Thread: Immigration Reform cannot be amnesty in disguise

June 14, 2007



Immigration Reform cannot be amnesty in disguise
By CHIP PEARSON State Senator



Chip Pearson

In last week's column, I began a discussion on the current debate in Washington concerning immigration reform. I first outlined Senate Resolution 646, which was adopted in the Senate during the 2007 legislative session. SR 646 lays out the position of a majority of the members of the General Assembly when it comes to U.S. immigration. More recently, I sent a letter to Georgia's congressional delegation that points out a reasonable plan for immigration reform, which along with many of my Senate colleagues, I strongly support. We refer to our plan as the Federal Immigrant Registration and Employment plan. The plan began with three primary components or guiding principles that we strongly believe any such plan should adhere to. First and foremost, the nation's borders must be secured. Little may be accomplished until adequate resources are provided for the security of our borders. Increased efforts, including increased resources, personnel and funding, are paramount to controlling the U.S. borders. To put it simply, you do not bail a sinking boat before you try to plug the holes.

The second key component to our plan is the acknowledgment that legal immigration is essential to the nation's economy. The legitimate needs of businesses and industries must be recognized, evaluated and met. At the same time, employers who flagrantly break immigration laws or mistreat illegal foreign workers should not be rewarded.

Finally, amnesty provisions or expedited citizenship should be avoided as these only promote a culture of disrespect for U.S.immigration laws and the basic principles of this great nation. Our government should not be in the business of handing out pardons to nearly 20 million people who have broken the law. While a pledge to deny amnesty is important, it is also important that any immigration plan treat people fairly and equitably. Some positive benefit may be warranted for those illegal aliens who are willing to come forward now in an effort to comply with legal immigration requirements.

In keeping with these three major components, our Federal Immigrant Registration and Employment Plan would include the following specific actions:

+ Increase personnel, funding and equipment for the purpose of securing U.S. borders.

+ Establish a date certain upon which anyone over 18 years of age currently residing in the U.S. illegally shall register as an illegal alien with designated federal authorities. The time allowed for illegal immigrants currently residing in this country to register shall be open for a period of time not to exceed 90 days. The registration form shall require such information as is determined necessary by the designated federal agency or department, but shall include information regarding the illegal alien's current residence, years of residence, country of origin and current employer, if any. After 90 days, anyone who has not registered would be deemed as an unregistered illegal alien and subject to immediate deportation with no opportunity to return to the U.S.in any manner.

Following the period of time allowed for registration, the designated government agency shall commence deportation proceedings against illegal immigrants who properly registered. The deportation process shall require such persons to return to their country of origin; provided, however, if such illegal immigrant wishes to reside in the U.S., they may apply for a work visa, work permit or similar authorization for temporary lawful entry into the country for purposes of employment. If such applicant provides a written statement from an employer that such person is or will be employed with such employer and the services of the nonresident immigrant are needed for the operation of the employer's business, then the applicant shall be given priority consideration for authorized re-entry into the country. Upon the submission of an approved application and employer statement, such person seeking lawful admission into this country shall be given first priority for any work visa, work permit or similar authorization for temporary lawful entry into the U.S.

+ Deportation proceedings of registered illegal immigrants shall be implemented in a fair and equitable manner as prescribed by the appropriate federal agency, and such proceedings shall be conducted over an extended period of time, not to exceed two years. Not all illegal immigrants shall be deported at the same time, but instead groups of immigrants shall be deported in phases as determined by the agency having jurisdiction over such proceedings and in such a manner as will be just and which shall not adversely impact the nation's economy.

+ Where any registrant is granted a work visa, work permit or similar authorization for temporary entry into the U.S., the authorization shall be for a two-year period as long as the authorized immigrant remains employed. Such temporary authorized entry shall be automatically extended for an additional two years where the registrant submits an updated application accompanied by a letter from his or her employer certifying that his or her services continue to be needed for the successful operation of the employer's business. If at any time during the four years that admission is authorized under this specially authorized work visa the registered immigrant becomes unemployed for more than 60 days, the authorization shall be withdrawn automatically and the immigrant shall be deemed an illegal immigrant.

+ Following the expiration of the four-year temporary authorized legal entry, the registered immigrant shall be required to apply for admission into the country in the same manner and under the same conditions as any other immigrant seeking lawful admission.

+ Nothing contained in the Federal Immigrant Registration and Employment Plan shall be construed so as to prohibit any immigrant from lawfully entering or residing in the country in accordance with other available authorized means for lawful entry, nor shall this plan prohibit any immigrant from seeking or applying for citizenship in any manner authorized by law.

I believe that it is essential to the security of this nation that our leaders commit and strive towards the implementation of a plan of equity, not amnesty - a plan of employment, not citizenship. Like any other policy issue, if this plan is to become law, it would have to go through the legislative process and be fine tuned before final passage. Obviously, these are just some suggested components of a comprehensive plan, and many aspects need further definition. The key to this plan is to secure our borders and to enforce currentU.S. law. Then, a system can be put in place for illegal immigrants to register, return home and potentially take part in an expedited temporary work permit situation. In the meantime, I continue to hope and pray any new federal immigration and border security plan will be comprehensive and meaningful. Because the current bill on immigration reform (S 134 has now stalled in the U.S. Senate, I will take up this discussion again if/when Congress decides to address this bill further.

Please feel free to contact Sen. Chip Pearson at his office in Atlanta at 404.656.9221 or by email atchip@team51


http://www.unionsentinel.com/news/2007/ ... e/004.html

If they insist on a law. (see my other posts)