People without borders – What would you do?

[afishamongmany]

So imagine you're the USA's president, or someone rich enough, or powerful enough to make things happen. What would you do? Not just to deal with the immediate, impending invasion of the USA but what to do about the world-wide mass migrations that have now become the norm.
A river of people: The migrant caravan in pictures

I'm not interested in your politics. What I'd like to hear about are possible solutions.
Ideas that go beyond the binary, Keep 'em out!/ Let 'em in!
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[Desk trauma]

In this imaginary world where the president has these powers and I am that person, I would create an enhanced version of e-varify with photo ID associated with it and make its use mandatory for all employers. Along with that there would be serious fines associated with employing illegal labor with strict enforcement. Once the economic motivations are removed the economic migrants will stop coming illegally and the ones already here will have little choice but to leave.

 

[Tanj]

In this imaginary world where the president has these powers and I am that person, I would create an enhanced version of e-varify with photo ID associated with it and make its use mandatory for all employers. Along with that there would be serious fines associated with employing illegal labor with strict enforcement. Once the economic motivations are removed the economic migrants will stop coming illegally and the ones already here will have little choice but to leave.

You didn't address the "world wide mass migrations that have now become the norm". I find your fantasy solution to a fantasy problem lacking.

In keeping with the reality portrayed in the OP my solution would involve becoming a member of the green lantern brigade.

 

[PloverWing]

The ideal would be to make the migrants' countries of origin to be safe, stable, prosperous places to live -- but I don't know how to do that. Military invasions to force a change of government tend to do more harm than good. I had hopes that NAFTA would improve Mexico's economic conditions, but I don't think it has been as successful as I had hoped. Still, something like NAFTA is my best guess for economic problems, trying to equalize economic conditions across larger regions. (Compare, say, how Mississippi is a little poorer than Massachusetts, but not lots and lots poorer, so we're not seeing mass migrations to Massachusetts.)

Political instability, like in the Middle East, is harder. Maybe funding schools and universities in those regions, to expose the citizens to the political and cultural ideas found in more stable countries?

 

[Desk trauma]

You didn't address the "world wide mass migrations that have now become the norm". I find your fantasy solution to a fantasy problem lacking.

I confined my answer to the US mainly because I have no idea how to right the myriad of wrongs around the world while having what I consider a good idea of how to handle the illegal economic migrants in the US.

 

[section9+1]

Let illegals in but provide absolutely nothing for their support. Conduct a survey and let 100% of their welfare be upon the shoulders of those who want them in.

 

[Belk]

So imagine you're the USA's president, or someone rich enough, or powerful enough to make things happen. What would you do? Not just to deal with the immediate, impending invasion of the USA but what to do about the world-wide mass migrations that have now become the norm.


I'm not interested in your politics. What I'd like to hear about are possible solutions.
Ideas that go beyond the binary, Keep 'em out!/ Let 'em in!
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You might not know this but to post in this section the OP needs a news article linked.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

I would build a million 100 foot tall flame throwing riveted mechanical steam powered spiders to patrol the border.

 

[afishamongmany]

You might not know this but to post in this section the OP needs a news article linked.

Thanks Belk for pointing that out. I've put in a link. ><>

 

[afishamongmany]

In this imaginary world where the president has these powers and I am that person, I would create an enhanced version of e-varify with photo ID associated with it and make its use mandatory for all employers. Along with that there would be serious fines associated with employing illegal labor with strict enforcement. Once the economic motivations are removed the economic migrants will stop coming illegally and the ones already here will have little choice but to leave.

Ok Dt, thanks, that's a do-able (difficult but do-able) idea. It would take time for the effect to work through and in the medium term you will still have a mass of people pushing for the promised land. Also of course it does nothing to solve the root causes - bad government -> unemployment -> poverty -> human misery in the home countries.
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[afishamongmany]

You didn't address the "world wide mass migrations that have now become the norm". I find your fantasy solution to a fantasy problem lacking.

In keeping with the reality portrayed in the OP my solution would involve becoming a member of the green lantern brigade.

Ok Tanj - guess you and I just have different parameter of what makes for reality and fantasy. ><>

 

[grasping the after wind]

I would have people decide that it is far better to change one's circumstances by opposing evil than by running from it.

 

[afishamongmany]

The ideal would be to make the migrants' countries of origin to be safe, stable, prosperous places to live -- but I don't know how to do that. Military invasions to force a change of government tend to do more harm than good. I had hopes that NAFTA would improve Mexico's economic conditions, but I don't think it has been as successful as I had hoped. Still, something like NAFTA is my best guess for economic problems, trying to equalize economic conditions across larger regions. (Compare, say, how Mississippi is a little poorer than Massachusetts, but not lots and lots poorer, so we're not seeing mass migrations to Massachusetts.)

Political instability, like in the Middle East, is harder. Maybe funding schools and universities in those regions, to expose the citizens to the political and cultural ideas found in more stable countries?

Thanks PW, yea your first sentence I think encapsulates the solution and the dilemma.
How about getting referendums going in the USA and states like Honduras, for them (failed states) to voluntarily become part of the USA??
Your educational suggestion is good in principle but long term. There is also the problem of who decides which "political and cultural ideas" are the ones that are going to make things better
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[Desk trauma]

How about getting referendums going in the USA and states like Honduras, for them (failed states) to voluntarily become part of the USA??

We have nothing to gain from that arrangement.

 

[Desk trauma]

Ok Dt, thanks, that's a do-able (difficult but do-able) idea. It would take time for the effect to work through and in the medium term you will still have a mass of people pushing for the promised land.

All of whom would then be pushing on back home once they can no longer make a living.

Also of course it does nothing to solve the root causes - bad government -> unemployment -> poverty -> human misery in the home countries.
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Those are their problems, not ours.

 

[inquiring mind]

1. Cap all entitlement programs right where they are and cover all new illegal support with across the board reductions from those programs. That would soon eliminate all the open borders politicians.
2. Stop all aid to any dead-beat country that can't seem to find a way to take care of their own.
3. Investigate all online media, and require mandatory housing of at least one illegal for anyone who has shown support for open borders.

 

[afishamongmany]

Let illegals in but provide absolutely nothing for their support. Conduct a survey and let 100% of their welfare be upon the shoulders of those who want them in.

section9+1, I think this idea needs some fleshing out. This in tandem with Desk trauma's employment controls and a system of sponsorship has possibilities. I think though maybe sponsorship first then entry?
A nationwide survey to see how many would be willing to take in and support an individual or a family would certainly be very interesting.
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[afishamongmany]

I would build a million 100 foot tall flame throwing riveted mechanical steam powered spiders to patrol the border.

Sigh!!! AJ if you had also suggested setting up sites in Honduras and Guatemala to develop and manufacture these spiders, your post would have been just that little bit more interesting. ><>

 

[afishamongmany]

double post

 

[afishamongmany]

[Those are their problems, not ours.[/QUOTE]

No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe (America) is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend's
Or of thine own were:
Any man's death (misery) diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.
John Donne with additions by ><>