Here's a suggestion for comprehensive immigration reform:
1. Physical barriers where appropriate along the southern border (a "wall" is lame, but the general concept is sound).
2. Stronger enforcement of laws against hiring persons in the U.S. illegally.
3. Federal legislation forbidding the issuance of or recognition of government issued ID to persons not legally in the U.S., or access to social benefits by such persons.
4. A guest worker program to fill agricultural jobs which actually are unfillable by American citizens and permanent residents.
5. Creation of a presumption of unfair labor practices if an American is fired and replaced with an H-1B visa holder, with a right to sue and the employer having the burden of proof to show that the termination was for cause, rather than simply to hire a cheaper foreign worker, and in the event the employer loses, a prohibition on the employer using the H-1B visa program for five years.
6. Strengthening the evidence needed to show that a job cannot be filled with an American citizen or permanent resident before issuance of H-1B visas is authorized.
7. (And this only if 5 and 6 are implemented.) Increasing the number of H-1B visas issuable.
8. Increasing quotas for legal immigration from Mexico and Central America.
and
9. Streamlining the asylum application process, and including justifiable fear of organized crime as a criterion for asylum.
