(How) Should We Restrict Immigration

Some of the rules in place for immigration need to remain in place, but in the instance of immigrant laborers who come to the United States for labor intensive seasonal work, there should be an easy way for them to acquire temporary or conditional working permits. The employers who "pull" them to the USA should be required to provide temporary housing with proper sanitation facilities. This housing should be offered free or at a nominal fee, since this is seasonal work and minimum wage can barely support a person, much less set up a household for the few months of growing season.

At the same time we should strictly enforce the labor laws. No cheating. No paying substandard wages. No working people to their literal "death". No government turning a blind eye to mistreatment of workers.

Speaking english well enough to answer a round of historical questions was a citizenship requirement for my mother in 1950 and as well for my friend from the Phillipines around 30 years ago. It's an important part of becoming a citizen -- people living in America must be able to understand simple things, read signs, etc..

Outside of becoming a citizen, it is very important for anyone coming the the United States to assimilate and accept local culture. This does not mean to suggest losing ethnic or cultural practices, rather, it means adhering to local customs and learning how people in the new community live, how they take care and function in the neighborhood and how they interact with each other. It means learning to obey traffic laws, littering laws, and civil law. These things are hard to get used to but they help people get along with each other.

As a requirement of citizenship, keeping the criminal element out of the United States should be addressed. However, there are plenty of criminals who never get caught, plenty who get caught and will cause trouble again and a few who will turn a new leaf and become model citizens.They'd all be out, regardless of the crime they committed, if any prior conviction was used to determine eligibility. We must consider that the laws of other countries are not the same as laws in America. People considered criminals in one place might be heroes in another. Nelson Mandela would be considered a criminal, but I believe we would like to let him in. Whites from South Africa who had mistreated blacks would be allowed in as good citizens, while South African policeman who'd worked in the diamond fields would also be allowed in a because, though they do a murderous job, their actions are perfectly legal in their country. Many people seeking political asylum are considered enemies of the government (criminals) in the country they come from, even if they embrace democracy. They too, would be prevented from emigrating to the United States.

Another problem with relaxing immigration laws is that America has prerequisites that apply directly to lifestyle. It is very expensive to live here. We have established rules that keep our country nice. People must live in certain ways. Much of what we have/buy are things that we take for granted, but these purchases are requred by law. Vaccination, for instance, is required for children to attend school. Folks earning minimum wage would spend a few weeks pay on a few minutes at the doctor for a few shots. Then they'd have to be subsidized in some other way because they wouldn't have enough money for food and housing. The US taxpayer can't afford to pick up the cost for social programs for more and more people coming to this country when there is less and less work. Because of this, America must continue to enforce restrictions on who comes to the United States, when, and with support or promise of work when they get here.