Photo Credit: Kristin Hassel/ CEO and Candidate for Minnesota Governor Mike Lindell
(BLOOMINGTON, MN.) -- Candidate Lindell exclusively announced to Open Governance News during an interview with me May 7, that he wants to implement a statewide Permanent Visa Plan if elected, and that he intends to bring the plan to Pres. Donald Trump whether he wins the Gubernatorial race or not.
Under the new plan, businesses that employ illegal immigrants must provide them with equal pay and give them the same benefits as other workers. On a larger level, this will also rebuild trust within the immigrant communities, as employers and other immigration officials won’t be able to threaten them with deportation, which Lindell states is ‘too easy’ to do now.
“They are already here…many are hardworking individuals who contribute to their community, those people should be allowed to work without the constant fear of deportation.”
In theory, a permanent visa would make it possible for illegal immigrants to pay taxes on both a State and Federal level, the same way legal immigrants do, providing a way to track individuals much the way a Social Security Number (SSN) or driver's license identifies legal citizens. He believes it would also negate what many who went through Operation Metro Surge felt were ‘smash and grab’ tactics, because it would provide a way for immigration enforcement to easily check immigrant status.
He also went on to state that it (the plan) will sort those who are here with honest intentions to live the American Dream, from those who don’t plan to contribute to society or are here performing illegal activities. Lindell was adamant that not all illegal immigrants are here “living off the system” and the ones who are contributing to the U.S. economy should be fairly paid and have some of the same rights as citizens, provided they avoid criminal activity, stating:
“If you commit a major crime, the permanent visa will be revoked, and they [illegal immigrants] will be deported and won’t have another chance, especially those who are here illegally already. Your first chance was coming here illegally and getting to stay; we can’t do much about that now, but you have to determine the good from the bad, and yes, those who are working and living an honest life, taking care of their families, they should be given that chance. How can they earn citizenship when gaining it costs thousands of dollars, and they aren’t making a decent wage?”
As a business owner (CEO of My Pillow), he’s employed legal immigrants, and says he knows they work hard to have a good life here in Minnesota and the U.S. as a whole. Lindell also asserted that the costs of citizenship are high, and providing illegal immigrants with this permanent visa and allowing equal pay will help cover this.
He also stated that businesses that have already hired illegal immigrants could provide optional English classes for those who don’t already speak the language, saying that whether they (illegal immigrants) choose to take part is up to them. Asserting that while “anyone is allowed to speak their (native) language, English is on all street signs, maps, directions, and is the primary language in the US, so learning this is crucial to assimilation.”
Lindell did, however, make it clear that the Permanent Visa Plan would not afford immigrants the right to vote; that would remain something only legal citizens can do. He plans to bring this plan before Pres. Trump, saying he’s unsure of what the outcome will be, but he feels this is a viable solution and a way forward where illegal immigrants will still have a chance to remain in the U.S. provided they work hard, saying:
“I have a very clear idea, and I'm so excited because I want to bring this to the President and say this should be nationwide, and I've talked to people on the left and on the right…. I've talked to people (legal citizens), I've talked to illegals, everybody. I've talked to people [who] protect the illegals, and the ones who said all illegals are bad….and everybody in between. Everybody agrees that it solves everything from both sides.”
Regardless of how immigrants came to Minnesota (or the U.S. in general), provided they continue to work and don’t commit a major crime while still in permanent visa status, the visa is upheld. Punishable crimes would not include misdemeanor offenses, as he believes "Misdemeanors can sometimes be hard to avoid, like, say they get a speeding ticket, a mistake you know….. the permanent visa would never get revoked for that."
In essence, a permanent visa would provide long-term temporary citizenship rights for immigrants here for ‘the right reasons’. Regardless of how illegal immigrants started in Minnesota, provided they continue to work and don’t commit a major crime while still in permanent visa status, the visa would be upheld. Once an immigrant obtains citizenship, the visa is null.
To add to or correct any information in this report, please contact me at kristin.h@lead4earth.org and leave a comment below.
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