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Lieberman's immigration bill draws protesters from both sides

By Vesna Jaksic
Staff Writer
Published June 27 2005

STAMFORD -- An immigration bill backed by Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., that would make it easier for some foreigners to work and live in the United States has prompted plans for demonstrations.

Opponents and proponents were slated to rally this morning in front of Lieberman's office in Hartford to express their views on the bill, which would allow certain foreign nationals and undocumented immigrants now in the country to apply for temporary status, and then legal residency after six years.

Introduced in May by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., the bill it aims to promote legal immigration, unite families and reduce backlogs for immigration cases. Opponents say it will weaken the nation's borders and take jobs from Americans.

Members of Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Control, a group formed in April that wants stricter immigration controls, said they will demonstrate in front of Lieberman's office and present a petition with signatures of about 300 people who oppose the legislation, said Paul Streitz, co-director.

"What we hope to do is show what Lieberman's polices are and how he's an open borders advocate, which is not what the citizens of Connecticut want," Streitz said.

The bill could help some of the estimated 12 million undocumented residents get work visas and stay in the United States. Connecticut has about 39,000 undocumented foreigners, according to 2000 federal estimates.

Representatives from the Danbury Area Coalition for the Rights of Immigrants were expected to counterdemonstrate today, but could not be reached for comment.

Lieberman has said the bill is the best hope of fixing the nation's broken immigration system.

"This bill seeks to bring honest, hard-working immigrants out of the shadows, so that we can focus our enforcement resources on the criminals and terrorists who pose real threats to the country," according to a statement on Lieberman's Web site.

Streitz said the bill, the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act of 2005, would mean fewer jobs for Americans. But Laura Jasinsky, an immigration attorney in Stamford, said businesses in Fairfield County and nationwide need foreign employees.

"I represent many employers who would simply not be able to do business without foreign workers," Jasinsky said.

In Stamford, those include the hospitality, domestic, child care and construction businesses, she said.

She generally favors the bill, Jasinsky said, but she would like to see legislation that focuses on easing work visa restrictions instead of providing green cards, which grant permanent residency. This would allow foreign nationals to work in the United States as long as work is available, she said.

"I think, in this immigration debate, putting the green card as the prize, as the reward, is a little bit misguided," she said. "We really need to look at temporary work programs."

The National Immigration Law Center, based in Los Angeles, generally supports the bill but has concerns about several components, said Marielena Hincapie, a lawyer and director of programs for the center.

One concern is the lack of labor protections, which Hincapie said are needed to protect foreign workers from exploitation and ensure Americans' jobs are not undermined. Another concern is the privacy implications of an electronic database that would be created under the bill to store detailed information about foreign workers, Hincapie said.

But the bill is a step in the right direction, she said.

"This is a better temporary worker program than other proposals that have been put out there," Hincapie said.