The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy (DMI) offers a framework for evaluating immigration policy. The framework centers on a two-part “middle-class test.” Part One requires that: immigration policy should bolster—not undermine—the critical contribution that immigrants make to our economy as workers, entrepreneurs, taxpayers, and consumers. Part Two holds that: immigration policy must strengthen the rights of immigrants in the workplace. To the extent that a proposed policy fulfills both parts of the test, we argue that it will help to strengthen and expand the American middle class, enhancing opportunities for all Americans to realize the American dream. We assign legislation a letter grade based on how well it matches up to each of these objectives.

A complete explanation of the framework and rationale for each part of the test is fully laid out in  “Principles for an Immigration Policy to Strengthen and Expand the American Middle Class” available at http://www.drummajorinstitute.org. 

Description

The Secure Fence Act was signed into law on October 26, 2006. The Act authorizes the construction of hundreds of miles of double-layered fencing along the nation’s Southern border. It also directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to take action to stop the unlawful entry of undocumented immigrants, terrorists, and contraband into the U.S. using both personnel and surveillance technology. The Secretary is further instructed to evaluate U.S. Customs and Border Protection training and equipment. Finally, the Act requests a study on the feasibility of constructing an improved security system along the Northern border.

Middle-Class Test Part One
IMMIGRATION POLICY SHOULD BOLSTER–NOT UNDERMINE– THE CRITICAL CONTRIBUTION THAT IMMIGRANTS MAKE TO OUR ECONOMY AS WORKERS, ENTREPRENEURS, TAXPAYERS AND CONSUMERS. 

Grade: D

The American middle class relies on the economic contributions of immigrants. Unfortunately, the Secure Fence Act fails to recognize undocumented immigrants’ contributions, ignoring the complexities of economic integration between the United States and Mexico in favor of a wall between the two countries. While border security must ultimately be a part of any comprehensive immigration policy, history suggests that ramped up enforcement in the absence of sufficient opportunities for immigrants to enter the country legally is a waste of resources.  Would-be migrants simply adopt more remote and dangerous routes of entry into the country, leading to a much higher taxpayer cost per apprehension, or they enter the country legally and overstay their visas. The bill receives a D on this part of the test rather than a lower grade because it does not attempt to choke off the economic contributions of immigrants already in the country and because it is unlikely to actually succeed in stopping the flow of new immigrants into the country.

Middle-Class Test Part Two:
IMMIGRATION POLICY MUST STRENGTHEN THE RIGHTS OF IMMIGRANTS IN THE WORKPLACE.

Grade: D 

When immigrants lack rights in the workplace, labor standards are driven down and all working people have less opportunity to enter or remain part of the middle class. The Secure Fence Act has nothing to say on this subject. Trying to stop the flow of immigrants at the border would not affect the millions of undocumented workers already impacting the American labor market and, as we argue above, would also fail to significantly stem the tide of additional migrants. 

By passing legislation that is enforcement-focused with no other reform measures included, this bill only perpetuates the status quo by giving immigrant workers lured here for jobs no other option than to enter the country illegally, pushing them into the shadows where they will continue to be vulnerable to exploitation and threaten to undermine the middle class.