DEAR EDITOR:

My name is Terry Shidel. I am a Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran, former educator, police chief and small businessman. My proposal is called Probationary Citizenship. Migrants who are often good people, looking to improve their and their families lives, are facing an unclear path to their future.

I suggest we develop a Probationary Citizenship program, offering an opportunity to become a permanent citizen, upon completion of the following tasks: First, they would report to any local police department and complete a special questionnaire designed to provide sufficient information to be vetted. Once vetted they would be given an ID card called a PC ID. They would become listed in a special database, granting provisional “worker status.” Their payroll tax would be doubled.

Final designation as a permanent citizen would be granted after 10 years, having maintained full-time employment and a clear criminal record. Any divergence from this path would cause a resetting of the timeline and/or possible deportation.

I feel any person who completes this process would rightly be entitled to be called a “U.S. citizen.” A bi-partisan commission will work out issues.

TERRY SHIDEL

Ellsworth