I have a fairly deep understanding of the immigration system, the agencies involved, and the relevant law. I'd like to see what the board wants from the government regarding immigration. A few preliminary points:

1) "Just enforce the law and deport illegals" is flat out impossible. ICE and EOIR do not have anything approaching the resources that would be required. I have met with some of the officers from New Orleans and they all confirm this.

2) There is realistically no "get in line and wait" process for anyone without an advanced education, extraordinary ability, or family ties to the US. Your average high school educated Mexican citizen would have to win a spot through the diversity quota lottery system, which is essentially impossible today. I am not saying this is a problem. I just want to dispel the myth that anyone can come here legally if they are patient and law-abiding.

3) We treat illegal entrants vastly different that we treat visa overstays. Someone who overstays a visa for years and then marries an American can have all of their time out of status overlooked under the right circumstances. An illegal entrant faces a 10 year bar to reentry after 6 months of unlawful presence. This means that, despite a marriage to an American, American children, and no criminal record, he can be deported and excluded for a decade. Again, maybe you agree with this, but it causes more problems than it creates because a) no one is waiting a decade to return to their families; they reenter and b) the families often turn to social programs for support while the spouses are gone.

I propose the following:

1. We should dedicate a significant amount of resources to securing the entire southern border. I would even support a drastic cut in defense spending in order to accomplish it. All other legislation should be delayed until the border is secured.

2. Border states should be allowed to enforce some provisions of federal immigration law. ICE and USCBP are massively overextended and need the help. The state authorities should be allowed to assist with enforcement, but leave the judicial proceedings to the feds.

3. Create a new status for illegals who have American immediate relatives (parent, spouse, or unmarried child over 21 years) and no criminal record. There are millions of people in this category that are taxing the resources of the immigration system for no good reason. Make this status contingent upon several factors, including no use of social welfare programs and no criminal convictions whatsoever. Allow these individuals to apply for permanent resident status after 7 years. Once they are LPRs, they can wait another 5 years for citizenship. This gives them a 12 year minimum before voting becomes a right.

4. Create a new form of permanent residency that the aforementioned illegals with American families could apply for after 3 years in the country with no social welfare and no crime. This LPR status would be permanent. It will allow them to remain in the US with their families, work, but never vote. Once granted this type of permanent residency, they cannot adjust to any other status. They can only be deported for crimes of violence or maxing out a "3 strike" felony rule. This will provide an easier and more secure route for those already here who are not willing to put in the 12 years of perfect behavior it would require to become citizens. If they do not apply for this status after 3 years in country, they are automatically presumed to be upon the 7-year LPR track mentioned in part 3. You have to make your choice after 3 years.

There are many other specific things I would do to the immigration system, but they are beyond the scope of this post. I'd like to hear your thoughts on what should be done. The only thing I want to stridently argue is this: the system does not work fine and it is woefully underfunded, undermanned, and overtaxed. Reform is absolutely needed. It is simply a question of what reforms to implement.