Reply #152: "illegals" not People....A solution?

[LeftHander]

The term "illegals" is being tossed around the immigration issue pretty easily.

We seem to be able to toss aside the fact that people and families are part of this equation and side with the "legal" definition of people who have crossed our border doing nothing more than what human beings are programmed to do....survive and protect thier families.

The dehumanization of people first begins with a term that seperates a population from the mainstream.

"Illegals" is that term. We need to stop the dehumanization of people.

Here is my first stab and devising a solution to our immgration conundrum.

1. Open Borders - Registration at entry with sponsorship, signed lease, open bank account and balance that enables to live for 6 months. No drugs or weapons obviously.

2. No sponsorship or insufficient means of self support, referrals to organizations that help migrants get to that point. But they can still enter if they choose and are reffered to local organizations that are set up to recieve them if they so choose.

3. Undocumented migrants that are employed, those businesses are asked to register the worker and distribute identification and resource information. Again on a voluntary basis. If a business benefits from migrant labor then it is to there benefit to offer entry into the system for migrants.

4. Undocumented homeless migrants are treated as such. they are referred to an aid organization, registered and entered into the system. The "system" is a referall program that connects people with agencies and organizations to help people find work, education, healthcare, housing either in the U.S. or back in native country...they are offered help and options. But none mandatory and can fend for themselves if they so choose. But I am talking about people who would be starving, homeless or sick.

5. Basically if a undocumented migrant seeks help, help is available not punishment. Temporary shelter and food can be provided. But only for people who have already made there way here and are seeking help. Entry into the system can be made at any point with not punishment only help.

6. No undocumented immigrant is denied any service. They simply enter the system at that point.

7. U.S. Citizenship is possible once the migrant is established.

The underlying piece is that it must be structured to actually work and be helpful so that migrants will want to use the system. And are always given the choice to not do so as long as they are registered and are able to take care of themselves. When they fail to do so they are not puniched but given the tools and resources to help them get back on the track to find work and housing. they can obviously choose to not do so.

The systems is to be compassion and reward based not punishment based. Always the underlying theme is not one of punishment but of actually helping people find there way to personal security. Personal Security being the basic needs for survial. Food, shelter first, then education and useful work.

It would be expensive. Yes. We might have to forego plans for more pre-emptive wars and cancel the next air superiority fighter jet contracts, or death rods from space, bunker busters.

What is key is that we are people. We can choose to help one another or punish and kill one another. Somebody has to start somewhere and I choose helping over punishment and killing.

In the short term there will be problems. But what a great problem to have. How to enable people to live better lives without using bombs but simply opening your arms and saying...

"It's okay, I understand and I want to help you find what your looking for, if you want me to help, I would be glad to do so."

That is the key part. Criminalization, involuntary detention, racsim, bigotry, selfishness and hate are not part of equation and if any of those are brought into the system it will not work and again...entry into the system can be done at any point. That is the big difference between this and our current immigration policy which create a single point of entry.

I know many will say...this is toothless and no one will follow any of the procedures because there is no punishment. Well....then I guess you won't be the one helping then.