Illegal Alien

With all the talk of Illegal Aliens recently, I'm brought back to the idea that this is really nothing all that new. According to numbers cited in H.R. 938, The Nuclear Family Priority Act, a bill originally co-sponsored by Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) immigration has quadrupled from ¼ million in the 50's & 60's to 1 million plus annually since 1990.

The reality is due in no small part to something known as "chain migration." Chain Migration is something the US has always sponsored and it's a problem; allowing far distant relatives of former immigrants (now citizens) to take priority over new families who've been on line. With policies like this and the wait for visas so long and so complicated, it's no surprise that we've got such an influx of illegal aliens in our midst.

There are a number of steps for you to take in order to even be considered a "lawful permanent resident" - a legal immigrant. First you must be eligible which can mean a number of different things. Preference is given to either people who have work waiting for them or for people who have a family connection ("chain migration" above moves you to the head of the line). It would be great to have work waiting, but with the huge population of both residents and illegals here already who are willing to work, it's much easier to just hire domestically.

If neither of the first two stipulations is applicable, then you can be admitted if you're making a "qualifying capital investment" in this country. This is defined in part as making an investment in a new commercial enterprise, benefiting the US economy and creating at least 10 new jobs or more. Further benchmarks include making an investment of more than 1 million dollars in 'high employment' areas or ½ million dollars in 'targeted employment' areas. Just those two qualifications on this section of the immigration code make it problematic for average people to participate in. Immigrants come here to make money; remember? "The American Dream"?