ADVENT: History
ADVENT and Immigration
"ADVENT manages multiple assets to the state, and immigrants are no different. They will assimilate and contribute just like everyone else."
- Luna Varela, Director of the Human Immigration and Integration Service
Proposal 9091
Latest Revision: 12/4/2016
Designation: Human Immigration and Integration Service (HIIS)
Program Type: Immigration; Citizen Assimilation and Indoctrination
Authors: Keith Watkins, Chief Overseer of the Oversight Division; Elizabeth Falka, Director of ADVENT Intelligence; Chancellor Saudia Vyandar; Kyong Suk-Chul, Minister of ADVENT Public Relations; Amalda Stein, Chief of Peacekeeper Operations; Luna Varela, Director of HIIS
INITIAL PROPOSAL: One of the greatest challenges of the old world was the handling of mass immigration. It was not something every country experienced, and immigration was handled and viewed differently depending on the type and number of immigrants received. Immigrants with backgrounds in education, similar cultural and ethnic hegemony, and with clear records were desirable and faced little controversy, and most often made up immigrants to northern America and many parts of Europe.
The deeper issues with immigration came when countries bordered nations which were underdeveloped, beset with gang, ethnic, or religious violence, and economically poor, all factors which contributed to a desire to move to a more prosperous nation no matter the risk. Nations such as America and other nations that bordered Middle Eastern states often had logistical and practical issues covering a whole border, and many such illegal immigrants cross unknowingly and built subcommunities near places of prosperity.
Some such immigrants managed to be successful, but more were often exploited, due to their illegal status. Others languished in overstressed immigration services, with citizenship not being provided for years after application. Those who claimed refugee status were rarely given priority and languished in temporary camps which were underfunded and poorly managed. Additional factors such as misinformation, racism, and poor policy often contributed to the largest immigration problems, which were a point of contention within many political spheres.
Understandably, we cannot for afford such delays, inefficiency, and gross incompetence to define ADVENT's immigration policy, and to this end we had determined a comprehensive path ADVENT will take to take advantage of this demographic of new immigrants, and utilize it in an efficient, humane, and effective way which takes into account the lessons of successful and failed immigration systems.
It is worth pointing out that in the future such a division will no longer be necessary, as Earth will reside under the full control of ADVENT, rendering Human immigration redundant. But until such a time comes and the borders of nations endure, immigration will be a reality we must be prepared to address.
Initially, prior or in parallel to the formal forming of this division, ADVENT should take a number of steps to lay out the immigration policy to the general public, specifically the domestic and international communities. The first step is to ensure that the proper infrastructure and manpower is provided to HIIS, as our work is likely to begin immediately as dozens of immigration agencies are to be absorbed.
The second step is to perform comprehensive sweeps of communities and identify corporations, companies, individuals, and others employing illegal migrants. Documentation for future raids will be necessary for later. After this, ADVENT should declare that all immigrants residing illegally in any part of ADVENT territory are granted amnesty for ninety days to find an immigration center and register as a full citizen. This would not apply to those with criminal records. This should also be accompanied with legislation decriminalizing border crossings (justification for this will be provided shortly).
At the conclusion of the ninety days, all identified illegal immigrants and exploiting companies will be arrested or shut down and prosecuted under ADVENT law. We anticipate that a majority of illegal immigrants will take advantage of this amnesty, which may prompt the remainder to consider.
With this laid out, we will proceed to the purpose of the Human Immigration and Integration Service, henceforth identified as HIIS.
OBJECTIVES AND MISSION: There are a number of objectives that HIIS will seek to fulfill effectively, which are listed below:
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CONSOLIDATION: One of the greatest challenges and legal hurdles which provided unnecessary hardship is the problem of properly patrolling the border. We do not have the manpower or technology to monitor every part, and those who are truly determined will cross at one point or another.
A number of suggestions have been proposed, from sensors, to building a wall, or utilizing drones. Technological solutions are marked as potentially having use in the future, however we lack the resources or justification to insist upon them, as a vast majority of illegal immigrants pose no threat to the state, whereas the alien threat is very much real. Physical barriers, as noted earlier, are largely ineffective, difficult to maintain, and easily subverted.
The problem thus shifts to locating those who have crossed the border. Most tend to overestimate the intelligence and maliciousness of illegal immigrants. Those who cross illegally are often ignorant of the locations of immigration centers and do not intend to intentionally break the law. It is in the interest of the state to locate these illegal immigrants, and transport them to the nearest immigration center for processing. In the rare instance they refuse or are violent, they can be arrested and prosecuted.
It saves resources, time, and manpower to transition from managing a hard border to locating crossing migrants and directly moving them to be processed.
BORDER PROTECTION AND ENFORCEMENT: It should be noted that even if we elect to not devote significant resources to maintaining hard borders, the need for a dedicated border patrol is still necessary for migrant capture and transport, installation guarding, and enforcing ADVENT policies at the border.
However, it is unlikely it will require significant numbers of personnel, and the size of each respective border patrol will be dependent on the terrain, expected migration numbers, and length of the border itself. The ADVENT border spans multiple countries and continents, there cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach.
REFUGEE PROCESSING: This war will produce many war refugees, and we cannot afford to let the vast numbers who will apply for refugee status or asylum consume vast quantities of resources. There must be a process dedicated to determining the severity, legitimacy, and urgency of refugee applicants, and quickly assist in their transition to a contributor of ADVENT and eventual citizen.
