Independent group proposes "third way" for immigration reform

WASHINGTON - An independent group said on Wednesday that there is a "third way" to unblock immigration negotiations, in which both undocumented immigrants and their employers would pay a 5% tax in exchange for a ten-year renewable work permit.

According to the non-partisan "Immigrant Tax Inquiry Group" (ITIG), the immigration debate has been dominated by legislators and groups at both ends of the political spectrum for years, and its only result to date has been paralysis.

On the other hand, undocumented immigrants can be part of the solution to "get out of the shadows".

Under the proposal, which has not yet found an echo in the halls of Congress, both undocumented immigrants and their employers would pay a monthly tax of 5%, and in return employees would receive a renewable work permit, called "REALcard", for a period of ten years.

The collection of that tax would generate $ 210 Billion in a decade, which would help localities to finance education programs, health care, security and legal systems, and would create 1.7 million jobs, according to ITIG.

During his speech on the "State of the Union," President Donald Trump reviewed the four pillars of his immigration plan in exchange for protecting the Dreamers, but neither he nor his Republican allies in Congress have specified where the funds will come from. finance it

Californian Mark Jason, who founded and directs ITIG, explained today to this newspaper that the "Five plus Five" plan of his group offers a simple solution and is, in his opinion, a bet in which everyone would win.

"In general, the immigration issue has been considered toxic. Many elected officials avoid the issue because the extreme right and the far left have entrenched positions, such as mass citizenship against mass deportation, "but both ideas are" fiscally inappropriate, "observed Jason, a retired Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agent. English).

Jason believes that the private sector would benefit from the plan because, at present, "employers typically pay unauthorized immigrants 25% less than citizens. If they use Five plus Five, that would allow them to continue pocketing savings by 15%. "

On the other hand, Jason argued that the "REALcard" ("Respect, Equality, Accountability, Legality", would grant a 10-year permit, "would considerably reduce the bureaucracy needed to administer the program", and reduce pressures on Immigration courts.

In addition, he stressed, the beneficiaries would have ten years to apply for citizenship.

"Starting from the center and building consensus requires identifying a common ground, not focusing on our differences," he said.

However, it is not clear that the plan seeks support from Democrats and related groups because it is a temporary patch. And several conservative groups have already attacked it as an "amnesty" for those who have violated immigration laws.

"This proposal would only be successful if a way to process residency or citizenship was offered," because the undocumented population needs "humanitarian" solutions, said Vicki Gaubeca, political strategist of the "Coalition of Communities of the Southern Border".

On the other hand, the law punishes the hiring of undocumented workers, and the proposal does not explain what incentives employers would have to participate in the program if they confess migratory infractions.

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According to ITIG, the country has tried immigration reform 41 times in 225 years, either with comprehensive measures as partial measures, and "have not worked".

Jason said that his plan has found receptivity of legislators in both houses of Congress, because they consider that "has merit", although for now none has taken the step forward to give it public support.