Another Kind of Immigration Reform?
Mark Jason, president and founder of the Immigrant Tax Inquiry Group of Malibu, CA issued the following statement today:
The heated immigration debate can be cooled by a simple proposal¾a third way between the two extremes of mass citizenship and mass deportation¾a plan that will detoxify the debate and bring humanitarian relief to millions who fear a knock on the door from ICE.
It’s a simple proposal¾and at the core is a 10-year work permit for unauthorized immigrants, many of whom have badly needed journeyman skills in infrastructure construction, farming and food processing.
We propose that these immigrants, men and women, be issued the work permits on condition that they pay the small amount of 5 percent of their wages, which will be matched by their employers; the funds to go to local services presently overburdened by policies that are not immigrant-, taxpayer-, or family-friendly.
These shared taxes would generate a whopping $210 billion in new revenue over 10 years; this revenue to be devoted to local communities on a prorated basis to mitigate the costs for education, healthcare, homeland security and legal systems. At present, these communities are overwhelmed under the immigrant load.
It’s time for sensible people to be heard on immigration policy and for respect, equality, accountability, and legality to be available to all.
KJ