Let’s discuss the typical check-out line.  Let’s walk backwards in time through technology.  First, Amazon Go had aspirations to do “Just Walk Out” checkout, though it doesn’t seem to work reliably enough.  Second, many stores have transitioned to having a portion of their stations as self-checkout; you may scan (and bag) your own items and pay.  Next, they introduced the fast “X items or fewer” checkout lines, so that patrons with fewer items don’t need to wait for someone with a full cart.  Finally, they added UPC (bar code) readers; before that, each item had a sticker with a number, and cashiers needed to enter them (much like produce today) meticulously.

We developed all this technology (bar code and RFID readers) to optimize.  We reconfigured lines and checkout equipment to streamline.  Employers meticulously agonize over how many employees to have per shift.  All this to minimize one thing:  the amount of time you spend waiting in line.  We want to think that a few minutes ultimately don’t matter that much.  However, we have all waited in the “10 items or fewer” lines and counted the items in the cart in front of us.  You might as well admit it.

Naturally, other kinds of technologies streamline the process.  Magnetic credit card readers and tap-to-pay minimize the time.  Using coupons and paying cash slows down checkout.  If you should happen to be obnoxious and behind me in line, I’d be tempted to pay with a personal check to spite you.

It’s not about the time

The amount spent is just a rationalization.  Naturally, we want to optimize our time spent and prefer to spend it doing something other than standing in line.  However, it’s not just about the time; time is simply a proxy for importance.  Let’s take a hypothetical; imagine these two scenarios:

• Scenario A:  You arrive at a checkout line with a slow cashier.  There’s one person in front of you.  Therefore, you get through the checkout and finish paying for your items in 8 minutes.
• Scenario B:  You arrive at a checkout line with a speedy cashier.  There’s one person in front of you, but they’re nearly finished.  Someone, with a handful of items, boldly cuts in front of you and hands the cashier their items.  The cashier simply starts to check them out.  You get through the checkout and finish paying for your items in 6 minutes.

Are you most likely to be upset about Scenario A or Scenario B?  Let’s put this in perspective: the only way in which you’re actually impacted is time.  If that’s true, why would you be more upset about Scenario B than Scenario A?  With Scenario B, you come out two minutes ahead.

The problem is not about the time.  The reason for the agitation is the perceived unfairness.  That position in line was yours; how dare they simply cut in line in front of you?  What if you had twelve items in a ten-item line?  Is that position in line legitimately yours?

Immigration and fairness

I was born to Chinese parents.  Let me give you a hypothetical.  Suppose that one of my great-grandparents turned 18 years old in 1883 and wanted to emigrate from China to the United States.  How difficult do you think this would be to do legally?  How much time do you think it’d take?  Let’s put this discussion on hold.

Much like the scenario at the checkout counter, the problem with undocumented immigration is the perception of unfairness.  One of the common responses is, “I don’t care about immigrants as long as they do it ‘the right way’.”

Here are the facts about undocumented immigrants.  Even if you stay past the expiration of your visa, you’re technically not even breaking the law.  If you cross the border once without authority, it is a federal misdemeanor, like jaywalking.  However, if you cross the border subsequent times, that is a felony.  The vast majority of undocumented immigrants are not felons; many have not even committed a misdemeanor.

However, many Americans will lazily equate ‘legal’ with ‘fair’.  They want to believe that we, Americans, are generally the good guys.  Therefore, anyone who breaks these laws is naturally trying to exploit us.  It doesn’t matter if these immigrants, documented or not, make our country better.

They implicitly trust this country.  The same country that wrote the infamous 3/5 of a person clause into its Constitution.  The same country that didn’t give previously enslaved people or women the right to vote.  The same country that segregated schools.  Therefore, forgive me for being skeptical about our country’s altruism towards immigrants.

Oh, as for that great-grandparent?  Thanks to the Chinese Exclusion Act, they would’ve had to wait until 1943, when they turned 78 years old, before they even had a chance for legal immigration.

The ‘Right Way’

Let’s put together a hypothetical.  I’ll use the definitive, unbiased reference, the US State Department.  Suppose you want to move to the United States and want to do it, the ‘right way’, under these conditions:

• You are a citizen of Mexico, with a modest education (less than high school, like my parents).
• You do not have family in the US.
• You do not have an employer lined up.
• You do not seek asylum.

What you want is an immigrant visa (to achieve permanent residency).  Non-immigrant visas are for a temporary stay (student, employment, etc.).  They are described here.  If you read it like I did, the only option with the above conditions that meets the guideline is the DV (diversity immigrant visa).

Your first obstacle is directly from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services:

The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV Program) makes up to 50,000 immigrant visas available annually, drawn from random selection among all entries to individuals who are from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.

Emphasis mine.  That’s basically 1000 immigrants per state.  Also, the “from countries with low rates of immigration” likely eliminates your chances of emigrating from Mexico, but let’s stay optimistic.  Let’s look at the rest of the qualifications:

The Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program requires the principal DV applicant to have a high school education, or its equivalent, or two years of qualifying work experience as defined under provisions of U.S. law.

The good news is that you don’t need to meet both qualifications, only one of them.  Incidentally, G.E.D. or equivalent does not qualify; “formal courses” only.  Basically, you must have either a high school education or have practiced a trade (for years).  if you have neither, don’t bother.  They literally tell you not to waste your money: “Any fees you pay for the visa application will not be refunded”.

Send in your application, and in 6-8 months (you think a passport took long?), you may get a response.  Once you’re selected, they may take over a year to schedule your interview to finalize.  That’s the ‘right way’.

WWWDWJ?

Maybe a good barometer of how we treat immigrants is “What would we do with Jesus?”  It was a question posted to MAGA supporters, where their response was often, “as long as he came here legally”.  Naturally, the MAGA supporters assume that it’s trivially easy to come in legally.  Let’s suppose that an adult Jesus, the reembodiment of who he was when he died:

• About 33 years old.
• Wants to move here to the United States permanently.
• For giggles, will not come in as a ‘religious worker’.

Based on his situation, he does not qualify for any of these:

• Has no family here in the United States.
• Has not been sponsored by any employer.
• Is not a returning resident.

Naturally, there’s the question of citizenship (or place of origin).  Let’s list it as Israel, since this is where Jerusalem currently resides, and he can get through the “from countries with low rates of immigration” clause.

Now he only needs to satisfy the second clause.  The first condition.  However, he obviously does not have a high school or its equivalent; remember that a G.E.D. or its equivalent does not qualify.  It must be formal courses.  No worries, there’s a second condition to this clause.

Does Jesus have two years of qualifying work experience?  Well, he was a carpenter for a fair portion of his life.  He probably qualifies for that, right?  Let’s read the fine print for a carpenter.  All technology skills require computers; probably not.  Many of the tasks require sketches and power tools; questionable.  Also, there’s the “you must have two years of experience in the last five years” condition.  Therefore, he doesn’t qualify as a carpenter.

That’s to enter the lottery, with no guarantees.  Wrap your head around that one; we would turn Jesus down for immigration.