A Safer, Self-Funding Path Forward on Immigration and Public Safety A Comprehensive Policy Proposal from Bill E. Gates Jr., Candidate for Governor

Introduction

For too long, immigration policy in the United States has been trapped between two failures: chaos without enforcement and enforcement without realism. Minnesota is now experiencing the real-world consequences of that failure — rising fear, unpredictable encounters, and dangerous situations that put civilians and law-enforcement officers at risk.

Recent events in Minneapolis underscore a hard truth: a system built on surprise, uncertainty, and panic is not a safe system for anyone. Public safety requires structure. Enforcement requires visibility. Accountability requires consequences.

This proposal offers a serious, structured alternative — one that restores order, preserves the rule of law, funds itself, and materially reduces the conditions that lead to violent encounters.

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The Core Problem

The current “catch and release” model relies heavily on unannounced enforcement actions, temporary detention, and release into uncertainty. This approach:

creates fear-driven flight and escalation

puts officers in split-second decision environments

drains taxpayer resources

fails to produce long-term compliance

At the same time, pretending that millions of people already living and working in the United States will simply disappear has not produced order. It has produced chaos.

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The Proposal: A Conditional Compliance & Accountability Framework

Step 1: A 90-Day Conditional Compliance Period

Individuals currently present in the United States without lawful status would be granted a one-time 90-day Conditional Compliance Period to register in person with federal immigration authorities at designated compliance centers.

Registration includes:

identity verification

security screening

enrollment in payroll-verified employment monitoring

Those who comply receive temporary lawful presence and a limited work authorization without issuance of a Social Security number.

This is not forgiveness. It is structured compliance.

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Step 2: A Self-Funding Accountability Model

Participation requires payment of civil penalties for unlawful presence. These penalties ensure the program funds itself and does not burden taxpayers.

Penalty Schedule

Initial compliance (within 90 days):

$25,000 compliance fine + $5,000 administrative fee

Late compliance:

$50,000 compliance fine + $5,000 administrative fee

Illegal entry after program launch:

$75,000 compliance fine + $5,000 administrative fee, mandatory detention, and restitution for incarceration and processing costs

Payment Method

All fines are collected through a mandatory payroll wage garnishment set at:

15 percent of gross wages per pay period

Minimum payment: $150 per paycheck

Maximum payment: $500 per paycheck

Payments continue automatically until the full balance is paid.

No payment, no participation.

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Step 2A: Estimated Repayment Timelines & Program Revenue

Initial Compliance Case: $30,000 Total Obligation

Approx. Annual Income Annual Payment Estimated Payoff Time

$30,000 ~$4,500 ~6.5–7 years

$40,000 ~$6,000 ~5 years

$50,000 ~$7,500 ~4 years

$60,000 ~$9,000 ~3.3 years

Late Compliance Case: $55,000 Total Obligation

$40,000 income: ~9 years

$50,000 income: ~7.3 years

$60,000 income: ~6.1 years

National Revenue Impact

Average annual payment per participant: $6,000–$8,000

Approximately 14 million participants: $84–$112 billion per year

This creates predictable, auditable annual revenue rather than one-time collections.

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Step 2B: Revenue Allocation Framework

Revenue generated through payroll wage garnishment would be allocated transparently to ensure sustainability and accountability.

10 percent to participating states to offset state and local public-safety costs, compliance coordination, data sharing, and on-the-ground administration.

40 percent to operate the program, including registration centers, staffing, verification, adjudication, auditing, detention where required, and ongoing compliance monitoring.

50 percent to the federal government to offset border security, immigration courts, removals, and broader federal enforcement costs, and to support the lawful pathway created under this framework.

Why this split: States must have resources to operate their side of the program, the program itself must be fully self-funding, and the federal government must receive the largest share because it bears primary responsibility for immigration enforcement and the creation of a lawful pathway.

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Step 3: Post-Registration Review and Safety Determination

After the 90-day registration period closes, the federal government retains a defined review window to evaluate whether continued participation is safe and appropriate. This functions as a formal application process.

Participation may be denied or revoked at any time for:

security or public-safety concerns

criminal activity

fraud or misrepresentation

failure to comply

Removal authority remains fully intact throughout the process.

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Step 4: No Benefits During the Compliance Period

While under conditional status:

no federal or state public assistance

no housing, food, healthcare, unemployment, or subsidies

no tax refunds or credits

Participants must still pay federal income taxes.

