Introduced Bill Includes Amnesty for all Immigrants
By Alex Gillis (UTI)
Madison, WI - For many families of undocumented immigrants could not be better gift this Christmas than immigration reform. And thanks to Luis Gutierrez, this could be possible as soon as April 2010.
On 15 December, Congressman Luis Gutierrez of Illinois introduced a bill called CIR A.S.A.P. (Comprehensive Immigration Reform to Security and Prosperity Partnership). That among other initiatives including the legalization of all undocumented immigrants present before 15 December 2009!
The law is complex, extensive, with 600 pages and sometimes contradictory. Rather than a comprehensive law seems the list of demands from many organizations and political forces. In this first article of the series, I will focus on 4 important aspects of the bill:
The legalization of undocumented immigrants
POSITIVE: The bill creates a legalization program for undocumented immigrants (and their spouses and children), those who qualify will receive a conditional immigrant visa that is valid for six years. This visa allows legalize immigrants with work and travel permits and protects them from deportation.
To qualify, an applicant must:
Establish he or she has been in the U.S. illegally before December 15, 2009.
Prove to have contributed to the U.S. through employment, education, military service or community service
Pay an application fee and a fine of $ 500.
NEGATIVE: As a requirement, includes having no conviction for a felony or no more than three misdemeanors.
Border Security:
POSITIVE: Suspension of Operation Streamline "until further analysis is done.
NEGATIVE: The law continues the current practices and is reinforced with more money for surveillance equipment and more troops on the border. It also increases control at points of entry along the border to control the transport of commercial goods and individuals.
In Border States like Arizona, local police, state and federal enforcement agencies can work together against crime, violence and immigration control.
Promoting Family Unity:
POSITIVE: Ensures the immediate family members to resume their immigration petitions, even if the U.S. citizen or resident who claim for them has died.
The government will have greater authority to give amnesty to undocumented workers in order to reunite families.
Allows immigration judges to refuse the removal of the parents of a U.S. citizen child; if the judge determines that the expulsion would not be in the best interest of the child.
Verification of employment authorization:
POSITIVE: Include privacy protections, and prohibits the creation of a national ID card (REAL ID).
Includes provisions against discrimination and prohibits employers from using the new system to discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of nationality.
NEGATIVE: The bill creates an employment verification system for employers to verify work authorization of new hires.
Creates significant civil penalties for employers who do not meet the requirements under the new system and establishes serious criminal penalties for knowingly hiring unauthorized workers.
What possibilities does the proposed law be approved?
Luis Gutierrez has approximately 80 legislators of the 218 needed for a majority. During the next month the congress will debate and amend aspects of the proposal to provide more support. If approved the proposal would be submitted to the Senate where Luis Gutierrez does not have much support.
In fact New York Sen. Charles Schumer has announced that he is writing his own Bill, activists and organizations in New York believe the Schumer proposal will be much worse than Gutierrez.
Finally, if Congress and Senate have different proposals they will organize a conference where the two chambers will have to reach an agreement if they pass a law before May 2010, the month in which experts say would be too close to November elections. If the month of May is reached without an agreement, most likely, the debate will not resume until 2013 after the presidential elections.
The community needs to firmly demand Immediate legalization
In the hands of politicians, which today seems as a good bill with some bad points can be converted into a very bad law with very few positive aspects. We saw it in the Health System Reform Debate, after 6 months, nothing remains of the original proposal which sought to cover the majority of families in this country. The interests of companies and corporations are very powerful and politicians come under its influence very quickly.
As a community we must unite and defend the positive aspects of the Bill independelty of the politically class. Our duty as parents, coworkers, neighbors is to fight for immediate legalization. In 2006, Sesembraner proposed a bad law for immigrants, and we could stop it in the street, this year, the debate begins with a bill that includes magnificent points. The danger lies in how the politicians will change them during the debate.
It is therefore important that the whole community, neighborhoods, schools, factories, churches, soccer leagues, in our homes that we speak not only of what is in the law but how to build a movement in the streets to ensure a better future for ourselves and our families.
Informational Meeting: The Luis Gutierrez Bill to debate
The compañeros of the Immigrant Workers Union want to make an invitation to the next info meeting to be held on Saturday January 9th at 11:30AM in the MATC at Park St (in the basement). Also, encourage you to create forums and meetings in your homes, soccer leagues, churches, etc. To further discuss the law If you want more information, our assistance or guidance to contest the law with your family, fellow students or coworkers, please contact 608/345-9544.
