Immigration Reform Bill Introduced

By Jeralyn, Section Legislation
Posted on Tue Dec 15, 2009 at 08:56:28 PM EST
Tags: immigration reform bill (all tags)

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House Democrats introduced an immigration reform bill today that provides a path to legalization for the undocumented. It's called the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP). In addition to some border security measures, it provides for:

Improving Conditions of Detention:This section includes measures to:

[More...]

Improve secure alternative to detention programs.

Prohibit unnecessary detention of refugees.

Protect family unity by prohibiting the separation of families with children and increasing protections for detained parents, guardians, and caregivers.

Another section calls for increasing protections during enforcement activities to ensure due process and other protections during enforcement activities. It would:

Repeal the 287(g) program and clarifies that only the federal government has the authority to enforce federal immigration law.

Provide temporary visas and work authorization for detained workers when they have been targeted by their employer for asserting their rights if they agree to pursue labor claims against their employer. Expands U visa protections for whistleblowers.

As to providing a path to legalization for the undocumented:

Title IV. Legalizing Undocumented Immigrants: The bill creates a legalization program for qualified undocumented immigrants (and their spouses and children):

Those who qualify would receive a conditional nonimmigrant visa which is valid for six years. This visa allows legalized immigrants with work and travel authorization and protection from removal. To qualify, an applicant must:

Establish they have been in the U.S. illegally before December 15, 2009.

Attest to having made contributions to the U.S. through employment, education, military service, or other volunteer/community service (with exemptions for minors, persons with disabilities, the elderly, or other unusual circumstances).

Pay an application fee and a $500 fine.

Not have any convictions for a felony or for three or more misdemeanors.

Certain immigrants who are in removal proceedings, facing removal, or ordered to depart voluntarily would be able to apply for legalization.

There's a lot more, this is a great start and a bill that deserves our support.

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Immigration Reform Bill Introduced | 32 comments (32 topical)

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god love the House (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by ruffian on Tue Dec 15, 2009 at 09:17:52 PM EST

they just keep chugging along.

Which one of or 60 member Senate majority is going to torpedo this?

Big business loves Immigrants because (none / 0) (#3)
by Dan the Man on Tue Dec 15, 2009 at 09:23:30 PM EST

they provide cheap labor. So the Senate is not going to torpedo this bill.


Wow, I wish I could be you real money on that (none / 0) (#4)
by ruffian on Tue Dec 15, 2009 at 09:24:36 PM EST

: 'bet' you, I mean (none / 0) (#5)
by ruffian on Tue Dec 15, 2009 at 09:25:21 PM EST

Looks like you skkipped this part (none / 0) (#6)
by coigue on Tue Dec 15, 2009 at 09:43:19 PM EST

Provide temporary visas and work authorization for detained workers when they have been targeted by their employer for asserting their rights if they agree to pursue labor claims against their employer. Expands U visa protections for whistleblowers.

Oh yeah, at this point they are only (none / 0) (#7)
by ruffian on Tue Dec 15, 2009 at 09:52:54 PM EST

wondering how serious about it they have to pretend to be before killing it. I'm guessing: not very.


: i hate to say it (none / 0) (#10)
by CST on Tue Dec 15, 2009 at 10:24:46 PM EST

but there might be some hope due to... John McCain and Lindsey Graham.
Since McCain is best buddies with Lieberman they may even be able to bring him along too.
Might just be wishfull thinking though.

What do you figure the odds are of that (none / 0) (#8)
by cawaltz on Tue Dec 15, 2009 at 10:00:43 PM EST

surviving? I'm betting dollars to donuts that someone from the GOP side points out that almost 17% of the US's legal residents don't have a job as a means to quash it.


: Look at the comment (none / 0) (#9)
by coigue on Tue Dec 15, 2009 at 10:22:10 PM EST

which I am responding to.

