America First Insight

Every decade in modern American history can be identified and defined by its own style, its own approach to music, film, fashion, its own aesthetic. That seems to have stopped right around 2010. The 2010s don't really have their own unique feel, even in retrospect. The 2020s certainly don't. We're more than halfway through the decade. What are the movies, music, style, and trends that this decade will be remembered for? It's like we fell into some kind of cultural blackhole 15 years ago.

There are several changes to the Immigration and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) that would need to be changed in order to help expand the punishing of businesses who hire illegals. The "Good Faith" I-9 Defense (8 U.S.C. §1324a(b)) needs to be narrowed. If an illegal provides basically any I-9, then the employer is given the benefit of the doubt that they committed the crime of hiring an illegal. In practice: -Employers are not required to verify authenticity -Even obviously suspicious documents are often enough -The burden shifts almost entirely onto DHS This is combined with the fact that employers who attempt to verify info on an I-9 with extra documents risk a discrimination lawsuit. Which just incentives the status quo of "just accept the I-9, we might get audited but its cheaper than a lawsuit". There is also the penalties in the IRCA. The punishment is slow. Stage 1: DHS gives a Notice of an Inspection, and tells the business to fix their documents within a few days, if done, zero punishment. Stage 2: If the hiring of illegals continue, AND the DHS can prove that the company is knowingly hiring illegals, then they can do a fine of roughly $5.5k/worker. (Which as long as you underpay the illegal by that much still means its fiscally beneficial) Stage 3: If it is found out you are hiring illegals again after Stage 2, the fine doubles. Once again probably fiscally beneficial. Stage 4: If it becomes a consistent pattern, and there is document fraud or tax fraud, or human trafficking involved, then you get a criminal charge, which involves a $3,000 fine and up to 6 months in jail, plus whatever else you are charged with. Often for most companies they probably at best, get to Stage 2, and just repeat Stage 2 a few times, as the I-9 defense plus any reasonable attempt to hide your knowledge of hiring illegals, prevents any further escalation. You needs to price out the illegals with much higher fines. There is also the Contractor & Subcontractor shielding, this is super popular in Construction. Let's say you are CEO of Building Inc, and you want cheaper work. Well find the subcontractor from Foundation Inc, they will pour the foundations of housing for 30% less because they hire illegals, but because you hired the company you are immune from any prosecution about illegals being on your job site. We can also expand I-9 audits. While they do not punish the employers as much, consistent I-9 audits do keep illegals off of payrolls, and limited to cash only businesses, which helps limits who is able to hire illegals. Now the issue with going full hostile to business owners who do this, is some surely do accidently hire illegals, this is from illegals stealing SSNs and using them to work, and we do not want to punish those people. So what can we do on that? Well we can expand E-Verify for all employers, and then make E-Verify even better, some examples should be E-Verify should flag SSNs being used in multiple states at the same time (it does not currently!) We also should open up the idea that companies are allowed to ask for more supporting documents to prove you are who you say you are, and not allow them to be punished for asking for extra documents to prove your I-9 info is correct.

Today is a good day to repeal Hart-Cellar

Better than JD and Rubio !!

Consensus is Trump-Xi handshake will be a long one (Xi is known for his bear handhugs)