As for the jobs Americans refuse to do, the notion that government would simultaneously underwrite millions of able-bodied dependents who refuse to work (or believe that certain work is beneath them) and the additional economic costs that attend themselves to accommodating millions of guest workers and their families is utterly absurd.
Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revealed 17% of the American labor force is foreign born. For the 25 million workers added to that work force between 1996 and 2016, the percentage rises to nearly 50%.
What percentage of foreign workers constitutes critical mass? One that adversely affects not only the economic future of millions of Americans but the nations societal and cultural ethos as well?
I had thought that the current agenda for any sort of immigration reform was pretty clear following the last election cycle, Shaw writes. There would be no discussions of amnesty or any other priorities of liberals and open borders advocates until the border was secure and progress was being made on getting at least the worst offending criminal illegal aliens out of the country. Apparently I was mistaken.
Once again, the publics foremost immigration concerns, as in national security and the Rule of Law, are being ignored by Republicans still pushing comprehensive immigration reform by any subterfuge necessary.
They would like to pretend the 2016 election never happened. But it did. And they ignore its mandate at their own peril.
Read the original post:
Government & Politics Comprehensive Immigration Reform Subterfuge - Patriot Post
- James Talarico Pushes Faith-Based Progressive Agenda With Immigration Reform and Texas Working-Class Outreach - Azat TV - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Commentary: Congresswomen unite for immigration reform and show us the statesmanship thats possible - The Daily Gazette - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- High-Skilled Immigration Reform Efforts in the 119th Congress - Reddy Neumann Brown PC - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Vietnam Unveils Major Immigration Reform: Visa-Exemption Certificates Now Processed In Just One Day To Support Explosive Tourism Growth - Travel And... - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- John T. Shaw: Congresswomen unite for immigration reform and show us the statesmanship thats possible - Chicago Tribune - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Rep. Dexter urges immigration reform after Portland mother and children held for 12 days - KGW - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- FAIR: Presidents Executive Actions Should Be the First Step in Immigration Overhaul that Serves the National Interest - Federation for American... - September 21st, 2025 [September 21st, 2025]
- Mass Immigration Amplifies Threat Posed to America by Mainland China - Federation for American Immigration Reform - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- UK immigration reform: implications, unintended consequences and the need for strategic policymaking going forward - Electronic Immigration Network - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- Anniversary of immigration reform raises questions about Americas refuge role by Wayne Dawkins - Richmond Free Press - September 15th, 2025 [September 15th, 2025]
- China: How Americas Biggest Adversary is Weaponizing the U.S. Immigration System - Federation for American Immigration Reform - September 13th, 2025 [September 13th, 2025]
- The unintended consequences of immigration reform - Arizona Capitol Times - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- Is there a chance of immigration reform being passed? - Manhattan Times News - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- OPINION: A case for immigration reform during the Trump Administration - yahoo.com - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- OPINION: A case for immigration reform during the Trump Administration - El Paso Times - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- Letter to the Editor: Compassionate immigration reform needed - Daily Local - August 27th, 2025 [August 27th, 2025]
- North County Report: An Unexpected Push for Federal Immigration Reform - Voice of San Diego - August 27th, 2025 [August 27th, 2025]
- Lincoln Bishop urges dignity, immigration reform amid plans for McCook ICE detention facility - KOLN | Nebraska Local News, Weather, Sports | Lincoln,... - August 24th, 2025 [August 24th, 2025]
- FAIR Expands Its Impact by Adding Litigation and Investigations Divisions - Federation for American Immigration Reform - August 22nd, 2025 [August 22nd, 2025]
- Immigration reform meets primary care: How the Dignity Act of 2025 could help ease the workforce shortage - Medical Economics - August 20th, 2025 [August 20th, 2025]
- PD Editorial: America needs immigration reform more than ever - The Press Democrat - August 18th, 2025 [August 18th, 2025]
- Escondido City Council approves letter to Congress calling for immigration reform - 10News.com - August 14th, 2025 [August 14th, 2025]
- A six-pillar blueprint: The Catholic Churchs plan for humane immigration reform - Milwaukee Independent - August 7th, 2025 [August 7th, 2025]
- Shifting Priorities Around Exploitation for the Sake of Immigration Reform - The Source Weekly - Bend, Oregon - August 7th, 2025 [August 7th, 2025]
- Wenski: Pivot to immigration reform, not Alcatraz camps, now the border is secure - OSV News - August 6th, 2025 [August 6th, 2025]
- Is there a chance of immigration reform being passed? - el-observador.com - August 3rd, 2025 [August 3rd, 2025]
- Bipartisan bill offers meaningful immigration reform that could help address senior living workforce needs, leaders say - McKnight's Senior Living - August 1st, 2025 [August 1st, 2025]
- US bishops: Bipartisan collaboration on immigration reform is absolutely necessary - CatholicVote org - August 1st, 2025 [August 1st, 2025]
- Immigration and the physician shortage: Physicians can help drive immigration reform - Medical Economics - July 30th, 2025 [July 30th, 2025]
- There has to be a better way: CA Senator Alex Padilla to introduce immigration reform legislation - KGET.com - July 28th, 2025 [July 28th, 2025]
