Harry's Gang: Immigration policy deserves better

I’m fascinated at how political the immigration issue has become in America.

The fact is, the issue is much too complicated to be solved easily, and all sides are not too far apart. But it’s just too easy to pin blame and stand your ground, rather than work out a reasonable solution.

And that shouldn’t surprise anyone, either: a reasonable solution has been elusive for at least 30 years. Immigration is so highly charged politically, that no one will dare to address it rationally. If a Republican suggests a modest restriction, the Democrats cry foul; if a liberal proposes stricter screening, conservatives scream “won’t work!” Just reading this column is probably raising your blood pressure, and I haven’t even posed any solutions yet.

It would be helpful to divide the issue into its major components and seek a solution for each one. Take, for example, the most-easily identifiable component of asylum seekers crossing the southern border. This is a real problem because we can actually see people doing it, and once they are here we are obligated, as fellow human beings, to take care of them. Asylum seekers are typically escaping oppression in their home countries. I’m not talking about freeloaders who come here to take advantage of our American generosity — I’m talking about those coming here needing our help.

So, I’ve identified a component. What’s the answer? Comprehensive foreign policy; reasonable protections for families in trouble; and a path to citizenship. See? Easy. Just a few minor details to work out.

Those coming here solely to work are another component. These people aren’t seeking “free” stuff, either — they’re here to work. But there are significant obstacles to getting work permits, especially for those with limited skills and poor communication abilities. It’s disingenuous to enforce laws that make it difficult for undocumented immigrants to get jobs, and then criticize them for applying for welfare benefits when they aren’t allowed to work. An easier path to work, especially seasonal or other entry level jobs, is necessary.

Nobody wants open borders (but it sure would be nice to get in and out of Canada more easily). It’s destructive and counterproductive to say any candidate stands for open borders. It’s also tough to propose a sensible immigration policy when one side accuses the other of callously caging people like animals and ripping apart families. And chanting “build that wall” is a great slogan to bellow at a campaign rally, but it’s not a sound immigration policy. A wall is an effective tool in the right places, though. We have to be willing to say that.

My personal experience with immigration is somewhat limited, but I did own a restaurant in Minneapolis for a number of years. In all that time, we hired only one English-speaking dishwasher. My place was open until 3 a.m., and the late-night dishwasher was a guy about 30 years old named Luis. He and I were usually the last ones out, after a busy shift, at 4:30 a.m. I started giving him a ride home, and we got acquainted.

It turns out he had a wife and three kids back home in Ecuador; and he lived in a one-bedroom apartment in Dinkytown … with five other Ecuadorian immigrants. He explained the tight living conditions: “I’m not here on vacation. I’m here to support my family back home.”

The solution is boring. Experts, not politics. Plans, not slogans. Good foreign policy, appropriate steps to citizenship.

See? Easy. Just a few details to work out. I hope it doesn’t take 30 more years of arguing.

Pete Radosevich is the publisher of the Pine Knot News community newspaper and an attorney in Esko who hopes to host the talk show Harry’s Gang on CAT-7 again someday. He can be reached at [email protected].