Millions of people who are currently living in the shadows after illegally immigrating to the United States could begin a path to finally getting legal status in the United States. That is, if a new bipartisan effort at immigration reform is accepted.
A compromise plan was announced Monday by a group of eight U.S. senators and immediately generated headlines for its forgiveness of undocumented workers who do not have criminal records and the new crackdowns that would be implemented, CNN Politics reported. This was followed up Tuesday with a speech in Las Vegas by President Barack Obama on the same issue.
The main difference appears to be in the focus. While both plans eventually clear a way to citizenship for the reported 11 million illegal immigrants in the country, the president's intent is more on fast-tracking that part of the plan. The senators' plan puts a stronger focus on first securing the border. The senators, in their proposal, said they aim "to secure the border, modernize and streamline our current legal immigration system, while creating a tough but fair legalization process for individuals who are currently here."
Border controls would be tightened — including the use of drones to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border — and there would be more effort to prevent the hiring of undocumented workers. Read the plan here.
Critics, however, are concerned by the failure to address the enormous backlog in legal family-unity immigration. Obama, however, touched on that, although briefly, in his speech.
"We’ve got to bring our legal immigration system into the 21st century because it no longer reflects the realities of our time," Obama said. "For example, if you are a citizen, you shouldn’t have to wait years before your family is able to join you in America."
There were about 11.2 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. in 2010, according to a Pew Research Hispanic report. Conservative leaders have said they are trying to create a modern immigration system, as well as woo back Latino voters.
The immigration reform package must first pass the Senate, then be considered by the House.
Will these efforts result in immigration legislation this year that will eventually fix the immigration system? And is this fair to the immigrants who waited, or are still waiting, their turns for legal visas and green cards?
These people are illegal because they are here against the current laws. They're not supposed to be here, ergo...illegal. Now, I will be the first to say that our current immigration laws need to be seriously overhauled. There's no reason it should be so difficult to get here. If it had been many years ago, many of us wouldn't be here. I get that. But you don't award those that are breaking the rules. That's just ignorant. I've said before that there are some laws I find dumb, and some I choose to ignore. Speed limits on certain roads, minor things like that. But, if I get caught breaking those laws, I expect to be reprimanded. Not rewarded. I would say a two-fold system needs to be implemented. First, we fix what's broken. Streamline the process, making it easier to come here. Tighten the border at the same time. That way you can keep out the "undesirables" like criminals. At the same time, you let everybody know that from that point on, if you are caught here illegally, you will never become a citizen, and you will be deported, so get out now. If they know they can get back in the right way if they first exit, we wouldn't have nearly as many illegals here.
The same way they paid to get here originally, but without the creative subterfuge sneaking across. If we actually moved to enforce laws, they'd be gone without us chickens paying a dime. For example, quite a few left GA and to my knowledge Gov Deal didn't authorize any expenditures in support of that outcome
Its a CHOICE that they can correct without depending on anyone else. NONE were brought here by slave traders as discussed in other threads of late.
Some misguided politicians are trying to grab some votes from the dwindling pool of democratic voting population, instead of reaching out to the far larger citizen population that have ceased voting. Useful idiots I believe is the term in play Sad fact is, it won't work but some have spent too much time in the beltway among the privileged who are not subject to the laws of the common population.
I'd at least like to give a try first its an novel approach I know. Besides I think we can reduce Medical expenses further if we stop all the surprise TB testing that was all the rage prior to HB 87.
(After fines and bio screening) They would be free to live their lives and their offspring would be granted the voting rights at the federal level. Seems like a compassionate horsetrading response to illegal actions, since no kidnappers in these cases are ever identified or prosecuted for their crimes.
We definitely need to update our immigration policy, and at least have people signing the register when they come in, but I will admit it is too hard to get in currently. I mean hell, we're all immigrants or descended from immigrants. Still doesn't change the law. And we don't need to reward people for breaking the laws.
(Maybe many more if you count the gravesites in and around Chicago) The “special” people spend more time and money finding any and all cracks through which they can flow. These individuals are comprised of all ethnic persuasions, anyone who equates color in any way as a reason against enforcement is a fraud. Finally anyone who says they are for enforcement “enhancements” but won’t support making illegal entry and/or visa overstays a FELONY level offense from now on is not seriously looking for a solution.
But when entering our country illegally, misrepresenting visa information or overstaying a legal visa becomes a FELONY - lets talk then. Until the Federal government specifically grants states the ability to mirror all federal statutes with respect to immigration enforcement without interference, we won’t have a secure border. Every 10 years it will be wash, rinse, and repeat. If the Feds can cede marijuana to the states - it can cede immigration.
when a mex comes out to job theres an aire about them ,there shoes are tied ,there lunch is packed or there whereing boots ,they have a belt on they have there tools ready and they have 2 hands to work with .when an obama voter comes out ,there shoes are untied there trippin all overthembself and they have one hand on pants tryin to keep them up and one hand on cellphone ,talkin or textin . with a mex illegal u show him one time and the job gets done ,when u hire an obama voter u have to stand there and baby themb all day ,holding there hand ,obama bot spellin it out for themb all day .so ur an employer ,who are u gona hire ? its easy if the mex illegal is there of course your gona hire themb .with american manufacturing grinding to a halt as cnn has reported and are markets flooded with chinese goods ,free trade and nafta has killed off all the plant type manufacturing jobs of jus simple american products .with dolla mart and dolla general and walmart pushing cheap chinese goods .theres no hope for the common obama voter that once filled these simple jobs .on the other end mex illegals have filled all remaining manufacturin jobs and construction jobs ,by simply showin up to work ontime .the border has to be closed and all imigrants kicked out
This is a complicated issue that has become impossible to fix because politicians are tasked with fixing it. Laws must be followed, but current laws need to be rewritten. There seems to be two opinions. Let all of them here illegally stay, or send them all back. Both are wrong. Logic, compassion, and realistic goals are needed here.
Oops, that was supposed to be manufacture. Hate misspellings, especially when correcting a misspeller :D