- Arizona congressman calls for comprehensive immigration reform after attempted visit to Kelly Yu - KTAR News 92.3 FM - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- America can have ICE raids or immigration reform. Its up to Trump and the GOP | Opinion - Sacramento Bee - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- There has to be a better way: CA Senator Alex Padilla to introduce immigration reform legislation - Yahoo Home - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Press Release: Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and House Representatives Reintroduce Immigration Reform Amid Ongoing Raids - Quiver Quantitative - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Press Release: House Representatives Reintroduce Immigration Reform Bill Led by Jess "Chuy" Garca - Quiver Quantitative - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Can a lawmaker be fully MAGA and still push for immigration reform? Meet Maria Elvira Salazar - Newsweek - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Carbajal Co-Sponsors Bipartisan Immigration Reform Bill in U.S. House of Representatives - The Santa Barbara Independent - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Fox host Brian Kilmeade: "The border sealed, it could allow maybe moving forward on immigration reform" - Media Matters for America - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Why Some Republicans Say Now Is The Time For Immigration Reform - FOX News Radio - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Bipartisan immigration reform bill aims to provide earned opportunity to stay here and work - McKnight's Senior Living - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Don Bacon defends vote on Big Beautiful Bill, talks immigration reform during town hall - Kearney Hub - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Gillen Backs Immigration Reform Bill - Long Island Life & Politics - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans has joined latest immigration reform attempt. Will it succeed as enforcement surges? - The Denver Post - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Don Bacon defends vote on Big Beautiful Bill, talks immigration reform during town hall - Omaha World-Herald - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Letters to the Editor: Meaningful immigration reform must come from both sides of the aisle - Los Angeles Times - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Press Release: Carbajal Co-Leads Reintroduction of Bipartisan Immigration Reform Bill - Quiver Quantitative - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Bennet has battled for immigration reform for years but critical issue remains deeply politicized in U.S. - Real Vail - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Bipartisan immigration reform package? Some California lawmakers back it, but will Congress pass it? - The Daily Gazette - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Community Leaders Rally in Indio Demanding Immigration Reform, Better Treatment for Detained Families - NBC Palm Springs - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Lawmakers bring immigration reform bill back to allow them to stay - yourcentralvalley.com - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Letters to the Editor: Democrats missed the chance to pass immigration reform years ago - Los Angeles Times - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Bipartisan Immigration Reform Act Introduced to Congress - The Well News - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Opinion | Trumps Immigration Reform Opportunity - The Wall Street Journal - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Press Release: Reps. Lawler, Salazar, and Escobar Unveil Bipartisan DIGNITY Act to Address Immigration Reform - Quiver Quantitative - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- The time is right for common sense immigration reform - The Independent Record - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Bipartisan Group of Legislators Keep Dream of Immigration Reform Alive with Reintroduced 'DIGNIDAD' Act - American Immigration Council - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- What is the Dignity Act? Congress reintroduces bipartisan immigration reform bill - NBC 6 South Florida - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- 'Do you like mass deportations, Grok?' Controversial AI Chatbot Talks Immigration Reform With Professor L. Ali Khan - JURIST Legal News - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Press Release: Gabe Evans and Maria Salazar Introduce Bipartisan Dignity Act for Immigration Reform - Quiver Quantitative - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- The Solution to Trumps Immigration Debacle? Immigration Reform - The Well News - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- CER Podcast: Unpacking Europe: Immigration reform in the UK - Centre for European Reform - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Condemns ICE Raid on Local Business, Calls for Humane Immigration Reform - wehotimes.com - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- A Path Forward on Immigration Reform That Strengthens America - GV Wire - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Weighing in on Trump's promise of immigration reform - Hortidaily - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Immigration Reform for Meat Processors and More Ag Input for MAHA - AG INFORMATION NETWORK OF THE WEST - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Changes Proposed by the Governments White Paper on Immigration Reform | White Paper - Freeths - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Border congressman: Arresting criminal aliens is the first step in immigration reform - Dallas News - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Jose Antonio Vargas on What We Get Wrong About Immigration Reform - American Civil Liberties Union - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- This situation is not worthy of a great nation: Los Angeles archbishop calls for immigration reform - CatholicVote org - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Arnold Schwarzenegger Blames Both Parties, Lack Of Immigration Reform For ICE Raids - The Daily Wire - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Not going to stop: Immigration Reform group meets in Fresno - yourcentralvalley.com - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- State Representative Kasey Carpenter on Immigration Reform - Georgia Public Broadcasting - May 30th, 2025 [May 30th, 2025]
- Trump can go down in history by pushing immigration reform | Opinion - Fresno Bee - May 30th, 2025 [May 30th, 2025]
- Bishop urges government to reconsider immigration reform - The Tablet - May 30th, 2025 [May 30th, 2025]
- Whatever Happened to Bipartisan Immigration Reform? - Newsweek - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- UK Immigration Reform 2025: Key Changes and Business Impacts - Watson Farley & Williams - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV Raises Hopes for Immigration Reform in Arizona - Hoodline - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- UK: Government publishes proposal for major immigration reform Work ban forcing some female asylum applicants into sex work New evidence of violence... - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- UK Immigration Reform deeper restrictions on the horizon - Charles Russell Speechlys - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Argentina's immigration reform to be discussed at Mercosur meeting - H2FOZ - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]