Jeanfromfillmore
12-16-2009, 12:24 PM
Legislation renews debate over what to do with nation's undocumented
08:32 AM PST on Wednesday, December 16, 2009
By BEN GOAD
Washington Bureau
POLL: What do you think about the immigration reform issue?
WASHINGTON - House Democrats on Tuesday unveiled their latest plan to provide a path to legal residence for millions of undocumented immigrants, though major obstacles loom.
Proponents of the legislation, including Rep. Joe Baca, D-Rialto, hope the bill's formal introduction will renew debate over what to do with 12 million illegal immigrants, an estimate accepted by many academics.
Similar attempts fizzled in 2007 and last year, partly due to veto threats from the Bush administration. But the new bill's supporters believe their chances are improved with the election of President Barack Obama, who has vowed to make immigration reform a priority.
"This president wants to do it," said Baca, the region's sole Democratic House member. "This president made a commitment."
But two daunting impediments remain. The first is the logjam of major domestic policy debates that have consumed Congress for months -- including health care, climate change and the regulation of Wall Street -- which make a timeline for passage of immigration reform unclear.
The second is opposition from Republicans, who describe the path to citizenship as unfair amnesty that would undermine legal immigration and flood the American job market at a time when unemployment rates are already sky-high -- especially in Inland Southern California.
"There are millions of legal citizens already looking for work," said Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona. "From their (Democrats) perspective, this is the worst possible timing."
The legalization of undocumented immigrants is the centerpiece and most divisive component of the plan, which was authored by Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill. Backers of the bill say it is not amnesty. They say immigrants would earn the right to remain in the country. Under the language in the bill, those already in the country illegally could remain as "conditional nonimmigrants" if they meet a series of requirements, including:
Passage of criminal and security background checks.
Payment of a $500 fine, plus application fees.
Demonstration of contribution to the U.S. -- proof of employment, current military service or enrollment in school -- excepting of minors, the elderly and the disabled.
After six years, they could apply for a green card and eventually become citizens.
Baca said the legalization program would allow undocumented immigrants to live better and more productive lives. In turn, they would generate increased tax revenue and add to the ranks of the nation's military forces, he said.
A provision penned by Baca that would allow a fast track to citizenship for undocumented high school graduates with high marks was also incorporated into the bill.
Calvert said the legalization of illegal immigrants provides greater incentive for people in other countries to sneak into the United States with the expectation that they, too, would be allowed to remain.
But proponents of the bill say it also emphasizes security, both at the borders and within the interior of the country. To that end, the bill includes an increased reliance on E-verify, a program created and championed by Calvert.
The use of E-verify, an electronic database that allows employers to check the immigration status of potential hires, is already mandatory for all federal contractors. Under the new bill, the program -- initiated by Calvert legislation in 1996 -- would eventually be permanent and mandatory for all employers nationwide.
Political implications
Despite the inclusion of E-verify, Calvert vowed to oppose any "amnesty bill" and suggested that any such initiative would have no chance of passing in the current political climate.
The fight over health care has proven that, even with significant majorities in the House and Senate, Democrats cannot simply push their agenda through Congress. And with the health care debate unresolved and climate change legislation expected to dominate the early months of next year, immigration might be pushed even further into the future.
"People have got to know this is not going to sidestep anything else," Baca said. "The other issues are very important to this nation, and we must act on those."
But Baca acknowledged that waiting too long could push consideration of immigration reform dangerously close to the 2010 mid-term elections, when lawmakers are focused on their own races and many might be more hesitant to cast a vote in favor of the controversial bill. Candidates usually ramp up their campaigns in the spring and summer months.
"If we go past March, then we have problems," Baca said.
The political implications, however, might also provide pressure to pass the legislation before the midterms, said Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, a Washington-based advocacy group that supports the bill.
Noorani noted that Latino voters were widely credited with helping Obama win the White House last fall.
"They'll be ready to stand up for the candidate who stands up for immigration reform," Noorani said.
That point was made less than subtly Tuesday during a Capitol Hill news conference trumpeting the new bill. Baca, Gutierrez and more than a dozen other lawmakers gathered with scores of supporters in a cramped and sweltering conference room.
Among the group were children with T-shirts with the words "Future Voter" in bright red lettering, chanting "Si, se puede," Spanish for "Yes, it can be done."
