loganmule

I'm with you that amnesty isn't appropriate, if by that you mean all consequences are removed as to illegal status, and especially so, if illegals are given a free path to permanent residency status or citizenship. Incidentally, much of the problem seems to stem from U.S. recogition of citizenship "by right of birthplace" under the 14th Amendment:

http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/services/natz/citizen.htm

Part of the fixing the "illegals" issue is to limit this concept, as has been done, for example, in New Zealand:

http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.ns...s?OpenDocument

In a reply to boatin, I suggested decriminalization as a possible option. He pointed out that there would need to be an incentive for illegals to opt for that, over continued illegal status, and I'm still working on the details. That said, I was thinking about the ol' carrot and stick approach. The "carrot" would include receiving a permit granting temporary non-resident worker status (maybe we need more carrot than just this). The "stick" would be imposing and strictly enforcing laws with stiff penalties for illegals, and more importantly, for employers of them. Maybe the prices of certain goods will go up significantly, but that's a fair trade to dry up the existing demand for illegal labor. Employers are all about making a buck, and if they are held strictly liable for employing an illegal and penalized steeply enough, employers will eat the extra labor cost and pass it on to the consumer.

The other part of the "illegals" fix is to not confer citizenship status upon a child of an illegal who is born in the U.S. Since citizenship by birth is a recognized right under the 14th Amendment, however, it would take a further Constitutional amendment to change that. Generally, Constitutional amendments are a tough sell, but given the prevailing current sentiment among Americans, I think it could be done.