Sanity in Immigration

This is where the experts need to chime in on how we can completely rewrite all the immigration laws to be compassionate, effective and sane. We suggest renaming the agency to Pathways and moving it to a newly-created Bridges Agency to begin removing the stigma bigots and racists have attached to our immigration policies.

What COTG would like to see:

First, and foremost, a systematic assessment of the needs we have to meet to remove as many non-violent people from detention as quickly as possible to where they were residing with temporary documentation, if required. The priority should be unaccompanied children, families with children, pregnant women, people with medical issues and the elderly first.

Possibly rapid initial processing teams of attorneys, along with immigration judges, associates and data experts to conduct quick background checks for violent offenses, to visit each detention center and record the basics of each case for an initial assessment. Someone for logistics to arrange the returns to wherever the people were residing and/or where they may have local support to reintegrate.

For the laws:

Violent immigrant offenders convicted (rape, incest, murder) or non-violent offenders who were convicted of human trafficking, drug trafficking, or weapons sales/trafficking ultimately deported. Non-violent offenders who were convicted of a single gun possession or drug possession crime treated on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration length of time since conviction and current lifestyle.

Non-violent persons seeking asylum with a pathway to legal residency and/or citizenship.

Non-violent persons living within our country's borders with pathways to legal residency and/or citizenship, regardless of past documentation or non-documentation issues.

Renewal of our commitment to educational and work visas to attract people who want to contribute to and collaborate with our nation.

With the exception of an imminent or immediate border crossing, the elimination of all deportation proceedings that deny due process in any fashion. No person may be detained and deported without an opportunity for counsel and a hearing with a judge.

Elimination of all third-country renditions. In the event of a legitimate deportation where there is credible fear of harm on the part of the immigrant, all steps should be taken to move them to a country that will accept the individual and there is reasonable belief that they will not be harmed.

Elimination of all private detention holding centers and cancellation of all detention contracts.

Diplomacy to address the causes of large waves of immigrants (civil unrest, religious persecution, etc.) to reduce the stress on our system.