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SENATOR KENNEDY RESPONDS TO PRESIDENT BUSH ON IMMIGRATION

Congressional Desk
March 23, 2006
Washington, D.C. – Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement in response to President Bush’s remarks on immigration:

“I am glad that President Bush is focusing on immigration as the Senate Judiciary Committee nears completion on its work on comprehensive reform. I agree with him in the need for reform that include a rational and compassionate program for immigrant workers. President Bush should back up his rhetoric by saying no to the immigration restrictionists in his party who want to close our borders and yes to the many Americans, business and labor community members, Democrats and Republicans, and religious leaders who want tough border security and an orderly immigration system that is consistent with our values.

The draconian enforcement-only bill that Senator Frist has proposed and the bill that the House has passed would leave our broken immigration system still broken. We need realistic and comprehensive solutions that will protect our borders, enable temporary workers to come here legally, and allow workers already here to earn legal status. I’m hopeful that we can work with the President to enact a bill based on the principles of the McCain-Kennedy plan and reflects our heritage as both a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws.”

Below is a summary of the McCain-Kennedy plan:

McCain – Kennedy Secure America Act

Selected Titles of the Bill

Under the McCain-Kennedy plan, undocumented immigrants who want to become citizens must show they’ve been working, pay a $2000 fine, work for another six years, pass security checks, pay taxes, learn English and American civics, get in line behind everyone else and then they’d be eligible to apply for a green card. Below are the provisions of the bill:

Title I - Border Security: Establishes a National border Security Strategy based on ”smart” border technology, information sharing, and cooperation. Encourages the development of multilateral partnerships with Canada, Mexico, and Central America to establish a North American security perimeter and improve border security.

Title III - Temporary Worker Visa Program: Creates a new temporary visa to allow foreign workers to enter the US. Visa is valid for 3 years, and can be renewed one time for a total of 6 years. Contains strong labor protections for all workers, visas for family members, a path to permanent residence and citizenship and a flexible market-based cap.

Title IV - Enforcement: Creates a new electronic work authorization system that will replace the paper-based, fraud-prone I-9 system. The Department of Labor will have new authority to conduct random audits of employers and ensure compliance with labor laws; also includes new worker protections and enhanced fines for illegal employment practices

Title V - Promoting Circular Migration Patterns: Requires foreign countries to enter into migration agreements with the U.S. to control the flow of their citizens to the U.S. Encourages partnerships with Mexico to promote economic opportunity, reduce the pressure to immigrate to the U.S., and cooperation on access to health care so the U.S. is not unfairly impacted with the costs of administering health care to Mexican nationals.

Title VI - Family Unity and Backlog Reduction: Provides additional visas to reduce family and employment immigrant visa backlogs. Removes unnecessary obstacles in current law that separate families, such as the affidavit-of-support requirements and the rigid bars to admissibility.

Title VII - Adjustment of Status for Qualified Undocumented Immigrants: Allows undocumented immigrants in the U.S. to come out of the shadows, submit to background checks, and register for a legal status. Immigrants and their families would have 6 years to earn permanent residence and ultimately citizenship. To qualify, they would have to continue working, play by the rules, pay substantial fines and back taxes, and learn English.