: you are probably right (none / 0) (#14)
by coigue on Tue Dec 15, 2009 at 11:10:29 PM EST

people will respond to a scapegoat.

Actually, the most likely thing that (none / 0) (#12)
by Dan the Man on Tue Dec 15, 2009 at 10:54:44 PM EST

will happen is that any regulation on employers will be watered down by the Senate. Watering down some section of the bill obviously will not torpedo the bill.


: maybe so. (none / 0) (#13)
by coigue on Tue Dec 15, 2009 at 11:08:53 PM EST

Good. (none / 0) (#1)
by coigue on Tue Dec 15, 2009 at 09:00:25 PM EST

I am so happy they are addressing the ddue process and family unity issues, among others.

A nice reminder of the good that a Dem majority can do...I really needed that today.

I hope that the bill also (none / 0) (#11)
by Cream City on Tue Dec 15, 2009 at 10:48:29 PM EST

simplifies the process (and costs!) for the many other immigrants who come here legally and bring with them wonderful educations, career skills, and more. I also would like to see all of the letters sent to them reviewed to be made more welcoming.

The communications I see for my family newcomer, whom I sponsored, just make me apologize again and again for letters that threaten or just generally treat her like wretched refuse tossed on our shore.

We are so lucky to have so many of my wonderful colleagues as well who are not taking jobs from anyone here -- as with their research and much more, they are creating jobs for others here.

This was one of the most surprising things (5.00 / 1) (#21)
by vml68 on Wed Dec 16, 2009 at 11:42:47 AM EST

for me.

My boyfriend applied for citizenship awhile ago. After getting a letter saying he had passed his background check, he got another letter telling him that he would be getting one more letter with the date and time of his interview. So we checked the mailbox faithfully and waited and waited and waited.
We finally got a letter informing him that he had missed his interview and that unless he contacted immigration immediately with a good reason for his absence, they were going to reject his application. We saw this letter on a friday after the offices were closed and by monday BF was in full panic mode. He contacted immigration on monday and let them know that he had not received the original interview date letter and they told him to write a letter to them stating that fact and they also informed him that since he had missed his original interview date, he would have to wait another six months for a new date. So he mailed them a letter and just to be on the safe side he also scheduled an appt with the local immigration office so he could talk to someone in person.

When he went for his appt, the staff told him that they did not know what to do and that he needed to talk to an immigration officer. He was asked to wait in line to see an IO.
A couple of hours later when he finally go to speak to an IO, the officer was livid that he was there without an interview appt and without his green card and other documents. Apparently, you only get to see an IO if you have an interview scheduled. The IO then threatened to close his file and make sure he would never get his citizenship. My BF remained calm and explained that the office staff had sent him there. The IO told him that if he could get his green card and other documents to him in half an hour, he would interview him otherwise he would make him wait 6-8 months for an interview. Luckily, I was home and able to get the documents to him in time.

During the interview, the IO kept quizzing my BF about the missing "interview letter" wanting to know how come he got all the other letters but not that one. My BF said he did not know. The IO finally showed him the "missing" letter. It was in his file. They had known all along that he had not got this letter.
While this interview was going on, the IO's boss came in and asked the IO what had happened during an earlier inteview. Apparently, this IO had a real attitude problem and a previous interviewee was so disgusted by this that not only did he lodge a complaint, he also threatened the IO officer. He told him that he would be waiting for him and would shoot him once he stepped out of the building and did not have all the security to protect him.

You would think this IO would have toned down the attitude after that but.....After passing BF, he asked him to raise his hand to pledge the oath of allegiance when BF raised his hand the IO berated him for being disrespectful,a disgrace, etc because his hand was not high enough. BF obliged by raising his hand higher and then the IO accused him of acting like a soldier in nazi Germany!!
When I heard this, I was shocked. I have dealt with crabby immigration officers but nothing like this.


