David Walker on Immigration

Path to legal status but not to citizenship

• A. All illegal immigrants should be able to stay in the US legally
• B. Most illegal immigrants should be able to stay in the US, with some exceptions
• C. Most illegal immigrants should be deported, with some exceptions
• D. All illegal immigrants should be deported

Q: Like what differences?

A: Immigrants can have legal residency but not citizenship--like voting as a right of citizens and not legal residents. We need comprehensive immigration reform which includes, among other things, more temporary workers and much stronger enforcement.

Enforce employment laws on employers, not against immigrants

A: Yes, under limited conditions like military service. In the vast majority of cases there'd be a pathway to legal status instead of citizenship.

Q: What about enforcement?

Q: My view is that we need reform but also enforcement, and then to let economics take over. We're not enforcing the laws.

Q: Enforce against whom? Should immigration laws be enforced by focusing on illegal immigrants themselves, or on their employers?

A: Enforcement means against employers. But we should have more work permits--legal--and provide pathways to legal status as well. Citizenship might result from serving in the military, for example, a much higher bar than for legal status.

Enforce against employers hiring illegals