It is extremely important that refugees are utilized and not left alone in refugee camps. Indoctrinating them into ADVENT culture and lifestyle will provide structure, income, and reduce the likelihood of anarchy and crime in refugee communities. It will also provide ADVENT with a reliable workforce for the war effort.
IMMIGRATION PROCESSING: One of the greatest issues with immigration was the length of time it took to become a citizen. This process has been significantly streamlined, and we have set a goal that those interested in becoming a citizen of ADVENT can legally become one in one month or less, with direct guidance for undereducated or uncertain immigrants on what to do next.
It is important that citizenship is provided quickly, and additional requirements can be filled without the concern of deportation. We intend for citizenship to be the first step towards integration – not the final step. We do not intend to provide immigration requirements or justifications. Each immigrant can be shaped into something useful, and it is our job to determine what that use is.
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE HOUSING AND JOB PROVISION: Another major problem of poor immigration and refugee programs is insufficient, unsanitary, unsafe, and underfunded housing or shelter. This often led to sickness, demoralization, and spikes in criminal activity and radicalization. It contributes to a feeling of neglect and isolation, and oftentimes an increase in suicidal activity.
This is obviously not ideal, and to avert this we have made it a central goal of our mission to provide proper housing for immigrants and refugees near the processing centers. We intend to either build within existing communities, or if none exist, create new ones. These will be standardized to some degree due to the time constraints and volume of immigrants, but built according to immigration projections with the possibility of expansion and diversification.
These facilities will be up to modern standards, and will be apartment-sized, with rooms being provisioned according to the party size and composition. While we do not intend for these to be permanent residences for immigrants, they will be permitted to leave on their own time or as opportunities arise. By providing a stable and modern living space, it is likely to alleviate immediate monetary pressure and enable a stabler and more grateful immigrant community.
Additionally, all immigrants and refugees will be provided jobs within ADVENT, which will include both skilled and unskilled jobs unless ones have been acquired before receiving citizenship, which can be within the immediate community or throughout ADVENT once processing has been completed. All immigrants and refugees who are able to work or pursue education will do so, as it is a requirement of application.
The goal is to provide new immigrants and refugees with a stable source of income and to contribute to ADVENT in a meaningful way, as well as restore a sense of normalcy to their lives. Job provision is extremely important, and will be open to private companies as well. Should there not be any available, there will always be State positions to be filled.
This requirement cannot be waived by able-bodied individuals, with the exception of parents, whereas only one will be required to work. Individuals who are minors, disabled, elderly, severely injured, or ill are exempt from this requirement unless they make a full recovery. However, they must be a dependent to another immigrant. If one does not exist, further steps will be taken to move them into an appropriate setting.
NEW CITIZEN INDOCTRINATION: The ultimate goal of HIIS is to assimilate new ADVENT citizens. Upon receiving official ADVENT citizenship, new citizens are entered into the Citizen Indoctrination Program (CIP) which will provide cultural, language, and societal education within ADVENT.
We realize that there may be refugees who come with outdated or problematic views, customs, and beliefs. We have no interest in fostering such, and the CIP will make it clear to the new immigrants that such beliefs and actions are unacceptable. There is a hard stance taken on this, and those who refuse to conform will be deported if it is determined that they are incapable of properly assimilating. We do not anticipate this to apply to a vast majority of immigrants.
It is important to emphasize to the new citizens that their citizenship depends solely on their actions, and that ADVENT is capable of revoking it should the trust and investment we have given them be wasted. The length of the CIP will vary depending on the citizen in question. Some may require comprehensive programs, while others may only require few.
If an immigrant does not speak one of the state languages (English, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, and Mandarin) they will be enrolled in language classes of their choice. This is mandatory. In the event that new citizens protest or do not attend the required classes, their citizenship will be revoked and they will be deported without penalty. These requirements will be clearly explained to them upon their application for citizenship, and individuals with disabilities will have accommodations made so the process proceeds smoothly.
We anticipate, however, that such drastic measures will be unneeded, and that individuals will assimilate with the proper cultural and societal views and seamlessly integrate to the greater ADVENT citizenry.
INTERNAL DIVISIONS: The HIIS will be composed of the following divisions:
BORDER PATROL: The Border Patrol will be responsible for protecting immigration processing outposts and other locations where HIIS operates, as well as providing security for ranking personnel or groups moving through potentially unsafe territory. Additionally, they will conduct border patrols and perform the majority of operations to capture and transport illegal migrants to processing centers, and conduct raids against illegally residing alien criminals or entities exploiting migrant labor or services.
Border Patrol will be armed with lethal small arms (pistols) and non-lethal primary weapons such as stun batons and arc rifles utilized by Riot Control. They will be provided lighter armor than military standard, which will still provide protection against small arms. The color will be a beige, and hardened Kevlar helmets will be provided as standard headwear. It was decided that exposed faces were ideal for peacefully convincing migrants to accompany them without using force, due to increased personability as opposed to a full-faced helmet. Border Patrol will have full-faced helmets for potentially dangerous operations, as well as larger lethal weaponry, but it will not be standard.
IMMIGRATION PROCESSING OUTPOSTS: The Immigration Processing Outposts (IPO) are the heart of our operation, and will be responsible for processing all refugees and immigrants that seeks to enter ADVENT or apply for asylum or refugee status. They will be staffed by IPO Officers who will interview each immigrant or immigrant party, and begin the process of collecting personal information and data for initial processing.
Each IPO will have a medical center where blood and genetic samples will be collected, as well as a psionic operative to confirm no alien infiltration. Pictures and scans of their face and body will also be acquired. Providing these samples is required, which also comes with a complete medical checkup. Immigrants who are suffering severe illnesses will be treated here during this period, or moved if there is a medical necessity to proper facilities.
