Sent to Omaha World Herald in November, 2018
Nebraskans and others have special interests in farming and other labor intensive occupations who MUST HAVE WORKERS and we have men and women outside our borders who NEED WORK. Once the families traveled north for field work, and then reversed course and headed home. They earned enough to spend the winter at home. Without 'welfare' or 'benefits' available to families the families stayed home.
Now it's different with so many planning to stay, start a family, and never go back. Some have families at home they may not have seen in as much as a decade.
I recall consulting at Nova Gas in Calgary with a work visa to Canada and the process was very different than a tourist visa.
Congress could eliminate many of our 'issues' today by creating a TRUSTED MIGRANT ID. A willing worker from outside our border applies for the ID by submitting to a background and health check. If he/she pass the test, we give them a special Social Security number in the form of a biometric ID card. Holding the card allows them to scan the card and cross borders to see a new baby, attend funerals of family, or surprise visit to family on Christmas.
What's the catch? They must work on the books and we will know if their ID pays no taxes or violates other rules. They must spend 90 contiguous days living at home each year.
They pay taxes and FICA at work but FICA is returned in 3 payments over the 90 days they live at home unless they used medical while here. Employers will find them insistent that they work ON THE BOOKS.
Because it's good for easy border crossing for life, except for the 90 days at home each year, complying will be self guided as they lose if the ID is abused.
Packing plants in West Point, Nebraska, may even build dorms for their workers. Their families will be living at home so their home nation will begin to improve. Gated communities may become the norm, private police and private schools inside their compound.
Remember they love their language, their colors, their flags, holidays, and their music, this preserves their way of life and we have the labor force we need.
Senators who can't vote to close the border because their funders need workers can now supply workers who rotate through a nine month work schedule.
The workers can rent a bus and drive to the border at Christmas and spend time with their families. Its win-win vs other punitive systems. The worker can lose their easy access so will be much less likely to break our laws or try to vote.
Its biometric so can be checked at airports or border crossing and is good for life unless canceled on the computer system for an unresolved violation.
Hagel was a one term Senator because he rounded up workers in West Point. Sad to say; lets fix the law not continue this nonsense.
Roofers in Michigan would love to be home south of our border 90 days vs crawling around on roofs in the biting wet cold. Lets allow this to happen legally.
