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  • Title: Coping with illegal immigrants.
    Author: Hewlett SA.
    Journal: Foreign Aff; 1981; 60(2):358-78. PubMed ID: 12338857.
    Abstract:
    The annual net flow of illegal immigrants into the US is around 500,000/year which has increased tenfold over the last 15 years; these people, unprotected by US law, are targets of exploitation. Unless a restrictive policy is put into practice for illegal and legal immigrants the flow will accelerate, creating domestic pressures. A package proposed by a Presidential Task Force in 1982 proposed: 1) there be better border patrols and stricter laws regarding hiring of illegals, 2) issuing a counterfeit-resistant social security card, 3) conditional amnesty for some illegal immigrants already in the US, 4) a small increase in the number of legal immigrants allowed into the US from Mexico, and 5) a limited guest worker program. These ideas differed in some respects from those of an earlier Select Committee on Immigration. Guest worker programs in other countries are described. In July 1982 President Reagan faced 3 policy options: 1) he could ignore his Task Force's ideas and use a large guest worker program, legalizing and continuing the inflow of cheap labor; 2) he could adopt the recommendations and get a new, tougher policy initiated; or 3) he could allow the issue to abort itself. He adopted the 3rd option, a policy package with little internal force which he will not pursue vigorously. Any serious effort to achieve a more serious immigration policy must include 4 elements: 1) a tough set of employer sanctions, 2) a foolproof worker identification card system, 3) better border control, and 4) an amnesty program. These 4 measures are interrelated; if 1 fails, the policy ceases to achieve its goals. This 4-point program would have the advantage of maintaining a short-term "safety-valve" for those countries which are the sources of illegal migration.
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