Immigration and Occam's Razor

Occam's Razor is a principle frequently used in logic, problem-solving and science that states that the simplest solution to a problem is most often the correct solution.

Clearly the immigration system has failed. These failures should concern every American citizen and politician. Immigration laws were enacted to protect innocent lives and American workers.

But enforcement failures reverberate throughout the United States as evidenced by the nation’s 11 million illegal aliens.

The most striking immigration failure example is the 9/11 terrorist attack when the perpetrators gamed the visa process and the immigration benefits program.

The 9/11 Commission Staff Report on Terrorist Travel detailed numerous examples of instances where terrorists not only made use of visa and immigration benefit fraud to enter the United States but to also embed themselves in the United States.

To cite an example, page 47 of the above-noted report contained the following paragraph:

 “Once terrorists had entered the United States, their next challenge was to find a way to remain here. Their primary method was immigration fraud. For example, Yousef and Ajaj concocted bogus political asylum stories when they arrived in the United States. Mahmoud Abouhalima, involved in both the World Trade Center and landmarks plots, received temporary residence under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers (SAW) program, after falsely claiming that he picked beans in Florida.

 “Mohammed Salameh, who rented the truck used in the bombing, overstayed his tourist visa. He then applied for permanent residency under the agricultural workers program, but was rejected.

 “Eyad Mahmoud Ismail, who drove the van containing the bomb, took English-language classes at Wichita State University in Kansas on a student visa; after he dropped out, he remained in the United States out of status.”

On July 27, 2006 I testified before the House Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Claims on the topic: WHETHER THE ATTEMPTED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REID-KENNEDY IMMIGRATION BILL WILL RESULT IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL SECURITY NIGHTMARE

Comprehensive Immigration Reform’s proponents claim that the solution to the immigration system’s failures is to reward aliens with lawful status and a pathway to citizenship. In point of fact, illegal aliens arrive from most nations including those that sponsor terrorism. While some come to work, others have far more sinister intentions.

There’s no way to know the identities or intentions of most. CIR would require United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)—an inept, incompetent and corrupt agency—to suddenly grapple with millions of applications. Face to face interviews would be impossible. National security would be compromised. Unemployed and under-employed American and lawful immigrant workers would suddenly be competing with millions of newly authorized foreign workers for too few jobs.

The time has come for a different approach.

I recommend my version which I’ll call COMPILE (Comprehensive Immigration Law Enforcement). Hire more ICE agents and more USCIS adjudications officers. Encourage and support them as they attempt to carry out their sworn duties and the immigration crisis will be a crisis no more! It’s absurd to try to arrest and deport millions of illegal aliens- just convince existing and aspiring illegal aliens around the world that we are serious about our securing our nation's borders and enforcing immigration laws.

If you try to start your car and find it won't work, perhaps you should check the gas gauge before you order an engine overhaul!