I’ve filtered the rhetoric from the past week on illegal immigration and I think I’ve found the best idea yet. A poster on a discussion board I frequent came up with a novel idea. It’s an efficient solution to this illegal immigration problem that won’t necessitate a growing of the federal government or will it require a physical barrier to be constructed. Interested?

If there will always be illegal immigration, as the talking point goes, then why shouldn’t we work to make it a manageable amount? Then, of that manageable amount, we ensure as best as we can, that those coming in are not criminals or terrorists.

To stem the flow, remove the welfare system that illegal immigrants are currently enjoying. No more free healthcare, food stamps, schooling, etc. Cut ‘em off. If you can’t vote in this country, or produce some legal documentation that you belong here, you can’t enjoy the benefits of this country. This removes the incentive for coming here in the first place.

Second, install a handful of border checkpoints complete with water, food, etc. and also complete with facial mapping software, surveillance nets, etc. to identify felons, terror suspects, etc. The flow of illegal immigrants to this country will dwindle as the welfare is cut off. The border checkpoints will begin to serve as magnets and crossing points for those still willing to try and make it across. For the areas inbetween checkpoints, we continue to patrol and pickup illegals.

Now we have a manageable amount of people wanting to come to America to better their life. The removal of the welfare system takes away the artificially cheaper labor force that’s currently in place. Phasing in the removal prevents a sudden shock to the markets. The border checkpoints bottleneck the remaining flow of illegal immigrants to the point where we can handle the security aspects, keeps people from dying, helps cut out “coyotes,” etc..

Is there a politician out there that can sack up and propose such a thing? A solution that involves either minimal or no government growth? A markets-based solution to immigration?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 29th, 2006 at and is filed under Hand me my ClueBat!.. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.