Border Security and Immigration Reform

By Wayne Dunlap

Wayne Dunlap believes that one of the most important responsibilities of our Federal Government is to secure our borders. Our country has benefited from having people with vital skills come to American and it is important for the continued success of our economy that we establish an immigration policy that does not impair our economy.

America is a nation of laws and we have a number of laws that are not being enforced. We need to enforce Visa rules, not forgetting that a number of 9/11 terrorists had expired Visas. To insure that those who do come here want to work hard and support themselves, we need to remove the incentives such as nonemergency federal requirements for assistance. Non-citizens that are here illegally need to be required to become citizens.

Our immigration policy needs comprehensive reform and this is a complex issue that should not be defined by simple sound bites. We need to balance the need to protect our borders with our country's economic needs for vital labor skills. For example, a few issues vitally important to the 50th District:

1) Our agricultural industry (the 5th largest industry in San Diego) relies on migrate labor to remain competitive.

2) Many foreign scientists from countries like China have come here to complete graduate studies in biotechnology and then stayed helping build our enormously successful biotechnology industry. Recently, because of immigration concerns, many are choosing to return to China fueling a competitive biotechnology industry in China. San Diego's Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs recently stated that federal immigration policies that cap the number of H-1B visas for foreign scientists and engineers do not just hinder U.S. tech firms; they funnel talented people to other countries, resulting in "innovation happening there that used to happen here." Jacobs calls this "very scary for the United States."

3) We should also consider the aging of our society. Because of lower birth rates and the large number of 'baby boomers' entering retirement age, we need younger working residents to pay for the benefits promised to our retired residents.

America has benefited from having people with vital skills come here. It is important for our continued success that we establish an immigration policy that does not impair our economy. We need to cut the red tape at the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Guest work permits should be provided for those with vital skills while they become citizens.