Intelligence Tests for Illegal Immigrants

Illegal immigration has always been a hot topic. Clearly, there are some successful people who were once illegal immigrants and yet lots of them do end up as burdens to the country.

As a country you only really want hard-working and smart immigrants who will be valuable. So, instead of kicking them all out ("they took our jobs!" crowd) or letting them all in (like these so-called radical liberals or as I call, idealistic SJW commies), why not make them take bunch of tests to see if they're smart and/or hard-working?

43 Comments
 

Interesting idea, but I think all of them that wouldn't pass the IQ test would just say ya i'm hardworking and can pick fruit. Seems easy to fake, so i'm not sure it would really solve the problem.

 

Sounds a lot like the racist literacy tests to see if "people of color were eligible to vote"...

“The three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates, and a monthly salary.” - Nassim Taleb
 

Idk is it? That's why it has to be carefully designed so that it doesn't cover materials that has to be taught in school. I'm not taking about calculus questions or some complicated analysis of historical events.

Anyone can take an IQ test without any prior knowledge. If they can't speak English, sure let them take it in their preferred languages. They're illiterate? Why not an oral version?

 

Why don't we apply this to every person then? And what age would the test be conducted? You can't test a 5 year old nor an 85 year old.

“The three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates, and a monthly salary.” - Nassim Taleb
 

Anyone over 18? I don't have a good answer, but at whatever age science says brain usually fully matured. O don't think there should be an upper bound on the age. Would an 85 year old illegal immigrant plan on working? Maybe you get a very healthy and able bodied 85 year old who can work at the Post Office or sth. Or maybe you have a very sickly man who will end up staying in bed til he dies...

 
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For women brain maturity averages 21, men is 25. Even that is debatable. Neuroplasticity is not very well understood because of the limited neuroimaging techniques we have.

My point was who calls the shots in this subjective scenario? These little details actually matter a lot because it shifts the intent and control.

Also, there are harsh truths for reality. Smart people aren't inherently better. Unibomber was absolutely genius, you'd take someone like him over someone who is hard working but not that bright? That poses another question altogether. How do you measure morality? You can't. The world also needs people to be fast food managers, retail managers, post office workers.. not everyone needs to have an IQ above 1XX.

I get your original point though- you don't want people to come to America and leech off the system. Logically, intelligence is a measure of someone's ability to contribute more. The problem isn't immigrants, it's humans. Humans are inherently stupid and will continue to be. They will become ever more stupid as we create more safety nets for people. Is this good or bad? Both. Everyone has their own opinions.

“The three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates, and a monthly salary.” - Nassim Taleb
 

To start with, unless it's a poorly designed test, pretty much everyone applying for a Visa with a top tier college or graduate degree would pass it. It would just be an unnecessary and annoying hurdle. (just imagine putting yourself in the shoes of a Booth grad having to take a watered down SAT so they can get a Visa to work at Lazard) If you wanted to only accept skilled labor or people with particular qualifications, you could just make that the criteria.

If they're already in the country illegally, imagine being told you need to sign up for a test and if you pass it, you'll get to stay. Do you not see where that could go wrong? Edit: to spell it out more clearly, you'd probably think it was a trap. What type of person would voluntarily provide evidence to the government that you're committing a crime?

 

How about we take it one step further: everyone in the US should be required to take an intelligence test. (Born here or not born here). If you fail the test, you would have to move to another country. On second thought....it is not a good idea.

Very few of my family members were educated prior to coming to this country. Most of them would have failed the test. However, some of their children went to college and their grandchildren went beyond college and became doctors, lawyers and investment managers.

 

Still better than kicking them all out or keeping all of them.

Just like every idea ever made for the entirety of human history, all ideas need the right people to make it happen successfully.

I'm not an expert on designing intelligence tests but no test is perfect and you have to risk False Positives (dumb ones passing the tests) and False Negatives (smart ones failing the tests) here.

 

Welp, I cannot offer as much information or knowledge on IB, PE, VC, etc., but this is one topic that I can speak intelligently on. Rhetorical questions:

  • When was the last construction-related quote you received (Home remodeling, landscape design, trash removal, etc.)?

  • How much was that quote?

  • When could the job be completed?

The construction, as well as the agricultural industries are severely hurting due to lack of employment. As a result, costs have gone up and timelines have increased. Americans no longer want to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. So, who is willing to do it? Immigrants. Plain and simple. Sure, there are plenty of immigrants who come here in the tech field but even more so in the blue collar fields. Many undocumented.

As a product of an intercity public school system, before we start implementing tests for immigrants, I firmly believe we should focus on improving our own systems and processes before expanding tests to other groups. Seems like a waste of time giving someone a test who will be slinging concrete for a living.

Just my $0.02.

 

I agree, but it’s still gonna cost a lot. Why not cut them off any benefits for a long period of time, let them work and just pay taxes, even tax them more than a US citizen.

If I’m not mistaken I think the US already has a visa for “gifted” people? The O-1 visa. But again will be better to just let the dumbs in tax them more or cut them off any benefits for a long period of time.

 

Who should be making up these tests? Open up your mind dude... tests create bias and it won't help by the slightest just like mass shootings won't stop when you can buy one at Walmart. If I know I'll probably starve to death next week in a shithole country like Venezuela, I'd try my luck shipping myself to USA asap.

 

Why just for the illegal?

Why on earth would you want legal low IQ immigrants? Also, all for it. Since libs love ''science based'' answers, so be it. If any lib gets caught falsifying the results to get people in, he/she/xyr has the citizenship stripped and assets seized.

Never discuss with idiots, first they drag you at their level, then they beat you with experience.
 
"Ricky Sargulesh"
"neink" Why just for the illegal?

Why on earth would you want legal low IQ immigrants? Also, all for it. Since libs love ''science based'' answers, so be it. If any lib gets caught falsifying the results to get people in, he/she/xyr has the citizenship stripped and assets seized.

lol what in the world

Ricky! Long time no see. How are you doing buddy?

Never discuss with idiots, first they drag you at their level, then they beat you with experience.
 

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