I know that not-many political idea show up here, but I wanted to sound-out one.
I wonder how American citizens would react to allowing amnesty to illegal immigrants if they could pass an appropriate spoken-English test?
Seems to me the main objections people have to the presence of Mexicans and others illegals here (I work with Chinese, Africans, etc) is when they aren't integrated into our culture. This is especially exemplified by them not being able to (or choosing to) speak English. If they were able to become legal residents--not citizens--by passing a TOEFL (test of English as a Foreign Language) test with a certain score.
I'm not worried about illegals taking my job--I just don't want them to bring their cultures here and in the process, push ours out. And I know that we need immigrants and they often work really hard. And often, not understanding English means they don't understand our culture.
If they could get something for speaking English, they'd likely have less interest in even speaking their native language in their homes--since they need practice to pass.
I think some amnesty toward work-privileges would be the first step toward more-open-borders, which I'm in favor of.
In your comments, please mention if you're an American citizen or not.
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There are now an estimated 12 MILLION illegal immigrants in the US. I don't think we can afford to send them all home.
Let's assume we could identify, locate, process, and transport them out of the US for "only" $10,000 apiece (that's probably a very conservative figure, I'd be tickled to death if someone could show a more accurate number for this).
12 million multiplied by $10,000 is $120,000,000,000 (in US terms, that's 120 BILLION dollars).
That's more than the entire US budget for a number of Federal agencies.
Not going to happen, EVER.
However, I think we can address this problem with a well-planned amnesty program: first, an offer of amnesty to illegal immigrants who 1.) have not been convicted of a crime, 2.) plead guilty to, and pay a fine for, illegally entering the country, 3.) pay a fee for and apply for amnesty, 4.) pay a fee for and apply for a retro-active work permit, and 5.) agree to file income tax returns and pay income taxes owed for up to the past 7 years.
I don't believe anyone who gains residency status through this kind of amnesty should ever be allowed to attain ctiizenship (essentially, the right to vote).
Social Security is a completely different issue.
Forgot to add: US citizen by birth.
Thanks for the comment Beaugrand, but I didn't see any mention of English-speaking. Do you have an opinion on this part?
I understand all of your other conditions, but I think getting money out of an illegal is probably nearly impossible and probably bad socially.
Why should the government profit when you want to punish someone?
Also, I agree on the final comment--SS is completely different. I believe that any non-American that's here should not qualify for Any free social programs. But if they can't get social security, then employers wouldn't have to pay toward SS for them and that would make them cheaper to hire than citizens. That's not fair either.
There are entire countries outside of the U.S. that have english as thier first language. And having spent time in Germany I can assure you that a large portion of the population there speaks pretty good english. If I read your idea right they would get preferred status if they can get into the U.S.?
Something I didn't consider--however, I'd much rather deal with any immigrant worker--in any profession--that can speak my language than I would someone who can't. So, yes, this is okay with me.
Also, it would encourage more countries world-wide to learn English. I believe a 'world-language' is a good idea--as long as its not legislated or required. It can only be more efficient. BTW, I don't mean to 'pick' English as the world lauguage, but it is easier for me that way. I've always thought it would be a mixed language, like in Blade Runner.
If this means that Indians can immigrate to the US and work more easily than Mexicans, maybe Mexicans will make more effort to learn English--or maybe all of the jobs they would've taken will be occupied by legal resident English-speakers.
What language will we speak when we colonize the planets?
Try this one. . .
http://www.esperanto.net/info/index_en.html
My grandparents came from Europe speaking little or no English, but they learned fast when they got here, without ESL classes in school. A matter of survival. I consider it a non-issue.
Speaking of colonizing other planets, if the US doesn't get its act together, Chinese will be the language spoken.