By Frank Sharry, Executive Director and Founder of America’s Voice. Originally posted at the America’s Voice blog and the Huffington Post.
Yesterday, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), a key congressional champion for sensible immigration policy, introduced real immigration reform legislation in the House of Representatives. It’s called “Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America’s Security and Prosperity” (CIR ASAP).
This is the long-awaited legislative kick-off to repair our nation’s broken immigration system, which is in crisis.
Already, the bill has nearly 90 U.S. House sponsors, including members of the Congressional Hispanic, Black, Asian Pacific American, and Progressive Caucuses.
But won’t the first round of this debate take place in the Senate in early 2010? Yes, it will. But by coming out early and strong, Rep. Gutierrez and his colleagues in the House achieve three important objectives: 1) they have created a template for good policy that will influence future bills; 2) they are putting pressure on the White House and leaders in both the House and the Senate to keep their promise of moving on immigration reform in this Congress; and 3) they are ensuring a place for themselves at the final negotiations over what a final bill will look like.
The fact is that Gutierrez, Rep. Nydia Velazquez, Rep. Xavier Becerra and others in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus have taken on the responsibility of representing the voices of millions of Latinos who turned out in 2008 to cast votes for change, for their loved ones without legal status, and for national recognition of their contributions to America – in the workplace, in local communities, and on the battlefield.
In case anyone missed it, Latino voters were a huge factor in powering Obama’s victories in the formerly red states of Colorado, Florida, New Mexico and Nevada in 2008. And in the mid-terms in 2010 and presidential race of 2012 these same states may well spell the difference between victory and defeat for both parties.
Thus, the politics of this issue are crystal clear. So clear that we predict a small but significant number of Republicans will support comprehensive immigration reform and do something almost unheard of these days – make immigration reform a bipartisan breakthrough. How so? Smart Republicans get the political reality that to be competitive nationally as well as in a growing number of states and districts they have to stop driving themselves over the cliff by driving the fastest growing demographic in the country into the arms of their opponents.
Even if many in the D.C. chattering class haven’t figured it out yet, the fear that this issue will be a wedge that benefits Republican hard liners over Democratic reformers has turned out to be as big a myth as death panels. In the last election, in 20 of the 22 congressional races where immigration reform was an issue, voters picked candidates who chose comprehensive reform over anti-immigration extremism. Republican candidates who tried to use immigration as a wedge issue to divide voters failed. In addition, we know that the American people as a whole expect Congress to solve problems like immigration.
Look, we already know that the opposition will be fierce and noisy.
We’ve seen it all before – and this time we’re much better prepared, and much better organized. Nevertheless, anti-immigrant extremists like Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the Minutemen, and the designated hate group FAIR are going to do everything they can to maintain the awful status quo. Broken borders, broken families, broken system – all in hopes of driving 12 million undocumented immigrants out of their jobs, out of their communities, and out of the country.
There’s a better way. And the legislation crafted by Rep. Gutierrez points the way forward.
We look forward to working with Rep. Gutierrez and others in the House, as well as with leaders in the Senate, including Sen. Menendez and the Senate sponsor, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), to ensure that 2010 is the year we see real, comprehensive immigration reform enacted. While adherents to the conventional wisdom are busy writing otherwise, I predict immigration reform will be the biggest legislative surprise of 2010.
Categories: Illinois, comprehensive immigration reform
Tags: CIR ASAP, immigration reform, latino voters, luis gutierrez, nydia velazquez, sheriff arpaio, xavier becerra
Solid blog. I got a lot of good information. I’ve been following this technology for awhile. It’s interesting how it keeps changing, yet some of the core components remain the same.
Please publish the list of the ILLEGALS we should honor for their contributions on the battlefield!
[...] now, a comprehensive immigration reform bill is awaiting action in the House. CIR-ASAP, introduced by Congressman Luis Gutierrez, is gaining momentum and cosponsors. To have a chance at fixing our broken system, CIR-ASAP is [...]
yes ,
this is the right time,
god bless you.
