I believe that it is pretty much in evidence that the majority of Mexican immigrants into the U.S. simply want access to the opportunities and advantages afforded by our economic system. The vast majority really don’t cause any problems and certainly contribute to our economy. The problem is with the illegality of their entry into our country, which has caused a system to arise that poses extraordinary danger to both American citizens and Mexican immigrants. This system is nothing more than human trafficking at its worst, and allows for exploitation of people, entry into the United States of criminals, and drug-running.
My proposal is that a sub-consular system be established in Mexico, with United States Department of State (USDOS) satellite facilities located throughout Mexico, particularly in the major population centers and in northern Mexico near the U.S. border. These would be free-standing buildings staffed by Mexican citizens and supervised by U.S. DOS personnel and would be linked with American and Mexican law enforcement agencies. Mexican citizens wishing to work in the United States would apply for a temporary work visa of six months’ duration, and safe, regulated transportation to the U.S. would be provided for them. Anyone with a criminal record of anything greater than a misdemeanor or traffic violation would be denied a visa. The people here on work visas would then be required to return to Mexico for renewal of their visa every six months. After two years of working without any problems, arrests, etc, they would be considered for accelerated path to U.S. citizenship, if so desired.
The cost of this program would have to be shared by both the U.S. and Mexican governments. Also, the immigrants salaries would be taxed here in the U.S. at a low rate, say 4%. This would help defray the cost of the program and also defray the cost of the use of services, such as emergency department visits, used by Mexican immigrants while in the U.S. under the auspices of this program.
A program such as this would accommodate the wishes of Mexican citizens wishing to work in the U.S. while allowing control of the system and generating revenue. The construction contracts in Mexico to build the sub-consular facilities and the staffing requirements would provide much needed jobs in Mexico and perhaps lessen the number of people wishing to emigrate to the United States. At the same time, it would very much reduce the illegality in the current system and so make the process of getting here much safer for Mexican workers. This would, by extension, make control of the border–necessary for the safety and security of American citizens–much easier to manage for law enforcement personnel.