The gray area and U.S. immigration

Think of a baby born in Mexico and smuggled across the border.  When that child grows up, does she deserve to be deported back to a country that she has never known?  This difficult policy situation is the fault of unimaginative federal law.  Tens of thousands of people fall into this gray area and nothing has been done about it.  They are marginalized and face diminished prospects.  There are several options, none of which is perfect but all of which would help to different extents and foster additional discussion about the subject.  Learn more about the options after the break.




Welcome back.  Below is a 90s-themed review of different policy options.  Click for the full size version.
The gray area dilemma costs the nation economic output and liberty.  While there is no perfect policy that will fully address all relevant concerns, policies with any red cells in the matrix should be eliminated from consideration.  That leaves the DREAM Act and Military Dreams.  Although they are both far from perfect, Military Dreams avoids several of the larger Act’s unpleasant consequences.  Instead of treating Military Dreams as the “winning” option, this analysis concludes that the DREAM Act’s mechanisms of action should be viewed as separate issues and that Congress and the President should consider either a complete overhaul of the bill or separating the bill into smaller bills similar to Military Dreams.