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_immigration16.378f10b.html
This is a poll. Check it out.
http://blogs.pe.com/news/digest/2009/12/todays-talker-what-do-you-thin.html
08:32 AM PST on Wednesday, December 16, 2009
By BEN GOAD
Washington Bureau
POLL: What do you think about the immigration reform issue?
WASHINGTON - House Democrats on Tuesday unveiled their latest plan to provide a path to legal residence for millions of undocumented immigrants, though major obstacles loom.
Proponents of the legislation, including Rep. Joe Baca, D-Rialto, hope the bill's formal introduction will renew debate over what to do with 12 million illegal immigrants, an estimate accepted by many academics.
Similar attempts fizzled in 2007 and last year, partly due to veto threats from the Bush administration. But the new bill's supporters believe their chances are improved with the election of President Barack Obama, who has vowed to make immigration reform a priority.
"This president wants to do it," said Baca, the region's sole Democratic House member. "This president made a commitment."
But two daunting impediments remain. The first is the logjam of major domestic policy debates that have consumed Congress for months -- including health care, climate change and the regulation of Wall Street -- which make a timeline for passage of immigration reform unclear.
The second is opposition from Republicans, who describe the path to citizenship as unfair amnesty that would undermine legal immigration and flood the American job market at a time when unemployment rates are already sky-high -- especially in Inland Southern California.
"There are millions of legal citizens already looking for work," said Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona. "From their (Democrats) perspective, this is the worst possible timing."
The legalization of undocumented immigrants is the centerpiece and most divisive component of the plan, which was authored by Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill. Backers of the bill say it is not amnesty. They say immigrants would earn the right to remain in the country. Under the language in the bill, those already in the country illegally could remain as "conditional nonimmigrants" if they meet a series of requirements, including:
Passage of criminal and security background checks.
Payment of a $500 fine, plus application fees.
Demonstration of contribution to the U.S. -- proof of employment, current military service or enrollment in school -- excepting of minors, the elderly and the disabled.
After six years, they could apply for a green card and eventually become citizens.
Baca said the legalization program would allow undocumented immigrants to live better and more productive lives. In turn, they would generate increased tax revenue and add to the ranks of the nation's military forces, he said.
A provision penned by Baca that would allow a fast track to citizenship for undocumented high school graduates with high marks was also incorporated into the bill.
Calvert said the legalization of illegal immigrants provides greater incentive for people in other countries to sneak into the United States with the expectation that they, too, would be allowed to remain.
But proponents of the bill say it also emphasizes security, both at the borders and within the interior of the country. To that end, the bill includes an increased reliance on E-verify, a program created and championed by Calvert.
The use of E-verify, an electronic database that allows employers to check the immigration status of potential hires, is already mandatory for all federal contractors. Under the new bill, the program -- initiated by Calvert legislation in 1996 -- would eventually be permanent and mandatory for all employers nationwide.
Political implications
Despite the inclusion of E-verify, Calvert vowed to oppose any "amnesty bill" and suggested that any such initiative would have no chance of passing in the current political climate.
The fight over health care has proven that, even with significant majorities in the House and Senate, Democrats cannot simply push their agenda through Congress. And with the health care debate unresolved and climate change legislation expected to dominate the early months of next year, immigration might be pushed even further into the future.
"People have got to know this is not going to sidestep anything else," Baca said. "The other issues are very important to this nation, and we must act on those."
But Baca acknowledged that waiting too long could push consideration of immigration reform dangerously close to the 2010 mid-term elections, when lawmakers are focused on their own races and many might be more hesitant to cast a vote in favor of the controversial bill. Candidates usually ramp up their campaigns in the spring and summer months.
"If we go past March, then we have problems," Baca said.
The political implications, however, might also provide pressure to pass the legislation before the midterms, said Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, a Washington-based advocacy group that supports the bill.
Noorani noted that Latino voters were widely credited with helping Obama win the White House last fall.
"They'll be ready to stand up for the candidate who stands up for immigration reform," Noorani said.
That point was made less than subtly Tuesday during a Capitol Hill news conference trumpeting the new bill. Baca, Gutierrez and more than a dozen other lawmakers gathered with scores of supporters in a cramped and sweltering conference room.
Among the group were children with T-shirts with the words "Future Voter" in bright red lettering, chanting "Si, se puede," Spanish for "Yes, it can be done."
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_immigration16.378f10b.html
This is a poll. Check it out.
http://blogs.pe.com/news/digest/2009/12/todays-talker-what-do-you-thin.html