Thread: Immigration reform: 2010 could see overhaul

Immigration reform: 2010 could see overhaul

Chicago Tribune
December 9, 2009
By Antonio Olivo



Obama pledged to tackle system after health care

Having waited patiently in the wings, Immigration advocates in Chicago and elsewhere are anxious to take President Barack Obama at his word when he said Immigration reform would soon follow health care on the nation's agenda.

With several initiatives gearing up to put the issue before Congress in the new year, advocates are all too aware they haven't had much cause for celebration in recent years.

Their last big push in Washington, in 2007, failed to settle the status of the nation's estimated 11.9 million undocumented immigrants.

Deportations have continued, with nearly 370,000 immigrants detained during the fiscal year that ended in October.

That's more than twice the number in 1999, according to a report last week by Transactional Records Clearing House at Syracuse University.

In Chicago, frustration has been heightened by tougher local enforcement measures, such as a new city ordinance that, starting Jan. 1, will allow police to impound the cars of unlicensed drivers. Many of them turn out to be undocumented immigrants.

On the street, the emotions behind the issue can be seen in the growing campaign on behalf of Rigo Padilla, an undocumented college student ordered out of the country by Dec. 16.

Last week, 200 people rallied through downtown, and some demonstrators have threatened civil disobedience if Padilla isn't allowed to stay.

Groups seeking more aggressive Immigration-law enforcement, meanwhile, see cases like Padilla's as reasons to crack down further.

His illegal status was discovered when he was arrested for drinking and driving, and he has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor DUI charge.

In hopes of finding a resolution, Congress is again talking about an Immigration overhaul early next year.

One House bill, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., is expected this month, and another Senate bill is expected in January.

Following up on Obama's vow to address the issue when he met with activists at the White House earlier this year, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said last month the administration envisions a "three-legged stool" that includes better border enforcement, more efficient legal Immigration and "a tough and fair" pathway to legalization that will require the undocumented to learn English and pay fines, among other things.

Below, where the three legs currently stand:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi- ... 1596.story

--her "tough" immigration policy position will not return one single job to American citizens. It will, indeed, encourage millions more to come here illegally.

Some folks will not wake up until the boot is on their necks.

Here is a related article translated from AOL Latino (I'm amazed that aol latino has an immigration section where pro IA articles can be found that can not be found in the English only sections.):

Gutierrez will present immigration bill
By: Maribel Hastings
Posted: 2009-12-09 16:43:32
Filed Under: Immigration, Latino_noticias_pagina_principal, Your vote is your future
America's Voice .- Illinois Rep. Luis Gutierrez, told the national Telemundo Noticiero that next week will present an immigration reform bill "broad, inclusive, generous and well-humanizing."

Luis Gutierrez
AP

The question, said Gutierrez Noticiero Telemundo anchor Pedro Sevcec, is "whether there is political will to do it."

"I think 25%, 30%, a third of our community that lives with us can come out of darkness, can see the light of day, and finally live without fear, without fear and with full dignity, respecting your work and contribution. That is our goal, "said Gutierrez.

"We will do everything possible. The president agrees, the Senate, House ... all that is required now is to recognize that this communitie needs our support and have the political will to do so. The votes are . The question always is, is going to be a priority?, will there be political will to do so?

The filing of this measure would be the initial legislative step in an arduous process.

In the segment presented by Telemundo, Gutierrez gave no details of the measure, although previously the congressman has said he will cut "progressive" and generous.

On 13 October, at an event organized by the national Pro American Immigration Reform, Gutierrez presented the outlines of the plan and at that time said they would include: a path to legalization for millions of illegal immigrants, the DREAM Act and AgJOBS measures to legalize students and farmworkers, to ensure family reunification, border security and interior for the 21st Century, reform the visa system for people to not opt for illegally entering the U.S., a committee that decides the future flows workers, and an identity verification system for workers based on a database error proof.

For months it has indicated that the legislative process will begin in the Senate where the immigration subcommittee chairman, Charles Schumer, DN.Y., bipartisan support for a potential project. It has been suggested that Schumer is working with the Republican senator from South Carolina, Lindsey Graham.

The idea is to advance immigration reform measure in the first half of next year. Barack Obama promised to enact immigration reform in the first year of his presidency, which falls on 20 January 2010.

Maribel Hastings is Executive Advisor of America's Voice
- Visit his page

http://noticias.aol.com/articulos/marib ... 3109990001