Thread: Immigration bill could aid 500,000 in state

Published: July 8, 2010
Updated: 1:00 p.m.

Immigration bill could aid 500,000 in state

BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

WASHINGTON – If Congress extends legal status to illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children, more than half a million people living in California could be eligible to apply for green cards.

In all, a report by the Migration Policy Institute found that about 2.1 million young illegal immigrants living in the U.S. could become legal residents under of the DREAM Act, a law that has been proposed in Congress for nearly a decade but has yet to pass. The number in California – 553,000 – was by far higher than in any other state.

A political science student at the UC Irvine, Diaz has several undocumented friends who went to high school in California, are studying for the same degree as her but under current law will never be able to legally get jobs after they graduate. The DREAM Act could enable them to become citizens of the only country they have ever known.

"These are people that are students that are working toward a degree or have a degree already," said Diaz, a member of the Orange County DREAM Team, which has fought for the law since it was proposed in 2001. "They would be able to actually work in their field and use their degree."
But critics, who view the plan as a form of amnesty, argue it is counterproductive and dangerous to provide any benefits to anyone who entered the country illegally.

The Migration Policy Institute report, co-authored by Margie McHugh and Jeanne Batalova, provided the first snapshot of how many people might be affected by the law.

The legislation would grant conditional legal status to illegal immigrants under the age of 35 who arrived in the country before the age of 16, have lived here for the last five years and have a U.S. high school diploma or GED.

Those with conditional status could then become citizens six years later if they maintain "good moral character" and spend at least two years in college or the military.

Not all of the 2.1 million people who could benefit from the DREAM Act would be treated the same. It depends on their circumstances. The report listed four different categories for these young people:

The 114,000 who already have completed high school and college. They would immediately get conditional legal status and would only have to live up to the "good moral character" requirement for six years to get a green card.

The 726,000 who so far only have a high school diploma. They would also immediately get conditional status but would also have to complete two years of college or military service to get their green card.

The 934,000 children under the age of 18 would be eligible for conditional status after finishing high school. They could then work toward permanent status.

The about 489,000 people over 18 who don't have a high school diploma. They would have to get a diploma or GED and could then work toward permanent status.

The report did not indicate how many Californians fell into each category. The state's total number of 553,000 young people represented 26 percent of the nationwide total. It far exceeded the next highest state, Texas, with 258,000.

The political nature of the immigration debate does not bode well for passage of the DREAM act anytime soon.

A version of the proposal earned bipartisan support from 52 senators in 2007 but could not get the 60 votes necessary to overcome a filibuster. Advocates in Orange County and across the country hope this Congress will pass the bill as a stand-alone measure or as part of defense appropriations bill, perhaps as soon as this month.

But a spokesman for Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who authored and has championed this legislation, said the proposal will probably be considered as part of comprehensive immigration reform, which Congress is unlikely to take up before the November elections.
Diaz said lawmakers shouldn't wait.

"This is a bill that we support and we advocate for and hope will pass this year," she said. "It was introduced in 2001 so there are a lot of students who have been waiting."

Contact the writer: (202) 628-6381 or brosenthal@ocregister.com

http://www.ocregister.com/news/status-2 ... -high.html

If only the federal government had secured our borders we wouldn't have to deal with all of these people now.

The 726,000 who so far only have a high school diploma. They would also immediately get conditional status but would also have to complete two years of college or military service to get their green card.

And who would properly monitor this? Our visa entrance/exit monitoring is already abysmal.

Just say no.

Let me get this right. Only half a million ?

There are well over 5 million illegals in this state.

Get rid of the 4.5 mil NOW.

Close that dam border and MAYBE deal with the rest.

And how many of these half million will immediately become eligible for welfare and other benefits? How many will pay taxes and how many will get EITC? How many gang members will lie and say they're poor innocent college students - deserving of a scholarship?

But a spokesman for Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who authored and has championed this legislation, said the proposal will probably be considered as part of comprehensive immigration reform, which Congress is unlikely to take up before the November elections.

Immediately AFTER the election will be another matter. CIR will undoubtedly come up in a lame duck congress.

Each one would then be allowed to bring in 2? ... 5? ... lets just say ... A LOT MORE...

Originally Posted by justme

Each one would then be allowed to bring in 2? ... 5? ... lets just say ... A LOT MORE...

As they get their citizenship each of them can sponsor their parents, siblings and children to come here.
When that new group gets their citizenship they too can sponsor their parent, siblings and kids to come here.
It's called chain migration, and it never ends.

Originally Posted by TakingBackSoCal

Let me get this right. Only half a million ?

There are well over 5 million illegals in this state.

Get rid of the 4.5 mil NOW.

Close that dam border and MAYBE deal with the rest.

This is an invasion with political motivation.

DRUGS...............PERIOD.

Anyone else down there in Messico got half of a 1960's and 1970's education from the US?

We do NOT need their drugs. We can produce our own HERE anywhere with the right growing environment.

And the Sierra club backed this Chicago THUG?

OBUMMER is the paid off key.