Gutierrez is right to push the reform envelope , but he must go back to the drawing board. And while he’s there forget the prayer and vigils and sob stories and instead talk to people about this country’s economic progress. If interested parties , supporters , who ever want to see productive pragmatic and therefore humane immigration reform pass the house and senate , they need to break out the business case. Let’s see the numbers. Get a truly BIPARTISAN panel into a room with a team of statistical analysts tasked with creating an unbiased accounting of the coast and benefits of legalization. Mr. Gutierrez , yo quiero que pase esta reforma con todo mi corrazon pero esta propuesta nesesita un poco de Apollo de los republicanos, I want to see this bill past but we need to get real, this bill needs MAJOR support from atleast some house republican we are already the underdogs but we can’t and shouldn’t fight with both our hands tide behind our backs, find those republicans mr. Gutierrez PLEASE !! Thanks immigration supporter -Alexis-
What about those hardworking peole who get caught are certified plumbers and working but deported for being illegal, claiming us cititzenship out of desperation to eat and feed the family and are not criminals. What about those people that are here for the good and not the bad and do not depend on public assitance. What about implenteing pardons especially those that do meet the criteria ex: deported for claiming to be Us when stopped bu CBP or local authorities. Where is the pardon for that person who was just trying to get to work. Stop giving pardons to all the sexual predator of children, ban them for life not the hard working people.Can anyone guide me to where I might getinfos on pardons, etc to help immigrate my husabnd. Laredo Texas
CALL TO: 1-866-956-3902 and said: “YES, WE CAN DO POSSIBLE THE IMMIGRATION REFORM” /////YES, YES , YES
POR FAVOR LLAMEN AL 1-866-956-3902 Y DIGAN SI NOSOTROS PODEMOS HACER POSIBLE LA REFORMA DE INMIGRACION.
IN THE UNION OF THE PEOPLE IS THE REAL POWER THAT WE HAVE……..PLEASE CALL TODAY! White house = 1-866-956-3902 /// D.H.S. Janet Napolitano = (202)282-8495 /// and Mr. President Obama = (202) 456-1111 and leave this message: “YES to an Immigration Reform” //// The E-verify encourages discrimination and racial profiling because in order to avoid trouble, a company won’t hire a Latino/Asian/Minority even if he/she is documented. NO to E-verify! until all immigrants have had the opportunity to apply for Legalization through an Immigration Reform. NO to Gestapo-like Raids at workplace and homes! – Raids terrorize children and destroy families! STOP the relentless witch-hunt, persecution and the scapegoating of HARD-WORKING Immigrants!”
WASHINGTON, DC – El mejor antídoto para la crisis económica en Estados Unidos sería la aprobación de una reforma migratoria integral, no la continua guerra de desgaste contra los indocumentados. El presidente Barack Obama y los demócratas del Congreso se juegan el respaldo de los VOTANTES LATINOS, para quienes la REFORMA MIGRATORIA ES UN TEMA URGENTE. Una encuesta nacional realizada por Impremedia, Latino Decisions y la Fundación Robert Wood Johnson, indicó que 84% de los votantes latinos considera importante que la REFORMA MIGRATORIA sea aprobada antes de los comicios legislativos de noviembre de 2010. Sr.Obama, todos los ciudadanos conscientes le exigimos que cumpla con su promesa de una Reforma Migratoria Amplia y Justa
I agree it is time to solve the problem of immigration. I beleive Obama will bring to the state what we need to progress and keep our families together and working.
Dear Respected Senators and Chairman of the Senate Immigration Sub Committee,
I am addressing this letter to you not as my area senator but as Chairman of the Senate Sub Committee on Immigration. As such I request you to give consideration to my below given proposals concerning many immigrant legal families.
I like to recall your remarks made on June 24th 2009 at Migration Policy Institute “Family reunification is a cornerstone value of our immigration system. By dramatically reducing illegal immigration, we can create more room for both family immigration and employment-based immigration”
So also I may recall certain remarks on family values by Senator Chris Dodd while tabling an amendment to S-1639 in 110 congress.
“The strong bond between parents and their children is a worldwide phenomenon, and exceeds any barrier, fence, or border patrol, we respect and promote family relationships between our fellow citizens here in the United States and their parents abroad by making sure the visitation provisions in the underlying bill are sensible and fair. I hope my colleagues agree that the current measures in the bill unreasonably keep parents from their children, and therefore threaten the deeply held American belief in the importance of families.” Continuing Senator Dodd said “I am very disappointed that my colleagues today failed to uphold and honor the family, an institution that is at the heart of what it means to be an American. My amendment was one of fundamental fairness to our fellow citizens to have the freedom to spend time with their parents living abroad. I regret that the majority of my colleagues have refused to take steps to allow all American families who wish to be united to do so. There is a lot of talk about family values these days. I guess those values are only for certain kinds of American families – not every family.”
