President Obama Intends to Address Comprehensive Immigration Reform
President Obama on Immigration Reform: The New York Times reported last week that the White House will take steps to tackle the controversial subject of immigration by the end of this year. the President will speak publicly in May, and serious work on legislation will begin in the summer with the expectation that legislation will be ready in the fall.
Many people see this as a natural step for the President to take since he is fulfilling a campaign promise. While the immigration system is dysfunctional to say the least, there is strong opposition to comprehensive legislation, especially in a time when many Americans have lost jobs.Even before the economic crisis, the debate raged between those who, on one end of the spectrum, provide sanctuary to illegal immigrants, and on the other end, those who believe that our laws should be enforced to the point of deporting all 12 million illegal immigrants. Unfortunately, having millions of people already in the United states illegally, and a border that the government refuses to close, does not make it easy to fashion a law that will somehow be acceptable to people on both sides of the issue.
The President and Congress will probably tell us that we need an orderly immigration program which will help our economy and promote family unity. We are likely to also hear that if this legislation is passed, there will be a crackdown on the border, and on employers who hire illegal workers. Of course, the problem is that we have heard all of this before. While there may be enough votes to pass reform legislation, it is doubtful that many Americans are ready to trust our federal officials to keep these promises.
As the debate moves forward, we would like to see Congress use a different approach, especially in light of the following: 1) Economic studies concerning the impact of illegal immigrants do not agree. Some say that the buying power of immigrants offsets the cost for social services. Other reports reach the opposite conclusion that States are unable to keep up with the cost for social services for illegal immigrants; 2) Amnesty has been given to illegal immigrants before, with the promise that we would not be in this position again; 3) The federal government has not explained the reasons for failing to control the border or enforce the current immigration laws; and, 4) A satisfactory explanation has not been provided about how an amnesty law complies with the principle of the Rule of Law.
We believe the approach should be to first require an impact study be conducted to determine the effects of a new law on our society. Each point mention above should be considered in the study.
Secondly, if America does not have control of the borders, we will be in the same position again in a few years. It is recognized that proponents of a bill will argue that the law will not grant amnesty because conditions will have to be met in order for an illegal immigrant to obtain permanent residency. This may be true; it will depend on the conditions. There will have to be something more than a mere acknowledgment that the immigration laws have been broken. There must be some action required by the immigrant to compensate, in a sense, for the violation.
Thirdly, whatever the reasons are for not enforcing the immigration laws, the federal government should simply be upfront with the American people. If there is insufficient funding, then at least with an acknowledgment of the problem, there can be a debate about whether or not we can really expect the border to be controlled, or, on the other hand, we can expect to live with the fact that we will continue to have a porous border. If the reason is that large corporations need labor at cheap wages, then acknowledge the fact and figure out a way to redesign the visa system to allow more people to come in and work, and at the same time, ensure Americans will not lose jobs and wages will not be reduced. By being silent in the past, Congress has caused local governments to pass a myriad of laws which further complicate the issue.
Fourthly, a rationale for the new law should be provided to the American people. Why do we make it easier for people to come here illegally than we do for people who are trying to immigrate legally? In some cases, that is what we have now, and a new comprehensive immigration bill will make this even more so. How do we explain to Americans and the immigrants who are following the rules that illegal immigrants can “jump in front of the line?”
If Congress is not able to use this approach, then it would be better to take one step at a time rather than passing a comprehensive bill. In effect that is what is happening with the DREAM Act recently proposed in both the House and Senate. This bill identifies a specific problem i.e. children of illegal immigrants who through no fault of their own find themselves unable to legally work and go to school. Other areas could be identified and addressed to allow Congress to demonstrate it will actually do what it says it will do.
Finally, we would propose that while we continue our immigration philosophy of uniting families, part of any new comprehensive system should incoporate a point system for some of the visas. In other words, points would be assigned for knowing how to speak English, being able to invest money in the economy, having a college education, or certain skills, etc. These prospective immigrants would receive favored treatement, although they may or may not have a family sponsor. The point system would help keep America competitive at a time when we are seeing scientists, mathematicians and engineers elect to migrate to China, India and Europe.
Do you agree or disagree?
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I do think Immigration Reform is well over do, and I hope the Obama admisitration takes into account the reform of that 10 year ban so that legal entry can be obtained for loved ones to enter on a fiance visa.
