Seeing that with the wide disparity of wealth between the US and Mexico, it's not likely the US will be able to stop floods of illegal immigration any time soon, is the solution in fact some kind of new Marshall Plan like that in Europe after WWII? Let's consider that with a prosperous Europe, Europeans are not clamoring to cross the Atlantic in droves now are they.
Now I also realize that the US is currently dangerously straddled with a major national debt. So unlike the previous Marshall Plan, this one will have to be more imaginative in finding ways of helping Mexico without US government money. A few solutions I could see would be the following:
1. Raise the Federal tax rate (to detract at least some Mexicans looking to keep more of their hard earned money).
2. Reduce Federal Government spending (to detract at least those looking to benefit from government services). 1 and 2 above would also help to pay off the Federal Debt.
3. Ensure continued free trade with Mexico (to allow Mexicans to develop their own economy via trade with the USA).
4. Establish a free-labour-movement agreement between the US and Mexico allowing those Mexicans who know English and who have a job offer in the US to cross the border to work (bearing in mind that 1 and 2 above would still serve as discouragements to at least some Mexicans). This would also discourage illegals since it would be easier to work in the US legally without necessarily getting US citizenship or a work visa, though passing the required English-language test and informing the local government of his presence would still be required of course, and he'd be required to pay taxes like any American.
4. Make it a requirement for all who enter the US to know English (as this would be among the easiest ways for a police officer to identify an illegal migrant).
5. Allow the justice system to arrest illegal migrants and force them into prison labour to pay off the costs of law enforcement for him. For example, considering that his having broken the law will cost the government a bus, train or plane ticket, plus court and prison costs, etc. he'd have to stay in prison to work off those costs he'd imposed to the US taxpayer, for a fair amount of time (i.e. this is not intended to exploit him to profit the US, but rather to simply cover the costs that he'd incurred to the taxpayer, an no more). This would also discourage illegal immigration.
6. Establish a US-Mexican military force of let's say no more than 100,000 trained and equipped men that would be subject to international law of course that the US and Mexico could share. This would save the US government at least some money on national defense since Mexico would be picking up some of the bill for this new military force, and Mexico of course would save much money too. These savings would help both countries pay off their respective debts and strengthen their economies, thus reducing the wealth disparity between the two countries. Add to that that lower-paid Mexican soldiers are more likely to be attracted to this force than Americans. This would save the US government money on soldiers' salaries while giving these soldiers a chance at more decent employment without necessarily having to leave Mexico.
These are just some ideas that might be worth considering as a kind of frugal version of the Marshall Plan.
Of course this would not preclude the possibility of either country having a supplemental military force of its own on the side, but that would be optional and not obligatory for any country that wishes to satisfy itself with the international force.
Now I also realize that the US is currently dangerously straddled with a major national debt. So unlike the previous Marshall Plan, this one will have to be more imaginative in finding ways of helping Mexico without US government money. A few solutions I could see would be the following:
1. Raise the Federal tax rate (to detract at least some Mexicans looking to keep more of their hard earned money).
2. Reduce Federal Government spending (to detract at least those looking to benefit from government services). 1 and 2 above would also help to pay off the Federal Debt.
3. Ensure continued free trade with Mexico (to allow Mexicans to develop their own economy via trade with the USA).
4. Establish a free-labour-movement agreement between the US and Mexico allowing those Mexicans who know English and who have a job offer in the US to cross the border to work (bearing in mind that 1 and 2 above would still serve as discouragements to at least some Mexicans). This would also discourage illegals since it would be easier to work in the US legally without necessarily getting US citizenship or a work visa, though passing the required English-language test and informing the local government of his presence would still be required of course, and he'd be required to pay taxes like any American.
4. Make it a requirement for all who enter the US to know English (as this would be among the easiest ways for a police officer to identify an illegal migrant).
5. Allow the justice system to arrest illegal migrants and force them into prison labour to pay off the costs of law enforcement for him. For example, considering that his having broken the law will cost the government a bus, train or plane ticket, plus court and prison costs, etc. he'd have to stay in prison to work off those costs he'd imposed to the US taxpayer, for a fair amount of time (i.e. this is not intended to exploit him to profit the US, but rather to simply cover the costs that he'd incurred to the taxpayer, an no more). This would also discourage illegal immigration.
6. Establish a US-Mexican military force of let's say no more than 100,000 trained and equipped men that would be subject to international law of course that the US and Mexico could share. This would save the US government at least some money on national defense since Mexico would be picking up some of the bill for this new military force, and Mexico of course would save much money too. These savings would help both countries pay off their respective debts and strengthen their economies, thus reducing the wealth disparity between the two countries. Add to that that lower-paid Mexican soldiers are more likely to be attracted to this force than Americans. This would save the US government money on soldiers' salaries while giving these soldiers a chance at more decent employment without necessarily having to leave Mexico.
These are just some ideas that might be worth considering as a kind of frugal version of the Marshall Plan.
Of course this would not preclude the possibility of either country having a supplemental military force of its own on the side, but that would be optional and not obligatory for any country that wishes to satisfy itself with the international force.
