Immigration The Forgotten Issue: What Are the Candidates' Views

           Immigration was a major issue a few years ago, particularly for John McCain.  McCain was one of the authors of an immigration plan that put him in hot water with many Republican conservatives.  Today, that issue has been pushed into the background by the economy and other problems facing Americas.  So, what are the presidential candidates’ current views in immigration?

            Barack Obama says he will increase the security of our southern border, by increasing the number of border patrol officers and upgrading border-security technology.  Obama says he will allow more legal immigrants, in order to keep families together.  In order to reduce the incentive to illegally enter America, Obama says he intends to crack down on employers that hire undocumented immigrants and wants to work with Mexico to improve the Mexican economy, which Obama says will lower the need for Mexicans to illegally enter this country.  He will allow undocumented workers to pay a fine, learn English, then get in line for citizenship.

            McCain’s web site has a more extensive discussion of his immigration plan.  He says his first objective will be to secure America’s borders, by increasing funding, adding personnel and upgrading border-patrol technology.  McCain, too, will prosecute employers that hire undocumented workers.  He will require undocumented workers to enroll in a program to work out their status.  They will be submitted into a background check, assessed a fine and if they have not committed a crime in America, they will be permitted to learn English and enter a path to citizenship.  McCain wants to initiate a “temporary worker program,” which will allow more legal immigrants.  He wants to provide some means for immigrant families to unite. 

            While McCain’s web site definitely has more details of his proposals than does Obama’s web site, but the only real difference between the two candidates’ proposals is McCain’s idea of a temporary worker program.  This program will revise the current visa numbers to reflect employers’ needs and increase the number of green cards available to foreign workers.  He says his program will protect American workers by designing a system that will allow American workers to apply for available jobs.  He does not say how he will do this.  He says he will ensure that workers return to their home country when their temporary work period is finished.

            Personally, I don’t think there is enough difference between the two candidates’ proposals to make an argument.  But, here they are.  What do you think?