Thread: Immigrant activists slam green card renewal plan

Haven't seen this, but if this has already been posted, delete.
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chicagotribune.com
Immigrant activists slam green card renewal plan
By Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah

Tribune staff reporter

9:01 PM CDT, August 24, 2007

Immigrant advocates spoke out Friday against a federal proposal that would require lawful permanent residents to renew green cards with no expiration dates.

The proposed rule, which has yet to meet final approval, could affect about 750,000 permanent residents who received green cards that did not list expiration dates between 1979 and 1989. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the proposal earlier this week as part of its ongoing efforts to update green cards every 10 years.

The agency is seeking public comment on the proposal. If the measure wins final approval, affected permanent residents would have 120 days to apply for a replacement green card. If they don't, the green card would be invalid, which could hinder some immigrants' ability to work in the U.S., USCIS officials said.

Immigrant advocates say it's not enough time to renew the card and federal officials are not doing enough to inform card-holders of the plan.

"I really think you should give people at least a year to renew their green cards and [the federal government] should have a very aggressive educational campaign," said Mary Meg McCarthy of the National Immigrant Justice Center.

Drug convictions, misdemeanors such as shoplifting or misrepresentation on any government forms or documents could lead to a permanent resident being deported, said officials of the National Immigrant Justice Center.

Dave Gorak, executive director of the Midwest Coalition to Reduce Immigration, said deporting criminals would be a good thing.

"Our response to that would be, 'So what?,' " Gorak said. "We have no problem deporting people who shouldn't be here in the first place."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/loca ... 1442.story

Well, to start with, they're pretty pretty much given legal status with a green card that never ends. Just a way to give them amnesty. Ten years is too long for a green card anyway.

I don't care what they think. They want to live here, they can do it our way. If they don't like it! Then they can leave.

Dixie

Drug convictions, misdemeanors such as shoplifting or misrepresentation on any government forms or documents could lead to a permanent resident being deported, said officials of the National Immigrant Justice Center.




And this is the only problem the advocates have with them having to update their green cards.

Once again, it's all about protecting their criminals

Green card plan comes at a cost
Around 750,000 may be required to replace ID for $370 or or risk penalties
The Associated Press
Updated: 10:24 p.m. CT Aug 22, 2007

WASHINGTON - Hundreds of thousands of legal residents whose green cards don’t have expiration dates may have to pay $370 to replace them, or risk criminal penalties.

A division of the Homeland Security Department on Wednesday proposed requiring legal residents with those cards to pay a $290 replacement application fee plus $80 for electronic fingerprints and a photo.

Those who repeatedly fail to comply face up to 30 days in prison and a $100 fine, under the proposal.

Citizenship and Immigration Services estimates about 750,000 legal permanent U.S. residents were issued green cards between 1977 and 1989 that lack expiration dates.

Green cards are proof of authorization to live and work in the United States. Legal residents must carry the cards at all times.

New cards offer better security?
Under the proposal, legal residents would have 120 days to replace their cards.

If they fail to apply for a replacement, their green cards would eventually be terminated on a date to be set later. A terminated card would not invalidate an immigrant’s status as a legal resident, but could make it hard to travel or get a new job.

Legal residents with cards that need to be replaced would not be individually notified.

The proposal is not final, but legal residents can begin applying now for a replacement if they choose.

The government wants to redo the photos and fingerprints to make sure the cards are updated and accurate.


“It’s a security issue,â€

In all fairness, let's not smear the line between LEGAL immigrants and ILLEGAL immigrants. The name of our forum is "AMERICANS FOR LEGAL IMMIGRATION PAC". There is a world of difference between those who came here legally, respecting our laws, and those who did not. I agree that for homeland security reasons, permanent residence cards should be renewed from time to time just like a drivers license. In all fairness though, it needs to be very well publicized. If they are going to change the rules on these LEGAL immigrants halfway through the game, every effort needs to be made to notify these people. I would go so far as to say personal letters need to be sent out to each and every one of them.

I agree with that Cayla, but it may not be plausible for legal immigrants to be notified because we don't know how accurate their information on file is, and it may well be that some effort has been made already, which we don't know about, and it wasn't going very well. By making it public, and with all of the Immigration Advocacy groups out there who will make sure it's broadcast to the people who need to know about it, it's probably more effective the way they are doing it.

As for myself, I do understand why these cards need to be updated and made more secure. I also don't think you will find many people who want legal immigrants punished because of anger toward illegals. On the other hand however, if a legal resident has committed a deportable offense, it doesn't matter how long ago or what it was........those are the rules and we can't say we want the rule of law followed for some and not for others.

"In all fairness, let's not smear the line between LEGAL immigrants and ILLEGAL immigrants."

The problem is- If they do not renew their visa, they become illegal. Since they did not come here to be a US citizen, I say we ship their butts back to where ever they came from. Most likely they are living off of taxpayers.

I have read some Illegal Aliens are using Legal residents green cards and I think this is what they are trying to prevent by updating the cards with finger prints & photos.

Hopefully they will do wide spread notifications through media,at job sites etc. plus I suspect if someone does not update their card immigration authorities will be lenient with them.

Originally Posted by GS07

"In all fairness, let's not smear the line between LEGAL immigrants and ILLEGAL immigrants."

The problem is- If they do not renew their visa, they become illegal. Since they did not come here to be a US citizen, I say we ship their butts back to where ever they came from. Most likely they are living off of taxpayers.

This is true, however, if they have no notification of the change in the laws, and don't know that their permanent card that does not expire has now expired, is that really fair? If there is a media blast where you have to be living under a rock not to know, that is one thing. If there is a sign posted in an office they never enter, that is another story all together.