Once initial interviews are complete, a temporary ID (or refugee ID) is provided, and the immigrants are moved to housing, more thorough reviews of the information will be provided. If no paperwork was provided, the acquired information and data will be compared with existing data to ensure identity verification and there is no criminal record. The facial and body data will be placed into the system and cross-checked for identity confirmation as well.
Once this is complete, and the IPO will prepare final forms if everything checks out – or if it does not and they judge that an individual needs to be arrested or deported – and then send to the Immigration Review and Approval (IRA) to make the final determination. This is done regardless of immigrant or refugee, as we intend to encourage citizenship for any refugees who apply. Should the IRA approve, they will take the approved paper work and enter it into the citizenship database, produce a citizen ID, close the case and transfer the required documents to the Citizen Indoctrination Division (CID). Please note that the citizen ID will only be provided to refugees who desire to become citizens.
HOUSING AND JOB MANAGEMENT: Housing and Job Management (HAJM) is one of the most important aspects of HIIS and instrumental in providing a stable environment and community. Upon the completion of initial processing by the respective IPO, the immigrant or group is directed to HAJM, where they will be placed into an apartment suited for their number. If they are a small group or single individuals, they may be required to share with others.
A series of expectations will be provided to them about living, which will ensure they are not disruptive, damage property, and follow the community laws. We expect this will not elicit strong reactions. The HAJM will do this for each immigrant or refugee, and manage the logistics of ensuring it does not become overcrowded and that it is properly maintained.
The second part of their job will be to establish places which act as permanent job fair locations, which will have rotating private companies and some government entities, but will always have a core of government recruiters. After a few days of settling, the immigrants and refugees will be directed towards them for recruitment.
It is the responsibility of HAJM to ensure that there are always jobs available no matter the skill possessed by the individual. The ultimate goal is to ensure they are working and contributing to ADVENT, and a failure to do so would be against our stated mission. However, it is not up to HAJM to ensure the job chosen is a sufficient fit, as such judgment is left to the recruiters.
IMMIGRATION PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT: Once each immigrant or refugee family is settled, they will be assigned an Immigration Personnel Management Officer who will act as a liaison between them and the IPO. They will provide guidance, updates, encouragement, and whatever is deemed necessary to ensure their wards are content and productive.
If possible, IPM Officers should speak the native language of their wards, and it is for this reason that assigning cleared refugees or immigrants to this position is encouraged, as they would be both familiar with ADVENT procedure and have an innate connection with the community.
To prevent overworking, IPM Officers should not have more than ten assigned wards or four families at one time. If staffing is a concern, it is another reason pulling recruits from the community pool is advised, provided they are cleared. Upon one of their wards becoming a citizen, they will be granted the option to keep in touch, but responsibility will be turned over to the CID and they will be assigned another ward.
IMMIGRATION PEACEKEEPERS DIVISION: With the approval of Chief Amalda Stein, we have been cleared to create a special branch of the Peacekeepers specifically tailored to these communities. While the first groups will be initially trained by ADVENT Peacekeepers, we intend for this to be temporary and for the entirety of law enforcement to be conducted by officers drawn from the community itself.
This is done with the intention of strengthening initial trust between the new arrivals and law enforcement, which can sometimes have a contentious relationship. Furthermore, it is a job that can be easily trained for, and staffing is unlikely to be an issue. The same standards for Peacekeepers would apply to the Immigration Peacekeeper Division as well, so there should be no significant decline in quality.
This Peacekeeper Division will have the same legal powers and authorities as defined under ADVENT law, but in contrast to other Peacekeepers they will have no authority outside of immigration communities where they are specially assigned. Further differentiating them is their white armor as opposed to the standard black of the Peacekeepers. In all other aspects their gear, role, and weapons remain the same.
IMMIGRATION REVIEW AND APPROVAL: Once the IPO has completed the initial processing and their recommendation, it is sent to Immigration Review and Approval (IRA) who will do a swift verification of the document, and make an equally swift decision to approve or disapprove the recommendation.
Due to most of the work already being completed by the IPO, this stage rarely takes a long time, and usually only spends time on cases where there is an existing criminal record or other reason to avoid approval. The IRA has the authority to summon the individual in question for a direct interview, order their arrest, or order a psionic evaluation.
After they gather the data they deem necessary, they will make a determination, or in extreme cases, pass it upwards to the HIIS Directorate. This should only be done if it is suspected there is a foreign or alien agent within the community, which would require a specialized approach. Criminal cases are unlikely to warrant this kind of action, unless they are considering granting citizenship to an individual who has an extensive criminal record, and are determining whether to extradite or try them domestically.
THE CITIZEN INDOCTRINATION DIVISION: The last part of the HIIS that most immigrants will interact with is the Citizen Indoctrination Division (CID) which is responsible for shaping them into model ADVENT citizens. All immigrants will first complete a series of tests which determine the likely ease of assimilation, which cover a range of issues from race, to sex, to sexuality, to political issues like protests, political violence, and potential extremist sympathies.
Language is also tested more comprehensively, and those who do not achieve high enough scores in one of the official state languages will be placed into language programs managed by CID, which will be tailored to skill level. Reaching a level of comprehension in an official language is required to be approved by the CID.
Depending on the score in the assimilation tests, they will be assigned classes which impart our values, goals, and society. The intensity and length will be dependent on their scores, and if the individual shows a refusal to adapt or change their views, the CID has the authority to directly appeal the IRA for revocation of citizenship and deportation. Please note that the CID must disclose this possibility at the beginning.
