A Fence is No Substitute

The much-discussed and sometimes popular notion of a fence on the American border with Mexico isn't going to solve our immigration problem. Let's pretend that we had physical barriers around this country that were very difficult to penetrate. For example, let's pretend we were an island in the Pacific, far from neighboring land masses. Australia! Let's pretend America is Australia. Given the mythical properties that people ascribe to a border fence, that it can keep immigrants out and solve our problems, you'd expect that Australia has no immigration problems. But you'd be wrong. People wash up on Australian shores in a desparate attempt to escape persecution in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Iran, and Iraq, among other places. And when they do, Australia puts these refugees, who are not even simply immigrants looking for work but desperate people seeking asylum from death and torture, in "detention centers", which are indistinguishable from prisons. Basically, Australian refugee policy is deeply troubling. It in no way substitutes for meaningful reform and a legitimate set of procedures for processing refugees, giving them asylum, allowing them a legal status, and providing them with the opportunity to become contributing members to Australian society.

Americans, a border fence will not protect us from needing a comprehensive policy on immigration. The only solution is reform, based in an understanding of 1) our shared humanity with immigrants and refugees, 2) and acknowledgement that America was built on free/cheap labor and still exploits those with no bargaining power to get it, and 3) the economic policies of the US in relation to Mexico and Central America have contributed to the poor economies of those countries and therefore to the dire straits of those who live there. We need an immigration reform plan that stops demonizing people in public while doing nothing to punish the corporations that exploit immigrants because immigrants cannot enforce the minimum wage requirements.

We need a policy that incorporates the need this country has for the labor that immigrants do. This policy must give immigrants some measure of safety and accountability, so that we cease our shadow world of undocumented people working under the radar for either individual or institutional employers. We need to recognize that immigrants pay taxes: even if they get cash for working, they pay sales tax and value added taxes on commodities such as gasoline and cigarettes. We should grant them some kind of guest-worker status that allows them to contribute more of their income to this country. There should be a citizenship plan for these guest-workers that is much less restrictive and punitive than the current system, so that these productive, hardworking people can reap the benefits they've paid into with their sales taxes and payroll taxes. The American-born children of immigrants should unquestionably be granted the citizenship that is their right under the 14th amendment. Both American-born and immigrant children should continue to be sent to public school, since education is the best way to ensure that those new citizens produce and pay taxes in the future. There is a proven need for immigrant labor in this country, and it's time to stop demonizing people who want a better life and start crafting policy that makes it easier for us all to live better.