“Extremist” and “dangerous” is how immigrant rights organizations and activists view the immigration proposal of Republican Party presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, a businessman who champions zero tolerance policy of former President Donald Trump, but it wants to go even further.

The son of Indian immigrants, Ramaswamy suggested the border be secured “by any means” necessary, including outright militarization. But this recommendation, according to the newspaper The New York Timesif carried out, it could violate an 1878 law that prohibits the use of federal troops to enforce civilian law as well as the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) passed by Congress in 1965.

“He takes all the extreme positions because he has no other chance of winning the presidential nomination”tells Univision News Abel Núñez, executive director of the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) in Washington DC.

Not only that suggested the candidate. He also proposed deporting all undocumented immigrants from the country, some 12 million, according to estimates by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Even at dreamerswho, once out of the country, should opt for a legal route to return to the United States.

“It’s pure rhetoric,” Núñez points out. “It’s not a real plan. The country has no money to deport everyone. A huge immigration police would have to be created to arrest and prosecute these 12 million people. It’s ridiculous,” he said.

After a pause, he adds: “Whether it likes it or not, this country needs the labor of undocumented immigrants. I don’t think I’m going to kick them all out, that won’t happen,” he said.

Ramaswamy mentioned that once undocumented migrants are deported, they must participate in a program that will assess them through a points system. For the moment, it is not known if everyone will be able to return to the country or who will be favored.

In August 2017, Trump backed a similar idea proposed by Republican Senators Tom Cotton (Arkansas) and David Perdue (Georgia).. The bill required immigrants favored to enter the United States, including those deported, to demonstrate, among other requirements, that they spoke English, could support themselves financially, and contributed to the economy.

At that time, all the alarms went off. And what will happen to those who are waiting for an immigrant visa or the green card (residence permit)? What about immediate family members (spouses and children) of US citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents? What will happen to those who do not earn much? What about those who are not fluent in English?

The points plan was not considered by either house of Congress, even though during the first two years of the Trump administration they were controlled by the Republican Party.

Ramaswamy’s immigration plan also includes:

• Will not bar foreigners from entering the United States based on their religion;
• Proposes eliminating automatic citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants;
• Deport foreigners who have committed serious crimes at the end of their sentence;
• Use the local police to arrest undocumented migrants (the 287g program created in 2003 already exists);
• Denying medical care to undocumented immigrants;
• Ban sanctuary cities;
• No form of amnesty for undocumented migrants;
• Require basic knowledge of English for new citizens (already exists).

Ramaswamy is not only talking about a wall on the border with Mexico, but also about the “eventual” construction of a wall along the entire width of the border with Canada, according to a report by the faifus.org.

The candidate also includes in his proposals the reinstatement of the Remain in Mexico program (MPP), created under Trump and canceled in 2021 by the Biden government. Under the MPP, more than 70,000 immigrants who arrived at the border seeking asylum were sent back to Mexico to await the resolution of their cases in US courts, waits that in some cases lasted for months or even years.

Last week, at the first Republican debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Ramaswamy said, “We will close the southern border where criminals come in every day,” a comment that raised alarm bells.

“None of these plans or policies would bring us closer to real solutions for 21st century migration or offer the long-awaited legislative solution to the needs of our broken immigration system that Republicans continue to block,” said Vanessa Cárdenas, CEO of Voice.

“Rather, this is a depressing example of how Republicans have weaponized these issues in their ongoing assault on our inclusive democracy,” he added.

The candidate also promises, like Trump, to end the visa lottery.