There is the possibility that some immigrants may attempt to hide their true beliefs and exploit the system. To prevent this, there will be an assigned psion who will determine if an individual is being truthful or not. While we understand that cultural beliefs are systemic to a degree and cannot be changed overnight, we will not intentionally let them enter and affect our society in a negative way.
Regardless of assimilation score, all immigrants will be given a comprehensive class on how each aspect of ADVENT functions including governance, healthcare, law enforcement, voting, and military. They must achieve a passing score on this test, which will be given in the language of their choice, and will be allowed to retake it up to three times, otherwise they will need to take the class again.
Once they complete this test, as well as the equivalent language proficiency test, they will be cleared by the CID, and become a citizen in full, having been determined as capable of seamlessly integrating into ADVENT.
HIIS DIRECTORATE: This is the highest administrative body which includes local, state, national and global levels. The immigration outpost level is composed of the IPO, CID, HAJM, IPM, IRA Directors, the Captain of the local Border Patrol, the Chief of the Immigration Peacekeeper Division, and a refugee or immigrant who has been identified as an influential figure in the local community.
Their job is to provide guidance to the IRA when they have requests, as well as set local community policy, events, and review data which will allow them to plan and adapt to changing circumstances. Any high-level disputes should also be solved on this level as well.
The State level of the HIIS Directorate is a large administrative body which is composed of the HIIS Director who is permitted to select representatives from throughout ADVENT to serve as advisors and who has direct lines to the Chancellor of ADVENT, the Director of ADVENT Intelligence, the Chief of Peacekeeper Operations, the Oversight Division, and the Congress of Nations.
They will be responsible for setting agency-wide policy, ensuring the agency is funded and staffed, and conveying pertinent data to the most important and relevant bodies in ADVENT as it pertains to immigration.
RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING: Recruitment will come from several sources. The first will be from the general public and citizenry, with private security, accounting, and business majors being directly targeted for hiring due to relevant skills. Former or retired law enforcement are also desirable recruitment targets. It is likely that a portion of Peacekeepers would be interested in work with the HIIS.
However, this will be a partially unique situation as there are immigrants and refugees who would be able to fulfill many of the entry-level jobs, and gradually work their way up as they are so inclined and claim their citizenship. The only parts of the HIIS that are completely off-limits for non-citizen recruitment are the Border Patrol, IRA, and CID. Management of the remaining divisions must also remain citizen-only.
The Border Patrol is worth specifically mentioning, and it will have a higher threshold for recruitment, with individuals having to pass a psychological evaluation and previous experience being a significant advantage. Individuals with violent or aggressive tendencies are discouraged from applying, as those are not effective qualities for the mission of the Border Patrol.
The training of other positions will vary depending on what they are, and Immigration Peacekeeper recruits will receive training at a designated facility like all other Peacekeeper units. Each individual, be they citizen or non-citizen, will be cleared and properly trained to hold the position they possess.
AUTHORITY AND LIMITATIONS: The HIIS has a range of legal powers, but the reach is also limited to strictly our domain.
BORDER CROSSINGS: As mentioned earlier, it is heavily recommended that illegal border crossings are decriminalized. Should the current laws remain in place, they require transport of captured migrants to Peacekeeper facilities, extra days of processing, and when they are cleared, more time spent transporting them to the IPO. Furthermore, it does not present a good impression of ADVENT when their first visit is to a jail cell. It unnecessarily hinders our mission and speaks to a lack of confidence in our capabilities to weed out undesirable and criminal elements.
All that is needed is the authority to transport captured migrants to the nearest IPO, to perform arrests and deportations on illegal immigrants, and when necessary protect themselves from dangerous individuals.
DEPORTATIONS AND EXTRADITIONS: In the course of our duties, the HIIS is likely to encounter individuals with criminal records or who are wanted in a non-ADVENT country. It is recommended that no standard be set, and allow us the authority to determine what should be done with them.
Context is important, and it is necessary to see the whole scope of an individual. An individual who has a criminal record because they have used drugs would not be a criminal here, and thus should not be punished. An individual who sold drugs on the other hand poses a threat. If a threat is determined, we should first reach out to the respective nation to confirm this person is wanted, to confirm their actions, and finally to determine if the legal system is clear and effective enough to justify extradition.
Our goal here is to ensure that justice is served. If we send a criminal back to a country where the courts are corrupt, justice will not be served, and it is safer to try them here and punish them accordingly. However, if it is determined that the legal system is relatively sound, and they are specifically requesting extradition, it should be provided. But this is ultimately our decision, and does not rely on the respective country.
Deportations can only be performed on immigrants, refugees, or new citizens who have committed civil offenses such as not filling out paperwork, acquiring a job, refusing to provide blood and physical samples, refusing to attend classes, or judged as incapable of integration by the CID. Criminal charges will result in prosecution by ADVENT with the accompanying penalties and consequences.
Deportations will return the individual to a country of their choice, in conjunction with the respective government. If the government does not comply, nor any other governments of their second and third choices, they will be repatriated to their country of origin. They will be allowed to apply for citizenship again, though they will start the process from the beginning. If they attempt to apply more than three times with little character change, they will be arrested and charged with wasting government resources.
Please note that residing in ADVENT territory illegally is a criminal offense with up to one year of prison time.
INTERNAL IMMIGRATION COMMUNITY CRIME: All laws which apply to ADVENT territory apply to immigration communities, and no exceptions will be made. It is the responsibility of the community to educate themselves of the laws, and inquire to government representatives if there are any questions.