The debate around these provisions goes to the heart of how a family is defined in America. For millions of immigrant families, parents are not distant relatives but absolutely vital members of the nuclear family who play a critical role, be it as grandparents providing care for their grandchildren while their parents are at work or as sources of strength and support for their children
Ensuring that parents have every opportunity to unite with their children or live with them for extended periods is important not only because of their contribution to the nuclear family but also so that their children can support and care for them in sickness and in health
There have been proposals to put a cap on the family immigration and curtail the existing facilities too. My proposals as given hereunder go long way in addressing some of those concerns and have the specific advantages as outlined below.
During the 110 Congress, an effort has been made to legislate on a Family Visitor Visa for parents of US Citizens vide Sec.506 of bill S 1639, While the reasons for consideration of such a Visa are still current & valid, I request you and the Honorable members of the Congress to create a separate category of visa for the parents of US Citizens who wish to come to USA as temporary visitors for pleasure. Many of the parents who are seeking ARC (Green card) now, have no inclination to acquire citizenship of this country or undertake any employment here, but still wish to spend time with their children without any limitations as to their stay in USA or in their home country. Also such an exercise of freeing immigrant visas used by these people will open up the immigrant visas to other people in line. The following suggestions may be considered in line with your objective of streamlining of dysfunctional immigration issues. Kindly note, that the provisions in Sec. 506 of proposed bill S1639 are not adequate to meet the changes suggested by me and do not mitigate the problems faced by this category of persons.
1) A separate category of NIV as B3 besides B1&B2 is created for the purpose of parents of US citizens who are seeking to enter as temporary visitors for pleasure and should be available for a period of 10 years with multiple entries. Renewal should be automatic if no violations are recorded.
2) The requirement of proof, that the alien has a residence in a foreign country which the alien has no intention of abandoning should be removed for this category of visa.
3) For this category of visa, at the port of entry the period of stay allowed in the arrival departure document (I-94) should invariably be 12 months instead of 6 months as hitherto being allowed.
4) The requirement of documentation as to eligibility for this category of visa, responsibility of sponsor for support of parents, penalties for violation of conditions of visa and overstaying except on health grounds, may be incorporated in the relevant amendment to the Immigration Act.
The hitherto system of granting Green card to these category of persons may be continued, for those who wish to get citizenship through naturalization. The existing Green card holders may be allowed to opt for this category of visa if they choose so.
The advantages derived as a consequence to these amendments are definite as follows.
1. The load on immigrant visas to the immediate relatives of US citizens will be reduced, thereby allowing diversion of these to other categories in line. Also consequent of the reduction in Naturalization as a result of this, there will be less strain on economy.
2. There will not be chain migration as these persons cannot sponsor others, being a non immigrant visa category.
3. The workload in processing of applications for extension of stay by this category of persons can be reduced, thereby helping the immigration department to clear their backlog in other areas.
4. Since these Non immigrant visas will be processed by various consular offices overseas, considerable reduction in workload will be there for the immigration department as there will be lesser I-130s& I-485s filed on behalf of these parents, thereby allowing them to speed up on other areas of work.
To sum up, the above amendments suggested do take care of the concerns of people who wish to Naturalize as well as those who are not for it, and face hardship in maintaining the continuous resident requirements of LPR because of their age etc., the only limitation being that they can not stay in USA beyond a period of 12 months at a stretch.
The most visa rejection cause is Sec 214(b), which says, that the alien is likely to immigrate to US because of lack of strong bonds in home country. When this category of people come to US on a non immigrant visa after demonstrating to the Immigration officer that he has strong ties at home country and next day on reaching US, gets an immigrant petition filed on his behalf, where does that satisfaction of the immigration officer goes. Is it not self contradicting? As such requirement of proof, that the alien has a residence in a foreign country which the alien has no intention of abandoning could be removed for this category of visa.
Many of the people in this category, who come on B2 Visa, do apply for extension of their initial stay of 6 months permitted at the port of entry, which is generally granted. So allowing 12 months of stay in the initial stage itself, reduces unnecessary administrative work in filing for extension and processing of the same, thereby saving much manpower.
As there are no controversial features in the suggestions made, the passage of these amendments to Immigration Act by the Congress should have no problem.
If desired, the undersigned is willing to offer further clarifications on the suggestions made, prepare a draft amendment or discuss pros and cons of the suggested amendments to the Immigration Act.
With regards,
It is time to solve the problem of immigration.
I have so much hope that it will pass in 2010, because both Democrats and Republicans will benefit from passing the bill politically!
It is time for the change that Obama is bringing!