Then what is the pathway to legal status? I don't think amnesty is the answer, and it's a slap in the face to those who went through the process legally. Here are some common sense ideas.
1) Secure the border.
2) Deport all criminal aliens. Start with those with the most serious convictions and work down.
3) Deport all illegal aliens on public assistance and with pending asylum claims (Who came in under Biden).
4) End birthright citizenship for non-citizens.
- If the parents have legal status the legal status confers to the child, but they would have to be naturalized.
- If parent(s) is illegal the child is also illegal and subject to deportation.
5) Provide a pathway to legal status for people living in the country legally who work, pay taxes, and have no criminal record.
- Each illegal migrant would pay $5,000 for five years in order to be granted permanent legal status. This would INCLUDE children.
- Once granted permanent legal status they would pay a 5% income tax for the rest of their lives, OR until they become US citizens, which would be a one time $25,000 fee.
6) Folks with illegal status could avoid steps outlined in section 5 by returning to their country of origin and applying for re-entry through legal means.
Yeah, that would be a disaster. I'm definitely in favor of deporting people who committed crimes while they're here, and also potentially those who have come in more recently and aren't really established here yet. Would obviously have to figure out some criteria for that though.