Please note that criminal offenses will result in arrest and prosecution, not deportation. Upon the serving of time, they will be deported to their country of origin and must return to start the process again. ADVENT does not differentiate between citizen and non-citizen crime. If crime is committed in ADVENT territory, they will be tried and sentenced in ADVENT, not another country.
CONCLUSION: While this is a contentious and complex topic, the HIIS is confident that we have an approach which has successfully alleviated the largest issues, and helps grow the ADVENT citizenry and workforce significantly in a fair and efficient manner. We eventually hope for a day when we no longer exist, but until the world comes under ADVENT control, we will be necessary in ensuring that the integrity of our border, society, and mission is strong and secure.
Initial IPO Interview Transcript 109 | Any translations are in brackets
[IPO Officer Pomar]: "Good morning, please state your name."
[Gael Espinar]: "Gael Espinar."
[IOP]: "Excellent. Do you have proof of identity?"
[GE]: "I…no."
[IOP]: "That's fine. Are you seeking refugee or asylum status?"
[GE]: "I…don't know. I'm coming because of the war, but I want to move here. I have my family that came with me."
[IOP]: "Ok, we can work with that. For processing purposes, we will designate you as an immigrant. From what country are you coming from?
[GE]: "Nicaragua."
[IOP]: "Ok. How many are in your party?"
[GE]: "Seven."
[IOP]: "Composition?"
[GE]: "Sorry?"
[IOP]: "How many in your party are male, female, minors, or elders?"
[GE]: "Me and my wife, our four children, and my wife's grandmother."
[IOP]: "What are the ages of your children?"
[GE]: "Seven, eight, eleven and fifteen."
[IOP]: "All minors then. Alright, are you and your party in good health or have any illnesses or injuries to report?"
[GE]: "No. We're just very tired."
[IOP]: "Understandable. You'll have plenty of time to rest here while we process you. Do you, or anyone in your party have any kind of criminal record?"
[GE]: "No sir."
[IOP]: "That makes things much easier then. What is your level of education?"
[GE]: "I completed high school."
[IOP]: Thank you. Alright, I'm going to give you some paperwork to fill out, and take out to your party. If some of your children can't fill it out, guardian signatures are accepted on their behalf. Once you're finished, bring them back to me and we'll move you to medical, and then get you a place to stay for now."
[GE]: "Thank you."
…
Initial IPO Interview Transcript 210 | Any translations are in brackets
[IPO Officer Arias]: "Please state your name."
[Nils Magnusson]: "Nils Magnusson, ma'am."
[IOA]: "Thank you. Do you have any proof of identification?"
[NM]: "Yeah, plenty. In this bag. Do you want it?"
[IOA]: "Hold onto it for now. Are you seeking refugee or asylum status?"
[NM]: "No, immigration."
[IOA]: "Good. What country are you coming from?"
[NM]: "Sweden."
[IOA]: "How many are in your party?"
[NM]: "Just me."
[IOA]: "That will make processing easier. Are you in good health or have medical conditions to report?"
[NM]: "No ma'am."
[IOA]: "What is your level of education?"
[NM]: "Doctorate in atomic physics."
[IOA]: "Impressive. Do you have documentation with you?"
[NM]: "Yeah, I brought along everything. IDs, certificates, registrations, you want all of that?"
[IOA]: "Yes, it will make processing and verification much easier."
[NM]: "It's in this bag here."
[IOA]: "If you could hold onto that, I have only a couple more initial questions to ask."
[NM]: "Ok."
[IOA]: "Do you have a criminal record?"
[NM]: "I got a speeding ticket once. Does that count?"
[IOA]: "It counts, but did you pay it off?"
[NM]: "Of course."
[IOA]: "Then there won't be an issue. We're interested in more egregious criminal activity, not necessarily speeding tickets."
[NM]: "That's a relief."
[IOA]: "In any case, I will take these documents and begin verification. I assume you understand that ADVENT law includes criminal punishments for forgeries and impersonations?"
[NM]: "I do."
[IOA]: "Good. As I do this, please fill out this initial processing form, you can do it here or in the lobby, and return it to me. Once that is done, you'll be moved to medical for screening and sample collection and moved into a place to stay until you're settled."
[NM]: "I'll do it in the lobby if you don't mind. Some of that food looked good."
[IOA]: "Don't blame you. Just make sure to return it to me, or if I'm not available, another IPO Officer."
[NM]: "Will do ma'am, thank you."
…
Initial IPO Interview Transcript 232 | Any translations are in brackets
[IPO Officer Tian]: "Good morning, please state your name."
[Yan Ping]: "[I don't understand English.]"
[IOT]: "[Apologies. Please state your name.]"
[YP]: "[Yan Ping.]"
[IOT]: "[Do you have proof of identification]"
[YP]: "[Yes. Here.]"
[IOT]: "[Thank you. Are you claiming refugee or asylum status?]"
[YP]: "[Refugee. The outbreak is getting worse. It's not safe for us to stay.]"
[IOT]: "[China?]"
[YP]: "[Yes.]"
[IOT]: "[And that is why you are seeking refugee status? The Smallpox Outbreak?]"
[YP]: "[Yes.]"
[IOT]: "[Ok. How many are in your party?]"
[YP]: "[My wife and son. He's eight.]"
[IOT]: "[Thank you. Are any of you experiencing any medical issues?]"
[YP]: "[Thankfully no.]"
[IOT]: "[Good. Do you have any kind of criminal record?]"
[YP]: "[No, I don't.]"
[IOT]: "[Excellent. Since you are claiming refugee status, you understand that when the situation you claimed the status for is resolved, you will be repatriated to your country?]"
