[duped]

I mean I'll admit I'm a bit of a radical on this issue, but I think the most sensible work authorization policy is "you're welcome if you're not a criminal, terrorist, or public health risk, and on that last point here's some penicillin and a flu/covid shot, let us know when you're feeling better"

My ancestors came here ~140 years ago when the only "visa" process was a look in the mouth at Ellis Island. I don't see any fundamental reason why we need to have stricter regulations than that, and I reject dragging the Overton window further right on immigration.

[stackedinserter]

In 3 months after implementing this policy there will be ports of entry full of people who paid any money to get to the US and that ready to share beds and work for $4/hour. Salaries will plummet, rent will skyrocket, crime will go up, quality of life will drop. Your neighbors will have to move out and new tenants will be 20+ people who don't speak your language and share none of your values.

Funny thing is those who opened the gate will be protected from consequences of their own policies in their gated communities.

That's what we see here in Canada after reckless immigration policies implemented by past government.

[duped]

I wish I lived someplace where we could take the huddled masses yearning to breathe free instead of a place where they're literally rounding up my neighbors for the crime of wanting a better life.

For what it's worth I know multiple people who have been turned away from Canada because their immigration laws are even stricter than ours. So I don't know how much you can attribute your lack of housing to immigration.

[stackedinserter]

I wish I lived on some planet where masses could breathe free and build good life where they live, instead of going somewhere where other people build good life based on different values.

[stackedinserter]

> Canada because their immigration laws are even stricter than ours

Saying Canadian immigration laws are stricter that US is just delusional.

Canada has the most straightforward and permissive immigration laws, if you don't take countries like Argentina or Dominican Republic. Fill up the forms, get your score, wait for a draft, obtain your PR, wait 4 years, you're a citizen, that's the whole immigration. Compare it to h1b now.

[dragonwriter]

> Canada has the most straightforward and permissive immigration laws

> Compare it to h1b now.

H-1b is a non-immgrant work visa, so it should be compared to the same category in Canada, not the immigration process (which in the US is nearly identical to the process you describe for Canada at the same level of detail, except “wait for a draft” is instead “wait for your priority date to come up in the Visa Bulletin.", and the four years is 10 years.)

[stackedinserter]

How is US process identical to the one in Canada? Canada checks your papers and gives you a PR (Green Card) right away. You enter the country, and boom you're a citizen without voting rights and jury duty.

Is there such a thing in US? Maybe I'm missing something, because the only realistic way to immigrate to US that I know is h1b lottery/caps bs.

[lurk2]

> My ancestors came here ~140 years ago when the only "visa" process was a look in the mouth at Ellis Island

This is revisionist history. 140 years ago the Chinese Exclusion Act had already been in place for 3 years, and the Foran Act had just been passed. The high clearance rate of immigrants at Ellis Island had far more to do with preliminary screenings being conducted by transport companies, who were liable for the cost of deportation plus a fine.

[Chinjut]

Hear, hear.