One of the problems of immigration reform is that, in the minds of many citizens, the benefit redounds almost exclusively to the immigrant. Many citizens are also fearful that immigrants will successfully outcompete them for jobs.
Citizens also feel that they will lack control over who gets to come to the US. They think that increasing immigration will allow people with very different cultural values (Mexicans, Muslims) to run rough-shod over existing citizen's interests and values.
To change this perception, I think it would be helpful if existing citizens benefited from increased immigration in a way that was much more visible to them, and over which they have much more control.
Proposed:
* Give every existing citizen over the age of 18 the right to sponsor one immigrant of their choosing.
* The immigrant must purchase a $1 million lifetime insurance policy, which pays out to the extant that the immigrant commits any crime or makes use of any welfare services.
* The immigrant must pay an entry fee of 10% of the median household income in the U.S. For example, if the median household income is $50 K, then the immigrant must pay an entry fee of $5 K. Half this amount goes to the sponsoring citizen, and half goes into a pool to provide integration services to arriving immigrants.
* The immigrant and their children must pay 10% of their income each year as an immigration tax. Half of the tax revenue goes to the sponsoring citizen (or their estate), and half goes into the integration pool.
* The sponsoring citizen can sell and/or delegate their sponsorship rights to someone else.
* Immigrants can become citizens themselves when they meet all of the following criteria:
a) their income exceeds at the median household income for at least three consecutive years
b) they pass a test of English proficiency
c) they pass a test of US cultural literacy.
The above policy would have several beneficial effects:
* Every citizen would receive a lump sum payment of $2.5 K plus the rights to a lifetime stream of 5% of the immigrant's annual income (and their children). A very direct and visible benefit of supporting immigration reform.
* Since existing citizens receive a portion of the immigrant's lifetime revenue stream, they have a strong incentive to select immigrants who will be the most productive and peaceful.
* The immigration tax and insurance policy would help alleviate the burden that new immigrants might place on existing social services.
* Since each citizen can only sponsor one immigrant, the rate of immigration is naturally limited to the current US citizen population in the US.
* The rate of immigration can only grow to the extant that previous immigrants achieve at least the median income in the US, and have integrated into US culture (as measured by their English skills, and cultural literacy knowledge).
* Citizens have control over who gets invited to the US, not some distant and uncaring bureaucracy.
However, if some citizens don't want to be bothered to do the selection themselves, they can also sell their sponsorship rights to someone else. Or, if they so choose, not invite anyone at all.
* Citizens have strong incentives to increase the immigrant's productivity (since the more the immigrant makes, the greater the existing citizen's revenue stream).
* Immigrants would benefit by being able to escape from terrible policies in their home country.
* Immigrants would be able to make more money, which they could send back to their home country.
* Immigrants would not be able to vote themselves additional welfare benefits, or change the policies of the US until they were proven to be as productive as the existing median citizen.
* High risk immigrants would pay a higher insurance premium.
* Immigrants would not be discriminated against based on their education level, country of origin, religion, age, occupation, or language. Only their ability to pay the entry fee, insurance costs, and their ability to persuade someone to sponsor them.
Citizens also feel that they will lack control over who gets to come to the US. They think that increasing immigration will allow people with very different cultural values (Mexicans, Muslims) to run rough-shod over existing citizen's interests and values.
To change this perception, I think it would be helpful if existing citizens benefited from increased immigration in a way that was much more visible to them, and over which they have much more control.
Proposed:
* Give every existing citizen over the age of 18 the right to sponsor one immigrant of their choosing.
* The immigrant must purchase a $1 million lifetime insurance policy, which pays out to the extant that the immigrant commits any crime or makes use of any welfare services.
* The immigrant must pay an entry fee of 10% of the median household income in the U.S. For example, if the median household income is $50 K, then the immigrant must pay an entry fee of $5 K. Half this amount goes to the sponsoring citizen, and half goes into a pool to provide integration services to arriving immigrants.
* The immigrant and their children must pay 10% of their income each year as an immigration tax. Half of the tax revenue goes to the sponsoring citizen (or their estate), and half goes into the integration pool.
* The sponsoring citizen can sell and/or delegate their sponsorship rights to someone else.
* Immigrants can become citizens themselves when they meet all of the following criteria:
a) their income exceeds at the median household income for at least three consecutive years
b) they pass a test of English proficiency
c) they pass a test of US cultural literacy.
The above policy would have several beneficial effects:
* Every citizen would receive a lump sum payment of $2.5 K plus the rights to a lifetime stream of 5% of the immigrant's annual income (and their children). A very direct and visible benefit of supporting immigration reform.
* Since existing citizens receive a portion of the immigrant's lifetime revenue stream, they have a strong incentive to select immigrants who will be the most productive and peaceful.
* The immigration tax and insurance policy would help alleviate the burden that new immigrants might place on existing social services.
* Since each citizen can only sponsor one immigrant, the rate of immigration is naturally limited to the current US citizen population in the US.
* The rate of immigration can only grow to the extant that previous immigrants achieve at least the median income in the US, and have integrated into US culture (as measured by their English skills, and cultural literacy knowledge).
* Citizens have control over who gets invited to the US, not some distant and uncaring bureaucracy.
However, if some citizens don't want to be bothered to do the selection themselves, they can also sell their sponsorship rights to someone else. Or, if they so choose, not invite anyone at all.
* Citizens have strong incentives to increase the immigrant's productivity (since the more the immigrant makes, the greater the existing citizen's revenue stream).
* Immigrants would benefit by being able to escape from terrible policies in their home country.
* Immigrants would be able to make more money, which they could send back to their home country.
* Immigrants would not be able to vote themselves additional welfare benefits, or change the policies of the US until they were proven to be as productive as the existing median citizen.
* High risk immigrants would pay a higher insurance premium.
* Immigrants would not be discriminated against based on their education level, country of origin, religion, age, occupation, or language. Only their ability to pay the entry fee, insurance costs, and their ability to persuade someone to sponsor them.