[YP]: "[I do. I don't want to stay away from home forever.]"
[IOT]: "[I'm sure it will be handled soon. In the meantime, you'll be able to stay within ADVENT. Take this paperwork, fill it out for your son if he can't, and return it to me. When you're done, you'll be moved to medical for screening and sample collection.]"
[YP]: "[Thank you very much, sir.]"
…
Initial IPO Interview Transcript 201 | Any translations are in brackets
[IPO Officer Murillo]: "Hello, please state your name."
[Patricia Correa]: "Patricia Correa. Do you speak Spanish?"
[IOM]: "[We can speak it if you're more comfortable.]"
[PC]: "[I am.]"
[IOM]: "[Then we will. Do you have proof of identification?]"
[PC]: "[Just this government card.]"
[IOM]: "[That's better than nothing. Thank you. Are you seeking refugee or asylum status?]"
[PC]: "[Asylum.]"
[IOM]: "[For what reason?]"
[PC]: "[My husband wants to kill me.]"
[IOM]: "[Why?]"
[PC]: "[I fled him…and took our son with me. I couldn't stay or he was going to kill me one day. He has connections in the gangs. They might send someone after me. If I go back, they'll rape and kill me.]"
[IOM]: "[Understood. And your son is with you now?]"
[PC]: "[Yes, waiting outside.]"
[IOM]: "[Ok. You can rest assured that he, nor his friends, can pose a threat here. What country are you coming from?]"
[PC]: "[El Salvador.]"
[IOM]: "[Thank you. I will need you to fill out these forms for yourself and your son, and this one describing the individual or individuals who pose a threat to your life. They will be submitted to the Peacekeepers and we'll be on the lookout if any of them try and enter ADVENT territory.]"
[PC]: "[Ok. Can we stay in here?]"
[IOM]: "[This building?]"
[PC]: "[Yes. There are guards here. It feels safer.]"
[IOM]: "[We have a Peacekeeper division stationed here; you are safe wherever you go. But I can see if we can have you stay for a few days in the Medical Wards if there is room. There may not be, since they aren't designed for long-term stay.]"
[PC]: "[I'd like that, at least for now.]"
[IOM]: "[I'll see what I can do. I'll have an answer once you fill out the paperwork.]"
[PC]: "[Ok. Thank you.]"
The immigration question is one which has become polarized and weaponized in the past decade, with a particular focus on America and the aftermath of the War on Terror which stretched European refugee systems to their breaking points. A topic of such complexity has been simplified by rival political interests, taking advantage of the tendency of citizens to accept statements without challenge and purported facts without verification.
Tribalism on all sides of the immigration debate has currently poisoned all discourse, and should a similar refugee or migrant crisis occur, no nation is properly prepared to deal with it. There are first some ground truths to be determined before proceeding further. The first is that there is no nation or faction outside of the ultra-far left and anarchists who desire unrestricted access to nations and no border security of any kind.
This is obviously unworkable and infeasible from the standpoint of logistics, election, and national security. Those who do not see this operate in a naïve worldview which is devoid of the threat of rival national interests, specifically China, North Korea, and Cuba, which is to say nothing of the criminal and extremist elements which have no restriction in importing crime and spreading their influence to American cities.
Open borders is a utopian desire, and only the foolish believe it is truly viable in the modern era. Thus, no serious advocate for reworked immigration proposes it as a viable solution.
Second, immigration is ultimately a net positive to the nation in question if managed properly. It introduces additional manpower to the nation, stimulates economic growth and expansion, and generates goodwill and patriotism among new citizens. For those who doubt this, there are many immigrants or those who are descended of such who have made great contributions to our nation, and the same is true for many others.
From a national security standpoint, immigrants are a resource which has been voluntarily given up by the nation in question. Each immigrant makes our nation stronger by denying an asset to our peers, rivals, and enemies. There is a significant amount of emphasis by detractors of immigration on the importation of 'unskilled' labor, believing that they are a drain on state resources.
This is only a factor if the nation refuses to properly act. The state has a responsibility to properly account for and exploit this resource so that they are not a drain on state resources. There are multiple paths to achieve this, from state-sponsored jobs programs, to military service, to private corporation stimulus, but unfortunately these kind of solutions remain nebulous in the current political climate.
Third, significant blame for the polarization of immigration lays at the feet of the enablers of illegal immigration who deliberately exploited the illegal status of many immigrants to save on costs and regulations. This has contributed to the mistaken belief that additional immigrants will steal jobs, when in reality it is companies who hire illegal aliens at lower wages because they can use the threat of deportation to force poor wages and conditions, with the migrant having no legal recourse.
Individuals and companies which knowingly employ these tactics should be condemned and arrested. They have a financial investment in maintaining the status quo, and no true immigration reform can exist without addressing this fundamental issue.
Fourth, immigrants must conform to the nation of which they reside in. The state holds the legal and moral authority to ensure that new citizens are not bringing in beliefs, ideals, and characteristics which run counter to those of the nation. A failure to be intolerant towards the regressive beliefs some immigrants hold will result in resentment from citizens, ideological clashes, and potentially those with dangerous or harmful beliefs finding and cultivating an audience, and thus, power.
This is exemplified with the refugee situation during and following the War on Terror, where immigrants and refugees were simply integrated and quartered off, with no attempt made to screen for potentially harmful beliefs and ideologies. There were few to no deradicalization programs in place, and this turned the refugee camps into extremist breeding grounds, ultimately resulting in the collapse of the program and forced repatriation. This utter failure to properly manage this event resulted in persistent xenophobia and anti-Islamic sentiment which heavily contributed to many nations banning the religion entirely, and placed mortems on immigration from Middle Eastern nations.
