Border Control and Immigration An acknowledgement of the current, rapid growth of international terrorism and the rapid increase of people attempting to leave one country and enter another without the proper legal permissions due to economic, political or illegal activities most also acknowledge that prudence dictates that all countries with these problems must first and foremost have physically secure borders.  Common sense, not politically loaded opinions or positions should have made this quite obvious. Securing borders should be the first step toward internal security for any country with cross-border drug trade, a foreign national influx problem, and the possibility of terrorist entry.  In the United States the problem is compounded by sheer numbers, previous long term neglect of border security and an actual need for additional workers in some industries.  Some illegal residents may have been here for a greater length of time than the entire lifespan of some working to solve the problems. An approach to this problem could be as follows: 1.Enforce existing laws regarding border security, port security and employment of undocumented workers for one year, intensively.  Congress need not be involved other than for appropriations.  This is not a political issue. 2.Once this is achieved there needs to be a long, hard look at those who remain here in an objective and fair-minded way.  Perhaps: a.Criminals, drug traffickers, and potential, suspected terrorists should be immediately deported. b.Immigrants who entered illegally, if they have been here 15 years or more or at least 10 years with children born here should have first priority to apply for a path to citizenship.  Having an unresolved criminal record would void this. They will receive work visas and must become employed. c.Those here 5 years or less with children born here would be designated as "conditional" citizenship applicants and could apply after 10 years. They will also get work visas and must become employed. d.All others will be deported and may apply to a visiting workers program. Details of this program will have to accommodate distance from their original home. 3.Any foreign national living or working here must take a yearly English                   proficiency exam showing progress to English mastery within 5 years. Needless to say these are just ideas. Hopefully, greater minds will come together and create a reasonable policy.