Mass deportation while it sounds great is totally unattainable. Here is a breakdown of cost. I think our money would be better spent getting the Dreamers to build the fence and turning those that work into tax paying educated Americans.
In 2010, researchers at the Center for American Progress (CAP) calculated the total costs of such a program by breaking down the deportation process into four parts: Apprehension, detention, legal proceedings and transportation. Using data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), CAP estimated the cost of each part of that process per undocumented immigrant. For instance, for the 2008 fiscal year, each apprehension cost $18,310. For 30 days of detention, the cost was $3,335. The researchers also assumed that 20 percent of undocumented immigrants would voluntarily leave under a mass deportations program. That would leave DHS to find and deport the remaining 80%.
After running the numbers, CAP estimated the cost for deporting 10.8 million undocumented immigrants in America would be $200 billion over five years. DHS would also need $17 billion each year thereafter for continued enforcement. But there are more undocumented immigrants currently in the United States than when CAP produced its report. The DHS’s most recent report, from January 2012, estimates there are 11.5 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. Adjusting for that increases the costs to $216 billion.
Yet even that understates the cost, because those numbers are not adjusted for inflation. Doing so brings the five-year cost of a mass deportations program to $239 billion, before factoring in the money for sustained enforcement to ensure a new wave of undocumented immigrants does not enter the United States. To put that in perspective, the federal government spent $265 billion on Medicaid in 2013. The Department of Homeland Security’s annual budget is only around $60 billion. A mass deportations program would require a massive increase in funding.
MY SOLUTION TO THE DACA IMMIGRATION PROBLEM. I would appreciate your comments on why you oppose or approve of this.
- Absolutely secure the border with the National Guard and our Military immediately to stop current problems while wall is under construction.
- Continue roundup and deportation of all illegals with criminal records in Mexico or America along with any identifiable gang members.
Offer the following to all DACA immigrants, men and women 17 years old and up.
All men and women 17 and older must work on the Build The Fence/Wall Project. Feed them and clothe them and put them to work. If they refuse to work Deport them immediately. For those that work on the project until it is completed their reward will be a path to citizenship. They will get a green card to work. There will be no public assistance available to them for a period of 3 years.
I think along with feeding them we provide the clothing necessary for doing the job they are going to do. An undertaking of this size is essentially creating many small communities along the border and there is a need for many of life's essentials. For example, we will need to provide shelter and I propose we use Military Style large tents for the workers living quarters and more permanent Quonset huts for things like the administrative, chow hall, schools, bathrooms and medical areas. Dreamers with skills in cooking, cleaning, teaching, medical or office can work in these areas.
I also believe we should pay them the federal minimum wage via direct deposit into local banks and accounts established for each worker. This will help the pay for the extra things the need such as personal items and it will provide them a way to save money for when their work is complete they can better integrate into society.
I believe mandatory English classes be attended and classes on American History provided to make it easier for them to assimilate into American culture.
As for discipline issues, I think that a very strict code of conduct be drafted and that it must be adhered to and even policed and judged by their peers. Break any rules and 1st time punishment be a fine and loss of privileges. 2nd time you are immediately deported. If the becomes a serious problem with a large portion of the workers in a camp the entire camp is put on notice to be deported. Let them police themselves with the threat of deportation hanging over them. I think the older and smarter in the camp will quickly solve the problem. Plus, this gives them a sense of self governance and that they have a bit of control over their future. Put work, school and community incentives in place that will gain them extra pay or extra privileges. Give them a reason to excel.
- All other that are under 18 and have family members who are legal immigrants or citizens will be given the opportunity to register and apply for legal status provided they have a family member sign as responsible for their conduct and cost of living while awaiting approval. They must never miss a scheduled check in with immigration. Miss one meeting and you are gone immediately when we find you. Again, no public assistance for 3 years.
- All parents of Dreamers and children under 17 who are here illegally will be deported until the wall is complete, at which time they will move to the front of the line for being considered for Legal Immigrant Status in an effort to reunite the families.
- All Dreamers who complete their time on the wall will be given their Green Card as legal immigrants so long as they can support themselves as there will be no public assistance provided for 3 years.
- Those Dreamers that cannot show the ability to support themselves will be deported and placed at the front of the line for legal immigration with their parents so long as the parent can show the financial ability to support them.
- Over 65 and showing a means of support greater than the current poverty level will be given legal status immediately unless they are a convicted felon.
- Any DACA member that refuses to work on the wall is immediately deported with no option to ever return.
- After any deportation If caught returning 10 years in jail at hard labor fixing our highways. Then deportation again. If caught a 2nd time reentry penalties apply with a 20-year hard labor sentence.
This is a reasonable solution that I believe will be acceptable to most Americans. While I would like nothing better that to deport them all it is not feasible for many reasons. The cost will be astronomical and it will be a logistical nightmare.
But even more important is the public image and perception of America. We don't need to have news broadcast of our law enforcement dragging screaming women and children into custody. It is not in my opinion the American way and would lower the worlds perception of America the land of the free.
This plan will solve both the Border issue and the DACA/Illegal immigration issue for virtually the same cost and allow American to show both strength and compassion.