Those who are culturally incompatible with the state should not be permitted entry. One can be welcoming while holding themselves to higher standards. This obviously is anathema to the pro-immigrant side of the argument, but it is a harsh reality that the world is not culturally and ideologically unified, and pretending that all those who emigrate hold beliefs similar to our own is naïve, foolish, and destructive to the movement itself.
Fifth, immigration systems are often slow, underfunded, and focused more on deportation, arrests, and patrols than actually integrating immigrants into a country. The vast majority of those who illegally emigrate have limited technology, poor institutional knowledge of places like border points, and are often leaving worse domestic situations.
The resources of any immigration systems must primarily be devoted to integrating citizens as efficiently as possible, not removing them, otherwise that will be where the priorities stay. Many illegal citizens exist due to overstaying visas or work cards, while a minority deliberately circumvent the system due to the length required to become a citizen. The speed must improve significantly to make it more appealing and efficient than not participating at all.
Sixth, existing illegal immigrants must be given citizenship or a pathway to citizenship and given amnesty for a period of time to register with the state. After this point, the concept of being an illegal immigrant or perpetuating such programs must be utterly crushed. Harsh deterrents should be put in place to make the idea of illegally living in this nation terrifying.
This should include severe jail times, state seizure of assets of individuals and corporations, bankrupting monetary fines, and deportation after asset seizure. Those who participate in fostering or housing illegal immigration should have their citizenship stripped upon completion of their prison sentence. Even in the modern age and the broken immigration system, there is no excuse for not understanding what you are doing is wrong and illegal.
For any immigration reform to happen, each of these points must be taken into serious consideration. There is no solution which will please either party, but there is room for compromise on all sides, and an understanding of the roots of the problem. Addressing the issue as simple racism does nothing but harden opposition and ignores legitimate concerns those in favor of restricted immigration have.
There is no side which is completely right, and to some extent it comes down to ideology. There are those who believe immigrants are ultimately unnecessary and only the best and brightest should be permitted. These people are unlikely to be moved by proposals such as this, and there are those who argue that borders should not exist who will be similarly unmoved.
Both extreme sides are a minority, and most reasonable individuals fall within the middle of this spectrum, and when the incendiary language on all sides is dropped and civil conversation can ensue, I am confident that a solution can be found. But as with anything in this country, finding a solution is easy. What is difficult is putting it into practice.
There is no immigration solution which will not be politically risky, economically uncertain, and require painful change. But unless we want to continue the deteriorating status quo, or worse, see it rapidly decline, these significant proposals are needed.
It is worth remembering that I am not the only one who can determine this. There are others who can as well, and if another nation realizes this and moves to implement it, it is likely that they will one day surpass us, which is an outcome we all should find thoroughly unacceptable.
- Article: Immigration, Addressing the Opportunities and Challenges of the Modern Era, by Luna Varela, Sociology Professor at Harvard University; Published November 2013
"Good morning. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. At this point I'm somewhat surprised you aren't ADVENT's official interviewing partner."
"Ah, I can understand that. Working directly for ADVENT would come with a few rules, sure. Nonetheless Miss Wong, I am ready to get started when you are."
"I wouldn't say I have limited experience, no. I taught sociology and was approached by a number of political campaigns who wanted to hear my take on immigration since I made it a point of emphasis in my classes. Very few of them were interested in a solution, they just wanted a name to put for their sanctioned plan."
"Please, very few of the people who have an opinion on immigration know what they're talking about. They've based it purely in partisan terms, propaganda, and rhetoric. It's difficult to have a middle ground on immigration and be in politics, and social media doesn't help. No one wants a moderate solution, because if you favor increased immigration, you're a criminal-supporting open-borders fanatic participating in the cultural destruction of America. And if you take the stance that there should be some restrictions and procedure, then certain people enjoy branding you a xenophobic racist. You can see why I stopped participating politically at all for some time. Far too toxic."
"President Treduant was the first person who seemed interested in an actual solution. We didn't agree on everything, obviously, which is why she made someone else head of the USCIS, and I remained an advisor. However, she at least had a vision and was interested in working towards an actual solution beyond pandering. Congress proved a hurdle as always, and she had other priorities to worry about."
"I can't really say why ADVENT reached out. I suspect they spoke to Treduant, as I'm not a well-known academic figure. However, I also believe they possess the same desire for a practical and fair immigration system, which is going to be something of growing importance as the war progresses. I didn't anticipate I would be setting what is effectively worldwide policy, but it is gratifying to have what I have always believed vindicated by like-minded peers."
"Yes, we can move to the HIIS itself now. I did my homework. Bring on the questions."
"Not quite correct. There are restrictions on who can and cannot enter. We don't take people with significant criminal backgrounds, and we don't take people who are incapable of successfully assimilating into ADVENT. But I don't believe in having things like wealth, intelligence, race, religious, or educational restraints."
"Well, there are two ways of looking at the so-called 'unskilled immigrant'. One is seeing them as a useless drain on the state who has little to offer. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy, and in the past too many governments wouldn't invest in immigrants, and thus condemned many to a life of poverty and hardship by simply doing nothing and expecting these people who were coming with little to nothing to achieve something in a society stacked against them."
"Now I prefer to see each immigrant as an opportunity. Think of each as an unrefined tool. The unskilled can become skilled. The uneducated can become educated. People are not static, they each have innate potential, but each of them needs help achieving this potential. Anyone who thinks we can throw someone into a society and say 'fend for yourself' and expect them to succeed is an idiot who has no business managing the lives of other people."
