You know a couple of months ago I asked IE if we could solve the immigration program among ourselves? We did. Not dodging ya.
No I wouldn't take that deal.
It doesn't make sense, especially at the local level, to not be able to become a citizen. The notion that someone could live here 50 years and be permanently barred from voting is a joke. "But they broke the law!" ....well, felons can vote. I am not for creating a permanent underclass of disenfranchised people. It makes even less sense for DACA/DREAMERs.
"No criminal record" is a stretch. I don't think a father who once committed a misdemeanor like underage drinking should be deported. If they haven't committed a felony or violent crime, I'm fine with it. We already know
that first-generation immigrants commit crime at a muuuuch lower rate than Americans.
Chain immigration should be reformed but I do think having family here should count for something. Per usual, Canada is heading in the right direction.
Also eliminate the per country cap. IMO it is designed to encourage Mexican illegal immigration specifically. If Mexico split into 100 countries, we wouldn't have an illegal immigration problem. Everybody always talks about immigrating the right way, but the line is simply longer from a large country and it is very clearly designed to get illegal labor from the one large Central American nation.
We need to substantially increase the number of legal immigrants we allow annually. Maybe 1.5 million.
I would want reform of the H-1B program and foreign students. Anyone who obtains a STEM degree, or a Master's/Ph.D in anything here in the states should be fast-tracked to permanent residency and then citizenship should they decide to stay. I would also want the employer/sponsor of an H-1B immigrant to have to pay a fine of ~10% on top of what they pay the foreigner and that money must go to a nearby or in-state college/vocational school to fund programs for that position, eg if I "can't find any Americans to be a chemist" and hire a foreign guy at $50,000, they must give $5,000 to State U for their chemistry department.
Eliminate birthright citizenship.
A year after those reforms, I would make knowingly hiring illegal immigrants a fifth-degree felony.
The border wall is a waste of money, but if it makes you feel better, sure.