SAVE Act not passing? Let’s make a deal. Let’s give a little on immigration and take a lot on election reform.
Many Americans believe that people who came here illegally but worked hard for many years and stayed out of trouble deserve a shot at the American dream. I understand that not all of us conservatives feel that way. To those principled people I say consider giving this:
Any illegal alien who has already been in the US for at least five years gets a special green card enabling him or her to stay here indefinitely — but only if he or she has held a legal job for most of those five years and has not committed any additional felonies or misdemeanors. Importantly, we don’t want that to apply to anyone crossing the US border illegally from now on because that would attract people who should be applying for legal immigration.
In addition, after receiving such a special green card, the above immigrant may be granted US citizenship if he or she works hard and stays out of trouble for another five years. So, to be clear, no illegal aliens will be granted US citizenship right now — that won’t begin to happen until 2031.
In return for giving the precious gifts of legality and citizenship, here is what we want:
Only US citizens may vote in any federal election. All voters are required to provide proof of US citizenship when they register to vote. Anyone who has already legally registered does not have to re-register. Anyone who moves from one state to another may request that their registration be transferred. All voters must show photo IDs at the voting booth. Funds shall be appropriated to assist voters in finding and presenting proof of citizenship, and in obtaining photo IDs. All states must open their voter rolls for federal inspection so that our elections are as fraud-proof as possible.
Are you sick of month-long elections? I think four days should be more than enough time for voters to exercise their right and duty. So, let us specify in law that no in-person elections for federal offices shall last longer than four days, specifically the first Tuesday in November and the Saturday, Sunday, and Monday preceding it.
How about absentee ballots? A 2005 bipartisan report written by former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James Baker stated that “Absentee ballots remain the largest source of potential voter fraud.” With that warning in mind, let us specify that no state shall send out an absentee ballot to any voter unless that voter asks in writing for such a ballot. Acceptable reasons for mail-in ballots shall be limited to illness, disability, military service, or travel. All ballots must be received by 11:59 PM on the first Tuesday in November.
Members of Congress should represent the interests of American citizens in their states and districts; similarly, the composition of the Electoral College should not be affected by the number of non-citizens in any particular state. With that in mind, starting with the 2030 US Census, only US citizens should be counted for purposes of representation in Congress and in the Electoral College. In addition, from now on, only babies born to people residing here legally should automatically become US citizens. Babies born to non-citizen tourists should not automatically become US citizens.
No state, county, or municipality should be a “Sanctuary” where federal laws do not apply.
What about legal immigration? I think the following is a win-win for all sides: the amount of legal immigration allowed each year shall be tied to some formula which takes into consideration statistics like: US unemployment rate, job openings rate, total employment, total population, and birth rate.
If Republicans propose such a Grand Compromise in Congress, and Democrats vote against it, Republicans can say: “Democrats are against hard-working immigrants becoming citizens, and Democrats are against secure elections.”
In recent years, I have heard members of both parties threaten to end the Senate’s filibuster rules in order to get their way. I would not recommend such a course for minor and possibly temporary gains on minor issues. But the question of who is a US citizen and when and how we conduct elections are vital matters which must be settled and clarified. So is the question of whom our Congressmen and Congresswomen represent. Perhaps those issues are worth the candle which torches what is left of the filibuster.
