Hello all,

In response to our discussion about immigration last week, I think it's fitting to share with you Obama and Biden's plan to deal with this issue.

Barack Obama and Joe Biden's Plan

Create Secure Borders

Obama and Biden want to preserve the integrity of our borders. He supports additional personnel, infrastructure and technology on the border and at our ports of entry.

I think what makes a nation is the the integrity of its border. The nature of our society now is that it is run on this separatist belief. No matter how idealistic we want to be and embrace unity and peace, we still have to live with the fact that we have borders and with that, we have to protect them.

Improve Our Immigration System

Obama and Biden believe we must fix the dysfunctional immigration bureaucracy and increase the number of legal immigrants to keep families together and meet the demand for jobs that employers cannot fill.

The fact that this new administration recognizes that families are being separated during this enture ordeal is very sensitive and noble of them. Nevertheless, "fixing" the immigration bureacracy is not nesscearily a snap of the fingers. I liked Paul Wise's idea of efficacy both downstream and upstream. How can we "fix" this problem most effeincetly? Dealing with immigrants as they enter the US or even before they want to leave Mexico?

Remove Incentives to Enter Illegally

Obama and Biden will remove incentives to enter the country illegally by cracking down on employers who hire undocumented immigrants.

This makes sense right? But what the video showed us was how hard it is for farmers to get by without undocumented immigrants and still make a profit. Then there is a whole other issue of who is going to enforce these rules. Would it requre more beaucracy?

Bring People Out of the Shadows

Obama and Biden support a system that allows undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens.

I am a big fan of this reform. The cycle of deportation and then reentering the states is a costly one. Why not spend the money assimilatig and educating people to become active citizens?

Work with Mexico

Obama and Biden believe we need to do more to promote economic development in Mexico to decrease illegal immigration.

Very upstream reform. This is most likely the ultimate goal.

I know these aren't my own personal solutions to the problem but sometimes, in situations like these I feel like we have to be realistic, rational and work with what we have.