An unorthodox solution to America’s immigration problem.

America’s immigration system is broken. Every day, thousands of undocumented immigrants cross the border between the U.S. and Mexico, waiting to be detained by authorities so they can claim asylum. Some of those claiming asylum flee persecution or war, but many others are simply hoping for a better life and economic opportunity in America. Those apprehended at the border are usually released into the U.S. within a few days as they wait for an asylum hearing, and due to a backlog of over a million pending cases in federal court, they typically spend years living in America before their case is heard. Asylum seekers usually bring little more than the clothes on their backs — their journey to the U.S. is often long and arduous — and thus require significant support from outside sources. Local organizations shoulder the burden of providing food, housing, and medical care for undocumented residents, straining city budgets and pushing community institutions like food banks and homeless shelters past their limits.

Lawmakers across the political spectrum agree that the current situation is unsustainable, and there has been much debate about how to reform our immigration system. Most of the dialogue centers around restrictive policy, but “closing the border” or building a wall won’t prove effective long-term. Immigrants have found ways around walls in the past, and the perceived economic opportunity and physical safety available in America makes an attempted crossing well worth it even in the face of a closed border. If immigrants find a way to cross the border, the burden will still eventually fall on local organizations to provide for their basic needs, just as it does today, even if restrictive laws are enacted. In order to successfully reform our immigration system, policy needs to address the reasons why immigrants are coming to America in such large numbers, and plan for the reality that immigrants will find their way here even if towering walls are built and more border patrol officers are hired.

While undocumented immigrants are seen by many as leeching off the American public or taking away jobs from deserving citizens, we should actually be thankful that so many people from other countries wish to live and work in the U.S. The American economy is highly dependent on the labor of immigrants, both legal and undocumented, and their presence will take on even more importance as our native-born population ages. Without immigration, the U.S. population would immediately begin to decline. Sustained economic growth would become difficult, and a ballooning number of elderly Americans would rely on an ever-shrinking base of workers for both financial support and physical care. Now and in the future, the flow of migrants into the U.S. is a vital aspect of our economic health, and immigration reform presents a tremendous opportunity to formalize the utilization of human capital for the country’s benefit while improving outcomes for undocumented persons and reducing the monetary burden on local organizations.

One potential mechanism of reform is a program I call “Fifteen To Green”. Fifteen To Green is a voluntary federal service program for undocumented immigrants ages 18–50 which awards them permanent residency after 15 years of service. Volunteers would be assigned to perform a variety of full-time jobs in conjunction with local governments, NGOs, and private companies across the country. All volunteers would be eligible for unskilled positions in industries such as agriculture or janitorial services, while those with tertiary education or trade skills would be assigned as often as possible to positions that utilize their knowledge and experience. Volunteers would be provided food, housing, and medical care in exchange for their labor, in addition to a small stipend. Volunteers with families already in the U.S. would be located in the same city if at all possible, and there would be free education and vocational training opportunities available for volunteers in their off hours. Upon completion of 15 years of service, volunteers would be granted permanent residency and a Green Card. Enrollment in the program would be permitted on a first come, first serve basis for an allotted number of slots — two million per year, for example.

The Fifteen To Green program solves a variety of problems that exist in our current immigration system. Volunteers would be provided with a clear, simple path to citizenship. They would fill critical job positions that help sustain and grow the US economy. They would not be a burden on local organizations or taxpayers, as the value created by their labor would cover the cost of their basic necessities. Perhaps most importantly, the program would eliminate the “free-riding” that many Americans are concerned about and somewhat reduce the appeal of immigrating to the U.S. While the program is completely voluntary, it would be the only way for most undocumented immigrants to migrate to America. If they choose to volunteer, immigrants will be welcomed into the country with open arms and started on the path to residency and citizenship; if they refuse, a willing volunteer will take their spot and they will be sent back across the border.

A common concern with programs like Fifteen To Green is that they take jobs away from deserving Americans. In reality, most of the positions filled by Fifteen To Green participants would be unskilled jobs that do not pay a living wage. These positions are difficult to fill and the workers who do fill them don’t stay long; companies that rely heavily on unskilled labor are always complaining about not being able to find enough good workers. Furthermore, a stagnant or shrinking workforce of American citizens means that without immigration, there will be an ever-growing number of low-wage jobs that no one wants to work. Luckily, unskilled jobs are not the only ones going unfilled: America also has a shortage of workers in skilled trades, like HVAC or plumbing, that typically pay higher wages. Fifteen To Green would be most effective if combined with free vocational training for citizens in skilled trades. In a future with policy reform for both immigrants and citizens, a smaller American workforce would be trained for job openings with living wages (white-collar and skilled trade) while immigrant volunteers would fill unskilled jobs, with basic necessities provided in exchange for their labor.

It is important to stress that the Fifteen To Green program would be completely voluntary, and no person would ever be coerced into volunteering. The program would simply serve as a formalized pathway for non-citizens to gain permanent residency; publicity efforts in countries that currently contribute a high number of undocumented immigrants would ensure that everyone making the journey to America understands the options available to them at the border. Volunteers would not need to sign on for any specific period and could leave the program at any time to return to their home country.

A program like Fifteen To Green wouldn’t be perfect. A few thorny issues already present themselves, such as the fluctuation of agricultural labor needs corresponding with harvesting periods, babies born to volunteers while they are physically in the U.S., and the separation of volunteers from family in their home country for long stretches of time. But despite those roadblocks, an immigration system that embraces the economic necessity of foreign labor is the most effective, humane, and logical way to lower the number of migrants requiring support from the American public and solve the inconsistent, messy process of asylum and residency that we currently employ