MOVING TOWARDS A WORKABLE IMMIGRATION PROGRAM. TAKING A SECOND LOOK AT Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744)

The major downside to the Trump deportation opertion is not the fact that the deportations are being accomplished, or that the socialists have weaponized certain parts of the population to basically be insurrectionist, but that the adminsitration has no clear cut ideas as to what to do about creating a functional and equitable (equitable meaning for the people of the United States who are also seeking jobs) immigration policy.

Short of that, I suggest taht the administrtation at least look at the last attempt by Republicans and some Democrats to upgrade our failing immigration system.

Below is a study done on that piece of legislation known as "Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744)" Authored in majority by, then Senator, Marco Rubio. If nothing else, it can serve as a framework from which to build out a new system that prioritizes "America First" when it comes to business dealings with a foreign workforce"

Legislative History & Senate Passage

• Introduced April 16, 2013 by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D‑NY) and co-sponsored by the bipartisan "Gang of Eight," including Rubio.

• Sent to Senate Judiciary Committee (markups/hearings in April–May); reported favorably on June 7, 2013 (Report 113‑40) Congress.gov+3Wikipedia+3GovInfo+3.

• Passed the Senate on June 27, 2013 with a 68–32 vote (52 D, 2 I, 14 R in favor) Wikipedia.

• The House never considered it; the bill expired at session’s end Congress.gov+5Wikipedia+5Congress.gov+5.

Major Provisions & Highlights

1. Border Security (Title I)

• Aims for 90% interdiction of illegal crossings in “High‑Risk Border Sectors.”

• Boosts CBP agents by 3,500 by 2017, adds National Guard support, drones, cameras, fencing.

• Allocated roughly $4.5 billion for fencing, plus $3 billion for broader deployment Wikipedia+1GovInfo+1.

2. Path to Legal Status (Title II)

• Creates a Registered Provisional Immigrant (RPI) status for undocumented individuals present before Dec 31, 2011.

  • Requirements: background checks, fines ($500 + $1,000), back taxes, English/civics, continuous presence.

  • RPI valid for up to 10 years, then upgradeable to LPR only after triggers (border security metrics + visa backlog reduction) Mitchell Hamline Open Access+4Wikipedia+4Social Security+4.

• DREAM provision: qualifies certain childhood arrivals for green cards after 5 years in RPI Wikipedia.

3. Immigration System Overhaul

• Repeals Diversity Lottery; reallocates visas to skills-focused categories.

• Reduces sibling and extended family preference categories; prioritizes spouses/children.

• Introduces a merit-based points system granting 120,000 visas/year (expanding with low unemployment), based on education, job skills, entrepreneurship Wikipedia.

4. Visa Reforms

• Raises H‑1B cap from 85k to 205k annually with wage protections and U.S. job-first requirements.

• Creates “W‑visa” for lower-skilled temporary workers.

• Establishes INVEST visa for immigrant entrepreneurs.

• Blue Card agricultural program: portable year-round legal status transitioning to LPR after conditions metWikipedia.

5. Employer Responsibility & Verification

• Mandates nationwide E‑Verify for employers over five years, with photo-ID checks and SSN lock features Social Security+4Wikipedia+4The Senior Citizens League+4.

• Includes worker-protection measures and penalties for employer abuse.

Treatment of Long‑Term Undocumented Individuals

• Provides a non-citizenship path: RPI status allows stay and employment without immediate citizenship/voting rights.

• Citizenship only after 10+ years, meeting strict border and backlog triggers—protecting those opposed to rewarding non-citizens prematurely Wikipedia+1Social Security+1.

• RPI and Blue Card holders do not receive means-tested federal benefits during provisional status .

Government vs. Employer Liability

• Employers are required to use E‑Verify, check photo IDs, and ensure legal status—placing substantial responsibility on businesses.

• Government shoulders border security funding, enforcement infrastructure, and administration of RPI status—creating a structured public-private compliance model.

Economic & Fiscal Impacts

• CBO estimates: $197 billion deficit reduction over 2014–2023; $700 billion by 2033Congress.gov+2Wikipedia+2GovInfo+2.

• Social Security Admin.: projects $276 billion added revenue vs. $33 billion in cost over 10 years Wikipedia.

• Labor market: increased tax revenue as undocumented workers transition from underground economy Social Security.

Relevance as a Trump-Republican Framework

Strengths:

• Strong border/security triggers before legalization—appeals to conservative priorities.

• Defines a clear provisional work status without automatic citizenship/voting.

• Enforces employer accountability via E‑Verify.

• Offers substantial budgetary gains and economic growth projections.

• Includes reforms (visa and merit-based entry) valued by business-aligned Republicans.

Potential Challenges:

• Citizenship path after 10 years may still face conservative resistance.

• The scope and cost of border infrastructure and enforcement might need beefing up from a hardline viewpoint.

• Democrats and immigrant advocates could push for a faster legalization route.

Conclusion:S.744 represents a balanced, strong base for a Trump-era immigration policy, combining vetting, work-based provisional status, employer responsibility, border funding, and fiscal benefits. With strategic modifications—such as tightening enforcement metrics or extending provisional phase before any citizenship consideration—it could unify most Republicans.However, success would hinge on recalibrating certain elements to satisfy the center-right while also gaining moderate support. If Trump aligns with those priorities, it's a workable framework.