Press & News

Gerald Skoning Published in Crain's Chicago Business
"A community-based answer to our immigration crisis"
06/12/2006

In an opinion piece ("A community-based answer to our immigration crisis") published in the June 12, 2006 issue of Crain's Chicago business, Gerald notes:

"Congress is wrestling over what to do with the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States. Hardliners say, "Throw the book at them, throw them out of the country or throw them in jail.'' Moderates and liberals argue for a compassionate response: "Don't break up families. Let them continue to work and contribute to our economy. Ultimately, put them on the path to citizenship.''   Lawmakers are desperately trying to find a middle ground between conflicting House and Senate versions of an immigration bill that would accommodate these competing interests without making a travesty of our immigration laws by giving ahead-of-the-line preferences to scofflaws.

Maybe Congress should consider using the judicially created punishment of community service.  For decades, this form of punishment has been imposed on first-time offenders who don't present a risk to the community. Why lock up these folks when they can make significant contributions to our society?  Community service could be the keystone to compromise immigration reform legislation. No jail time, no deportation orders, no fractured families. For those who violate our immigration laws, being sentenced to 100 hours of community service would send a dual message: Yes, we will enforce our laws, yet we will do so in a sensible, compassionate manner that will benefit the community as a whole, without tearing apart those families who contribute so much to our economy and our social fabric.

Under this proposal, all illegal immigrants would have 90 days to register with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a bureau of the Department of Homeland Security, to participate in the community service program. After the 90-day period expired, illegal immigrants who chose not to participate would be subject to immediate deportation, pursuant to procedures developed by Citizenship and Immigration Services.  Presumably, most illegals would take advantage of this generous final opportunity to clarify and rectify their status, once and for all. If they didn't, they could hardly complain about the harshness of deportation.

Some, including President George W. Bush, have proposed that all illegals pay significant fines and back taxes. I agree that some penalty should be imposed. But the fine proposal is unrealistic and unworkable.  On the other hand, 1.2 billion hours of total community service would be a pretty hefty payback for the illegals' violations of federal law and would be an enormous windfall for our country.  Community service would not ``smack of amnesty,'' as some have argued. Rather, it would be a punishment that more nearly fits the crime."