Remember when politicians on both the left and the right took the issue of illegal immigration seriously? Those days seem as distant from the present time as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is from a coherent thought. Despite this fact, the Trump administration continues to move forward in its bid to get illegal immigration under control.
President Donald Trump recently resurrected a Bush-era policy designed to remove incentives for migrants to enter the country illegally. While most people focus on addressing illegal immigration by stopping it at the border, there are other means by which the government can curtail the flow of undocumented migrants into the country.
Trump Revives ‘No-Match Letter’ Policy
The Trump administration recently brought back a program that involves a technology that alerts employers when they have hired an employee whose legal immigration status is in question. The government sends a notice known as a “no-match” letter that informs the company that the Social Security number provided by a new employee is not valid. This program was started under George W. Bush’s administration but halted under President Barack Obama, who probably thought it was “racist or something.”
The purpose of the program is to discourage illegal immigration as the majority of undocumented migrants come to the United States to find work. Also, many come to take advantage of government welfare programs. The thinking behind the recently revived policy is that removing sources of income for those who violate the nation’s laws will deter them from sneaking across the border.
Naturally, Democrats are incensed by Trump’s decision. A group of 40 Democratic leaders penned a letter to the Social Security Administration claiming that the policy would do more harm than good. They wrote:
“We are writing to strongly oppose the directive to impose Employer Correction Request Notices also referred [to] as ‘No-Match Letters.’ This action will cause numerous problems by diverting resources away from frontline workers whose primary mission is administering benefits. Additionally, this rule can result in increased discrimination and abuses against U.S. workers, particularly women.”
Translated from Progressivese to English, it says: “No-Match Letters” are bad policy because of bigotry and stuff.
Impact of Illegal Immigration on Employment
While the Democrats are more concerned with protecting illegal aliens with their sanctuary cities and impotent calls to abolish ICE, those who understand the importance of borders see the benefits in denying employment to migrants who flout U.S. law. According to Jessica Vaughan, policy director at the Center for Immigration Studies, cracking down on employers who hire illegals would “bring wages up to $15 an hour.”
Another advantage of using this policy is that it can identify the Social Security numbers that have been stolen by illegal immigrants trying to find work. Millions of Americans have become victims of identity theft at the hands of individuals residing in the country in violation of the law.
Both legal and illegal immigration can hurt American workers. Through initiatives like the H-1B visa and work permits, millions of migrant workers have traveled to the United States to take jobs that would otherwise be filled by Americans. Companies have taken advantage of these programs because they allow employers to pay lower wages to foreign workers. This inevitably results in the displacement of American workers.
Does This Go Far Enough?
Trump’s decision to revive the “No Match Letter” policy is a great start when it comes to using holistic solutions to stem the flow of illegal aliens into the United States. Unfortunately, more is needed if the government wishes to get the problem under control.
When it comes to alerting employers about illegal immigrant hires, the system is effective but not perfect. Additional measures, such as mandatory E-Verify and tougher laws for companies that knowingly hire undocumented migrants, are required to form a comprehensive solution.
Furthermore, it is necessary to cut off government benefits to individuals who cross the border illegally. Walls and border security are great, but removing the attractions that compel migrants to break U.S. immigration laws in the first place is critical to solving our troubling border situation.
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