Any attempt to fraudulently apply for prohibited benefits results in immediate removal from the program and mandatory enforcement action.

Compassion does not mean exemption from the law.

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Step 5: Enforcement Authority Fully Preserved

At all times:

authorities retain full discretion to deny, revoke, or terminate participation

deportation remains available for security threats, criminal conduct, fraud, or non-compliance

Participation does not guarantee permanent residency.

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Step 6: Provisional Residency and Existing Legal Pathways

Participants who remain compliant may be considered for the existing two-year provisional residency status already provided for under federal law, subject to approval. This provisional period functions as a probationary phase.

The probationary period expires when the final balance of the civil penalty is paid in full.

All standard federal filing fees, mandatory background checks, biometric requirements, interviews, and processing timelines associated with provisional status and subsequent applications remain in full effect and are unchanged by this framework.

After completion of probation and full payment, participants may apply through existing legal processes for longer-term status, including the ten-year lawful permanent residency (green card) process, subject to all current statutory requirements and discretionary review.

All stages must be met sequentially. Approval at one stage does not create entitlement at the next.

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Step 7: Citizenship and Voting

While any portion of the civil penalty remains unpaid:

applications for citizenship are not permitted

no right to vote is granted

The right to vote is only granted after full completion and approval of the citizenship process under existing federal law.

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Why This Reduces Violence and Improves Public Safety

This framework:

moves enforcement from streets and parking lots into controlled, scheduled environments

reduces panic-driven flight

gives officers time, information, and structure

replaces split-second escalation with process

This is how shootings are prevented: by replacing chaos with order.

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Why This Eliminates the Need for Sanctuary Cities

Sanctuary policies exist largely to protect residents from unpredictable, fear-driven enforcement. By providing a clear registration process, lawful monitored participation, and preserved enforcement authority, this framework removes the conditions that make sanctuary policies necessary.

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Minnesota-Only Impact

Estimated undocumented population in Minnesota: 95,000–120,000 individuals

Estimated Annual Gross Revenue Generated in Minnesota

Average annual payment per participant: $6,000–$8,000

Total annual gross collections: $570 million – $960 million

Estimated Minnesota State Share (10 Percent Allocation)

$57 million – $96 million per year

This state share would be used to offset:

coordination with federal compliance and registration efforts

public-safety and law-enforcement support

data sharing and administrative infrastructure

pressure on emergency and local service systems

The remaining revenue supports program operations and federal enforcement responsibilities.

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Cost Comparison at Scale: Catch and Release vs. Conditional Compliance

Current System: Catch and Release (National Impact)

Under the existing catch-and-release model, taxpayers bear the full cost of enforcement with little long-term resolution.

Estimated taxpayer cost per case: $10,000–$14,000

(including detention, processing, court appearances, transport, supervision, and repeated enforcement encounters)

Applied to an estimated 14 million undocumented individuals:

Total one-time taxpayer cost: $140 billion – $196 billion

Because many individuals cycle through the system multiple times, the annual taxpayer burden continues indefinitely, compounding costs without producing durable compliance or closure.

Result: High taxpayer cost, repeated enforcement, no self-funding mechanism.

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Proposed System: Conditional Compliance & Accountability (National Impact)

Under the Conditional Compliance & Accountability Framework:

Average annual payment per participant: $6,000–$8,000

Estimated participants: 14 million

Annual gross revenue generated: $84 billion – $112 billion per year

Revenue Allocation:

10% to states: $8.4B – $11.2B

40% to program operations: $33.6B – $44.8B

50% to federal enforcement: $42B – $56B

Taxpayer cost: Near zero.

Net effect: Enforcement funded, courts resourced, removals preserved, and a lawful pathway administered without drawing from general tax revenue.

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Side-by-Side Outcome

Catch and Release:

Costs taxpayers $140B–$196B with no durable resolution and recurring annual expense.

Conditional Compliance:

Generates $84B–$112B every year, funds enforcement, reduces repeat encounters, and restores order.

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Conclusion

Minnesota and the nation need immigration policy that is serious, enforceable, and humane — not one that produces fear, confusion, and violence. This proposal replaces disorder with structure and confrontation with compliance while preserving full enforcement authority.

I am putting this forward because leadership means offering solutions that can withstand scrutiny.

I am here. I am engaged. And I am ready to govern.

Bill E. Gates Jr.

Candidate for Governor of Minnesota