Why can’t a fine be administered and paid for the illegal entry, then once paid the person (my fiance) can then be petitioned for legal entry.
David, thanks for your comment. We are in favor of family unity and would like to bring back the pre April 30, 2001 policy which would be a great relief to persons in your situation.
Thanks it good to know that there is support out there for this type of policy change. In fact the only true legitimate option I have for my fiance and me is to write my senator and congressmen.
Thanks again for your support.
thankx this is very good action we are in favour of this and also those people who spend 10 years and 12 without they will become and bring their familes..thankx in adavance for obama and his administration
You can make-up all the excuses in the world, illegal aliens from Mexico are not the only people in the world who are separated from their relatives, their are other cultural people in America that are separated from their families also, these other cultural people who are not complaining, they are not putting the pressure on America about this either! So why are the people of Mexico so special?
A path to citizenship, or any stupid amnesty will just allow illegal aliens to just continue to smother American citizens out of their own society,just as they are doing now, which is being so ignored, but only this will legalize them to do it all the more. They have already have a headstart of being the over populated race in America, and they are pushing to complete this,they are sneakly conguer America, building their own colony, they are just waiting for the say so of our President, and other politicians to sign a bill that allow them to have America.
It is bad enough that illegal aliens come here illegally,and have the nerve to march and protest in the streets of America, and demand our politicians for all their wants and needs of America, and they spit and walk all over American citizens to get their way! Our own American politicians have allowed them to do so, they had block all laws in America so they can have their way, it seem that their American dreams, comes before the American citizens American dreams!!
They had found ways to impliment all their wrongdoings in America, they and all their advocates had found loopholes, strategies, excuses, to help them function in America on all their illegal statuses without any kind of interference of the law, all our laws, President, congress, governors, mayors, had turn a blind eye to them, just the same had told them that they did not have to abide our laws, only American citizens are required to abide all American laws.
Illegal aliens had found a very strong force, that really helps them remain in America, it also makes it very hard for our politicians to really say no to them, this is why they use this to their advantage. This is our American birthright laws, this sevice is wide open to them,it is use just for the sake of making their children by millions instant American citizens,a sneaky amnesty for their children, it is their tickets, tokens,anchors, that help keep them from deportation, it keeps them on the American soil, it helps them to constantly hollar about being separated from their so call American children, and boy do they know how to use this!!
Also now since they have millions of children born here in America, our politicians refuse to close our birthright laws to them, their excuse is, that they do not want to hurt their children,they refuse to fault their children for what their parents wrongdoings in America, what an excuse, what kind of politicians do we have in America, they are not strong for America, they are very weak, they just can not be trusted by American citizens at all, they are throwing American citizens in the ocean, and leaving all us to just drown in this illegal immigration invasion in America.
Our own politicians have given our employment, schools and colleges, social services,medical, Wic programs, low income housing sec.8 programs, hospitals, parks, just everything to them,while American citizens are second to all of this in their own country.and now Obama wants to make it much worse for American citizens, by giving illegal alien a path to citizenship, amnesty. He claims that this will bring allegal aliens out of the shadow,that this will make America so much better, just being so blind that this will destroy America!
How can America stand that millions of another race of people who come from another country illegally, suddenly become the over populated race in America,who they were so force to observed all their wrongdoings in America, just watch them not abide our laws, scheme and scam our American sytem, stay hidding in America on their illegal status,and all of sudden watch all of this win them a path to citizenship.
Already all our employment is held by mostly the Hispanic race, they had just taken over every thing, the telephone companies, gas&electric companies, banks, hospitals, medical clinics, malls department stores, construtions, custodials, dental offices, court receptionist,or clerks, office clerks, schools, colleges.
there are no more divesity in our employments especally California farther south. the most race that are out of these employments our American blacks, all of what i am saying is being so ignored, America is doomed, a path to citizenship for illegal aliens will be a complete disaster for America, beleave me I am not saying this because i am racist, i am far from that
i just telling the truth, and what i am observing now! Those who are the most racist, are those who are seeking to build their own personal colony in America, by becoming over populated,LaRaza!!!
Regarding to economy condition, generating revenue will not be those quick. Nevertheless thanks for the ideas!