Please apologize... (none / 0) (#22)
by kdog on Wed Dec 16, 2009 at 11:51:00 AM EST

to your man on behalf of all citizens...please don't judge us by our beuracrats...their power goes to their heads, and thats why some of us are all bout limiting it as much as possible.


No worries....there are loose screws in very (none / 0) (#25)
by vml68 on Wed Dec 16, 2009 at 12:05:41 PM EST

profession. Though, governments tend to have a larger share of them.
I just found the incident shocking because this kind of extreme pettiness, is more common in third world country bureaucrats and a nice little bribe usually takes care of that!

If it was me, I would have walked out after giving the cretin a piece of my mind. The BF on the other hand, handles these kinds of situations very well.


: That is extreme petty... (none / 0) (#27)
by kdog on Wed Dec 16, 2009 at 12:37:54 PM EST

usually ya gotta end up behind bars to experience that level of bueracratic petty power-tripping.

Heavens, I'm glad that we didn't see this! (none / 0) (#29)
by Cream City on Wed Dec 16, 2009 at 09:49:47 PM EST

And mainly have dealt with reasonably courteous bureaucrats -- but bureaucrats all the same.

And the ones who write the form letters must be more along the lines of the guy you describe -- not nice people who have a need to threaten newcomers in our names, when they send those letters from our government, us. And yes, the screwups along the way are legion by the bureaucrats.

A tip: I contacted our member of Congress. Things moved along better after that, no more excuses about lost files and the like that were not lost by us but by the bureaucrats, who somehow found need to blame us. We got past that -- but the letters remained awful. Next step for Congress: Fix those.


that is not true (none / 0) (#15)
by nyjets on Wed Dec 16, 2009 at 07:37:16 AM EST

Skilled immigrants take jobs from American citizens because they are paid less. Most business look for loopholes so that they can hire skilled immigrants via those visas instead of paying Americans.


And what also is not true (5.00 / 1) (#17)
by Cream City on Wed Dec 16, 2009 at 10:45:04 AM EST

in what you say is that businesses look for ways to hire immigrants. Actually, owing to the insanity of our immigration laws and administration of them now by the Dept. of Homeland Security, what we have seen is many employers unwilling to hire immigrants owing to the hassles. So rejoice, you are winning that one. Of course, we lose as a country, but what do you care?


From my personal experience.... (5.00 / 1) (#23)
by vml68 on Wed Dec 16, 2009 at 11:54:46 AM EST

each and every one of the skilled imigrants I know get paid extremely well and they are definitely not paid less than American citizens. But I do know unskilled (legal) immigrants who work for less than American citizens because they are at a disadvantage due to heavy accents,etc and will work for less just so they can have a job. And every one of them works a minimum of two jobs to compensate for the lower pay.


I know specifics, you speak generalities. (none / 0) (#16)
by Cream City on Wed Dec 16, 2009 at 10:43:14 AM EST

In all cases of immigrants I note above, they bring specialized skills and knowledge that are in short supply in this country. And they do not get paid less; they get the going rate for good people in their fields.

In the case of one, an expert in wind energy from a country far ahead of us in that, why do you want America to remain behind by having to reinvent the wheel, when there is expertise and experience to be gained by this person who can help us move fast?

In the case others, professors, why do you want American students to not have the best and the brightest in these fields, no matter where they are from?

Please explain.


It was in the news (none / 0) (#18)
by nyjets on Wed Dec 16, 2009 at 10:50:47 AM EST

I think it was either this year or last year, business owners were attending seminars so that they could get around the rules for visa for foreign workers. This way they could hire non-American citizens over American citizens for less money. With very few exceptions, every job held by non-American citizens can be filled by an American citizen.
Most business are finding that what jobs are not off-shored can be filled by non American citizens for less money.

Also, the number of jobs in this country is decreasing. Logically, the more jobs being held by non-American citizens, the fewer jobs exist for American citizens.