"Oh yes, it is a significant investment, but the truth of the matter is this, Miss Wong, it is coming whether we want it to or not. ADVENT will control the world one day, and there are going to be a lot of people who are not going to be your average middle-class citizen. We need to have systems in place to help them prosper, because by extension, ADVENT will prosper."
"Ah, I'm glad you pointed that out. One way we do this is making sure they have residences and jobs. This is important for two reasons – the first is to give them a stable routine, income, and a place without the immediate worry of trying to provide for themselves or families. The second is so that ADVENT will gain something tangible from each and every immigrant, regardless of their standing. I do not believe in sticking immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in a camp and forgetting about them, nor are they entitled to free lodging and food for the fact they exist. If you want to emigrate or reside in ADVENT, you will earn your keep just like everyone else. The fact that you are a non-citizen doesn't mean you are entitled to free residence. It isn't fair to our existing citizens who work to provide the benefits they currently enjoy."
"Yes, I did directly request for the ninety-day amnesty for currently residing illegal immigrants. Each one deserves a chance to be legalized, and this is more than enough time to do so. However, when that time expires, we are bringing the hammer down on anyone foolish enough to believe they can cheat the system."
Laughs. "Miss Wong, I have the authority to request the resources of ADVENT Intelligence, the Peacekeepers, and the PRIEST Division. We are aware of thousands of illegal residents and companies employing illegal labor. The only reason we are refraining is to give the grace period. Trust me when I say that the day our goodwill expires, we will act, and act swiftly. That said, the numbers are looking positive and while not everyone will comply, the vast majority will."
"Can you repeat the question?"
"That's a familiar one 'what about all the stolon jobs'? That's been a rather successful line, I suppose, so it's worth addressing. The truth is that people who are worried about the immigrants sucking up all of the jobs have little to worry about. There exists a competitive marketplace, and if an immigrant is chosen over you, then that is not the fault of the immigrant. Furthermore, for those concerned about a dearth of unskilled jobs, I will remind you that there is no shortage of unskilled labor in the industrial, agricultural, and construction sectors. And if private companies don't hire them, ADVENT will. They are afforded the same opportunities and options as ADVENT citizens and we obviously expect them to take advantage of it."
"I was wondering when we'd get to this. Ask your question."
"It is extremely amusing that some critics have called the system 'xenophobic' because we expect immigrants to conform to our values and ideals. I make no apologies for our Citizen Indoctrination Program. If you are coming to ADVENT, we decide if we want you or not. We are not interested in those who seek to bring change to ADVENT which contrasts with what we believe in. We are not a mosaic. We are not a painting. We are a static image we control, and those who wish to join will assimilate or they will be expelled."
"We do not exist in a world where everything is up for debate and right and wrong beliefs do not exist. Cultures are not equal. Beliefs are not equal. We will not accept someone who is stanchly racist, sexist, homophobic, or otherwise prejudiced. We understand that it takes time to change beliefs and open minds, but there must be willingness on the individual to do so. But if you refuse to conform to ADVENT, you will be rejected. If that is xenophobic, then I will accept that, and the critics on Twitter can go cry about something that offends their delicate sensibilities. We live in the real world, not the echo chambers of the Internet."
"Alright, we can move to a less contentious topic…deportations!" Laughs. "Deportations are only for civil offenses, mostly having to do with how cooperative they are. If someone fails the assimilation tests and shows no desire to improve, they will be deported. This doesn't prevent them from returning, of course, but continuing to try and game the system won't work. You aren't going to magically be let in without getting past the hurdles that blocked you the first time."
"Extraditions are an interesting topic. Traditionally, they were standard. If a country requests extradition, it was provided if there was sufficient cause. That no longer applies here. We make the ultimate decision on if someone will be extradited or is tried here. The reason is simple, there are times when the courts are not stable, legal, or independent. We don't want to send an innocent person back to a kangaroo court, nor do we want a criminal being freed by a corrupt system. It does not hurt us either way, since we will either have a new grateful citizen, or a new occupant for the Prisons. The country in question may not like it, but that is entirely their own fault."
"Don't worry, we are taking precautions to make sure no alien infiltrators enter in this way. Blood tests, genetic samples, psionic observation, there is effectively no chance that an alien infiltrator will risk entering through HIIS. However, they may prove me wrong, but we'll be ready for them."
"Ah, that's a good question. We do compare the genetic samples of children to the parents to ensure they're related, and if they aren't and have been psionically cleared and have a valid reason, of course we won't separate them. But we took that potential human trafficking exploit and closed it completely. Granted, it was more of a side effect of this system, but a welcome one."
"We take all of those samples so we can keep track of them, obviously. Blood, genetics, face and body scanning, if they ever go missing, are involved in a crime or accident, we can quickly identify them or where they are. It is for their own safety as well as ADVENT itself. We obviously get their consent beforehand, as it is a requirement to acquire citizenship or refugee status."
"I'm not disputing that the process has barrier, but we believe each of them are very reasonable and expected for a modern immigration system. The ones who will have issues are ones who have something to hide, and if that is the case, perhaps they shouldn't be allowed in at all. We do our best to assist our new citizens every step of the way, and I firmly believe that our efforts contribute to making ADVENT safer, stronger, and plays a key role in our eventual domination of the world."
"And that, is a goal we will continue to strive to."
- HIIS Director Luna Varela to Journalist Jessica Wong in Sanctioned Interview