Latinos propose Copper Star immigration reform, border plan

By Sergio Arellano-Oros

Arizona’s largest Latino Republican organization, ALRA, is announcing their plan for border security and immigration reform. The Arizona Latino Republican Association, which in the past focused primarily on economic growth in Arizona, weighs in on immigration citing the need for strategic border security and guest worker programs.

The group calls for naturalization of immigrants serving in the military and their families.

The Copper Star Plan:

The United Nations has released warnings citing that the social, political and economic instability of Mexico has resulted in it being listed as a potentially failed state. The U.S. State Department has also advised Americans that it is neither safe nor advisable for American citizens to travel to Mexico. Although currently preoccupied with military and diplomatic affairs in other parts of the world, the government elected to serve and protect the citizens of the United States of America has never had more cause to take immediate action to remedy the ominous threats to our national security and prosperity associated with this impending calamity. These actions should be primarily focused on the strategic, economic and diplomatic interests of the citizens of the United States forsaking all others. It has been made clear to the people of Arizona, as well as to those of many other states, that since 1986 no U.S. administration has taken the threat of Mexico’s political, social and economic instability seriously. Therefore, it is the intent of the Copper Star Plan to provide objective guidance and a legislative framework that will allow the current and any future U.S. governments to fulfill their strategic and economic obligations to the American people as they relate to the above mentioned crisis. The proposals of the plan are ordered by level of priority.

I. Strategic Border Security –

There are currently 1,300 miles of unprotected borderlands between the United States and Mexico. The total 1,951 miles of international border lands require a combination of fencing, traffic barriers, intercept watercraft, marine detection buoys, subterranean detection technology, observation aircraft/towers/technology and a large contingent of border security officers. Since there is no feasible alternative to the construction of this new system of illegal border crossing deterrents, it must be built. However, the expenses of construction should not be born solely by the American People.

There are a number of alternative funding resources that will alleviate the American people’s burden of financing the effective border security solutions outlined in this plan.

II. Funding Mechanisms –

A. Int’l Tourism Travel tax on Foreign Nationals –

According to a U.S. Department of Commerce report released on April 23, 2012, the 2011 tourist season saw 62 million foreign tourists visit the United States. If we simply applied the same $22.00 tourism tax that the Mexican Secretariat of Tourism charges foreign nationals whom spend more than one day in the country, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) could collect over $1.36 Billion annually which could be contributed to the FBSF.

B. Law Enforcement Seizures/Acquisitions –

In an April 17, 2012 report drafted by CBP, 2011 border enforcement activities yielded the interception of over $126 Million in illicit currency which could be also be applied to the FBSF.

III. Internal Enforcement of Immigration Laws –

Obligatory State and municipal compliance with federal immigration laws should be implemented with no exceptions. State and municipal governments that fail to comply should be subject to the potential loss of federal education and transportation funding.

IV. Aggressive Field Ops in the Mexican Theater –

Active utilization of CIA/Special Forces in Mexico to simultaneously and directly target, pursue and destroy all leadership and infrastructure of the multiple drug cartels and kidnapping syndicates mimicking the efforts that culminated in the 1993 effort that brought down Colombian druglord Pablo Escobar and the Medellín Cartel.

V. Naturalization of Armed Service Personnel and Nuclear Family Members

A. Minimum Required Term of Service –

Minimum two years or honorable discharge must be fulfilled (whichever comes first)

B. Extended Exclusively to Nuclear Family –

Defined as a spouse and/or natural or adopted children only. If not married, can be extended to documented natural or adoptive parents.

VI. Implementation of Universal Biometric ID –

Identification standards will be nationalized under a federally managed biometric based system. Identification records will be managed via a national database and will be used as a filter to verify identification of legal alien visa holders.

VII. Temp/Labor Agencies Setup to Supply Labor to American Market-

A. Set up skilled/unskilled labor exchanges –

Utilize American Temp Agencies and services to funnel labor to American companies

B. Labor Exchange Locations –

To be placed in municipalities and regions of high unemployment with skilled and unskilled laborers as well as in major land ports of entry (Tijuana, Nogales, Nuevo Laredo, Ciudad Juarez).

VIII. Streamlining of Visa Status for first time legal immigrants

A. Make professional visas transferrable based on formal extended offers from new or existing agencies.

B. Segregation of work and tourist visa applications – Tourist visas will have 10 year life spans.

C. Exchange employees will have the option to have visa application fees financed by labor exchange with the option to be prorated in bi-weekly payments structured by agency or can be paid up front by employee.

D. Tourist visa process will be expedited.