I don't understand (none / 0) (#19)
by Steve M on Wed Dec 16, 2009 at 11:28:32 AM EST

if American citizens are going without work because it's cheaper to hire foreigners... then why are those American citizens insisting on getting paid more than the market will bear? Personally I'd rather have a job.


: Me too... (none / 0) (#20)
by kdog on Wed Dec 16, 2009 at 11:35:52 AM EST

I'd rather work for less than sit on my arse and kick the dog collectin' unemployment.
Or better yet, get together with the immigrants and collectively bargain so we all got paid more.

: They have no choice (none / 0) (#24)
by nyjets on Wed Dec 16, 2009 at 12:04:05 PM EST

Nine times out ten the American citizen is simply passed over for a non-American citizen. The American is never given a chance to accept a job at lower pay.
Besides, an American citizen should not have to compete for jobs against non-American citizens on US soil.If you are working in this county, you should be an American citizen. Especially when you consider that there are not enough jobs for American citizens and non-American citizens as it is.

: I think kdog partly answers the (none / 0) (#26)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Dec 16, 2009 at 12:08:03 PM EST

question; unemployment insurance. That and any illegal but potentially lucrative activities that they may come to be involved with as they while away the hours of the day...

Again, this simply is not applicable (none / 0) (#28)
by Cream City on Wed Dec 16, 2009 at 09:45:20 PM EST

to my examples, as you clearly do not understand that the aim in academe, for example, ought to be to hire the best and brightest -- and you still have not addressed why our students ought to settle for less. Or you would have us lose them to have to go study in other countries with those scholars, and maybe not see those Americans come back?

And in sustainable environments, many countries are well ahead of oil-dependent us -- but we ought not learn from their mistakes and make them again?

You do not address the points; you distract from them with generalities again. Go away, waste of time.


Your example is the exception (none / 0) (#30)
by nyjets on Thu Dec 17, 2009 at 06:03:17 AM EST

I am willing to grant that in terns of a college hiring a professor, bring in someone more knowledegable may be a good thing. I am assuming that is what you mean by 'students settling for the best.'
My point is that your example is an exception, not the rule. For the most part, every position held my a non-American citizen can be held by an American and that an American can do that job as well if not better than a non-American.
We do not need hire non-American to learn other countries technology. Business can hire American to visit their countries to learn their technology. Business can invite experts to live in this country for a brief time. But there is no need to offer them jobs.
When non-American take jobs in this country, that is one less position for an American. The number of jobs in this country is decreaseing. This country can not handle the excess population.


: You clearly (none / 0) (#31)
by CST on Thu Dec 17, 2009 at 09:10:07 AM EST

do not work in technology if you think everything can be learned in a visit or a training session. Or that there is nothing else to be gained by working with people from other countries. In a global economy, you have to sell to people all over the world. In order to do so, it helps to have an international perspective in your company.
You also forget the fact that strict visa laws are sending companies elsewhere. Why start a company in the U.S. where you are restricted on who you can hire, when you can set up a company somewhere else and hire the best and the brightest no matter where they are from.
This is happening in Canada right now, a lot of tech companies are moving north. And guess what, that LOSES more American jobs, because people like you can't keep an open mind. When non Americans take jobs in this country, they are a part of expanding a growing business that can take on more Americans.
Immigration is the fabric that makes this country great. We take on the best and brightest from around the world and make it our own. It increases innovation, as immigrants are some of the most likely people to take risks in business, start companies, hire people, and grow our economy.

: This would be true if more (none / 0) (#32)
by vml68 on Thu Dec 17, 2009 at 09:18:54 AM EST

people focused on improving and encouraging education in this country.
Check out the students in graduate level programs in Science, Engineering and Mathematics in this country and you will see a dispropotionately large number of non-americans vs americans. When that changes you can argue that for the most part, every position held my a non-American citizen can be held by an American.

For the most part, every position held my a non-American citizen can be held by an American and that an American can do that job as well if not better than a non-American.