Thread: Conceptual Proposal for Immigration Reform

– Conceptual Proposal for Immigration Reform
4-29-10- Melanie Nathan.

Today, as previously reported, Senators Charles Schumer and Harry Reid issues ta proposal for Immigration reform. The main components are reported verbatim below.

Please note I have chosen the provisions that were of immediate interest to me, and left out much of the technicalities and details so as to provide a condensed version – I have also provided the context for the reference to “permanent partners’ and the language of that section is in red ink. I have not changed any of the language of the proposal. I have left out most of the enforcement and procedural aspects.

I. Achieving Operational Control of America’s Borders to Prevent Future Illegal Immigration

A. Securing the Border First Before any Action


Proponents of immigration reform acknowledge that we need to meet clear and concrete benchmarks before we can finally ensure that America’s borders are secure and effectively deal with the millions of illegal immigrants already in the United States.

These benchmarks must be met before action can be taken to adjust the status of people already in the United States illegally and should include the following:
(1) increased number of Border Patrol officers;
(2) increased number of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to combat smuggling operations; 3) increased number of ICE worksite enforcement inspectors and increased inspection resources; 4) increased number of ICE document fraud detection officers and improved detection capability; 5) increased number of personnel to conduct inspections for drugs, contraband, and illegal immigrants at America’s ports of entry; 6) improved technology, infrastructure, and resources to assist the Border Patrol and ICE in their missions; 7) increased resources for prosecution of drug smugglers, human traffickers, and unauthorized border crossers; and increased immigration court resources to expedite the removal of unlawfully present individuals.

B. Further Fortification of America’s Border Enforcement Capability

â—¦Even after the benchmarks have been met, further fortifications of our border enforcement capabilities will still be required.
◦As a result of this proposal, the Border Patrol will also receive substantial upgrades in technology—
â—¦Creation of a border patrol auxiliary unit to assist the US Border Patrol in accomplishing the mission
◦Other agencies will also be asked to play a greater role in using their expertise and capabilities to make America’s borders more secure. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will be given additional investigators for the specific purpose of investigating alien smuggling.
C. Other Necessary Reforms


â—¦A bipartisan commission will be created and tasked with investigating the state of security on the southern and northern borders and issuing recommendations on additional resources, technology, manpower, and infrastructure that must be implemented to ensure complete operational control of the southern and northern borders within 12 months.
◦Because the federal government will have fulfilled its obligation to secure America’s borders, states and municipalities will be prohibited from enacting their own rules and penalties relating to immigration, which could undermine federal policies.
â—¦We will provide grants to local towns and counties to mitigate the impact of unauthorized immigrants crossing the border and to assist them in transferring unauthorized immigrants to law enforcement authorities.
â—¦Border Communities Liaison Office that will be responsible for conducting outreach to residents of border towns and a standardized complaint process
â—¦Communities will be given the ability to create alternatives to detention programs to lower the costs of immigration detention and, if detention is necessary, there will be custody standards providing for basic minimum standards of care at all Border Patrol stations, holding cells, checkpoints and short-term custody facilities.
II. Detection, Apprehension, and Removal of Unlawfully Present Persons in the United States

â—¦We will complete implementation of an entry-exit system that permits us to know whether foreign nationals have overstayed their visas and will permit us to apprehend and expeditiously remove these individuals.
â—¦The Department of Homeland Security will promptly identify, investigate, and initiate removal proceedings against every alien admitted into the United States on a temporary nonimmigrant visa who exceeds his or her period of authorized admission beyond a specified period or otherwise violates any terms of the alien’s nonimmigrant status. All criminals in federal, state, and local prisons will be checked for lawful immigration status and will be deported if they are here illegally. The Visa Waiver Program (“VWPâ€

nationwide immigrant integration programs.

translation - special jobs programs and welfare.

I read all 26 pages and found several things I object to. Lets be real. The Bill that eventually will be voted on will be 2000 pages long and filled with convoluted language. Here are a few of the WORST parts of the 26 page proposal.
1, States and municipalities will be PROHIBITED from enacting their own rules and penalties relating to immigration. Page 4 section C
2. SAFE HARBOR for employers who use subcontract workers. P.16
3. Eliminates 'per country' employment immigration caps. (High skilled immigration for employment does NOT provide the same provision to insure American workers are not available. Page 18
4. Creats a NEW H-2C visa for non-seasonal, non agricultural workers.
(construction jobs, maintainence workers, unions)
5. Includes ALL provisions of the DREAM ACT and AgJobs Bills. Page 18?

****6. PAGE 25 Creates a NEW PROGRAM TO PROVIDE VISAS TO PROMOTE PROPERTY OWNERSHIP BY FOREIGN NATIONALS. Will this include Financial grants to force taxpayers to buy land for FOREIGN NATIONALS? This is to enhance the American Housing market. Sounds more like a sale off of America.

7. Creates Commissions on wartime treatment of WORLD WAR II immigrants?????(WHY?)

McCains 2007 Bill allowed illegals to claim the Social Security benefits based on using DOCUMENT FRAUD and ID THEFT. It also made applicants for amnesty qualified for SS benefits with fewer work credits that citizens must have.

Finally, anyone who enters illegally after the iNTRODUCTION of this Bill is DISQUALIFIED. Was that part of the 1986 Amnesty Act? If so, everyone who came after 1986 is DISQUALIFIED !!!

The Commission shall have the power to declare an emergency in the immigration system. An emergency shall consist of a situation in which America’s employment-based immigration system is either substantially failing to admit a sufficient number of workers for the needs of the American economy or is substantially admitting too many foreign workers

A double-edged sword!

The Department of Homeland Security estimates that there are approximately 10.8 million people currently in the United States with no legal status.

Absolutely no mention, of course, of any type of limit due to the possibility that this number could actually exceed 20 million! I wonder how most Americans would react if those numbers totalled 20-30 million!