Comprehensive Immigration Reform
| By mmrowka - Mar 13th, 2006 at 4:42 pm EST |
| Also listed in: Campus Progress Blog |
There have been quite a few immigration posts here lately, and most of them have resulted in some heated conversations.
Immigrants and their families build, clean, feed and care for our country. But their rights are routinely violated. We need immigration reform that lives up to our values as a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. It is time for reform that reflects our economic needs and humanitarian values.
1. Finding and deporting narly 12 million undocumented immigrants is unreasonable. In fact, CAP did a study last year that etimated the costs of a mass deportation to be atleast $206 billion over 5 years ($41.2 billion annually). That exceeds the entire homeland security budget for 2006.
2. The vast majority of undocumented immigrants come here to work hard, pay taxes, and just want a shot at improving the lives of themselves and their families.
3. Our economy depends on these workers. Some facts.
-Over the past twenty years, immigration has contributed to more than 25 percent of the nation's labor force growth. Source: American Immigration Law Foundation, Spring 2002
-Immigrant households and businesses provide more than $162 billion in direct taxes to federal, state, and local governments each year. Source: American Immigration Law Foundation, Spring 2002
-Immigrants will contribute nearly $500 billion to the Social Security system from 1998-2022 and nearly $2 trillion through 2072. Source: National Immigration Forum, 2005
-Undocumented immigrants contribute at least $300 billion to the U.S. gross national product annually. Source: "Comprehensive Migration Policy Reform in North America: The Key to Sustainable and Equitable Economic Integration," (University of California, Los Angeles), August 29, 2001
-The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 48 percent of all job openings between 2002 and 2012 will be held by workers with a high school diploma or less education. Given that less than 13 percent of native-born adults lacked a high school diploma in 2003, compared to more than 32 percent of the foreign born, America will rely on immigrants to fill most of these jobs. Source: Immigration Policy Center, July 2005
-Each new immigrant generates a positive contribution to the country of roughly $1800. Source: American Immigration Law Foundation, Spring 2002
A historic group of business, religious, labor, and community leaders have joined together to pass comprehensive immigration reform that:
Is Comprehensive: The proposal must simultaneously deal effectively with 1) undocumented immigrants working and living in the United States; 2) the future flow of workers and close family members; 3) the need for tailored, targeted, effective enforcement of more realistic policies; and 4) support for the successful integration of newcomers in the communities where they settle.
Provides a Path to Citizenship: Opportunities should be provided for undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S. to receive work permits and travel permission and access educational opportunities once they undergo background and security checks. Those who want to settle in the United States should be eligible for permanent residence and citizenship.
Protects Workers: To replace the deadly, chaotic, and illegal flow of workers to jobs, there need to be wider legal channels so needed workers can be admitted legally to fill available jobs. To avoid the exploitation and abuses of flawed guestworkers programs, the nation needs a "break-the-mold" worker visa program that adequately protects the wages and working conditions of U.S. and immigrant workers. It should also allow workers to change jobs, meaningfully enforce both the program's rules and existing labor laws, protect law-abiding employers from unscrupulous competitors, and provide a path to permanent status.
Reunites Families: Immigration reform will not succeed if public policy does not recognize one of the main factors driving migration as well as one of America's most cherished values: family unity. Restrictive laws and bureaucratic delays too often undermine this cornerstone of our legal immigration system. Those waiting in line should have their admission expedited, and those admitted on work visas should be able to keep their nuclear families intact.
Restores the Rule of Law and Enhance Security: Enforcement only works when the law is realistic and enforceable. This can best be achieved by a comprehensive overhaul that combines reform - a path to permanent status for immigrants here and wider legal channels for those coming in the future - with effective enforcement. A smart enforcement regime should include smart inspections and screening practices, fair proceedings, efficient processing, as well as strategies that crack down on criminal smugglers, get tough with lawbreaking employers, and reduce illegality. Such a system will better enable the nation to know who is already here and who is coming in the future, and bring our system into line with our tradition as a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws.
Promotes Citizenship and Civic Participation and Help Local Communities: Immigration to America works because newcomers are encouraged to become new Americans. It is time to renew our nation's commitment to the full integration of newcomers by providing adult immigrants with quality English instruction, promoting and preparing them for citizenship, and providing them with opportunities to move up the economic ladder. The system should also offer support to local communities working to welcome newcomers.
Learn more at www.cirnow.org
Only a comprehensive approach as outlined above will allow hardworking, taxpaying immigrants a way to earn citizenship, stop employers from exploiting workers, improve security, and grow our economy.
I apologize that this post was so fact intensive, but I wanted to avoid the heated arguments that came from the more rhetorical arguments lately.
Immigrants and their families build, clean, feed and care for our country. But their rights are routinely violated. We need immigration reform that lives up to our values as a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. It is time for reform that reflects our economic needs and humanitarian values.
1. Finding and deporting narly 12 million undocumented immigrants is unreasonable. In fact, CAP did a study last year that etimated the costs of a mass deportation to be atleast $206 billion over 5 years ($41.2 billion annually). That exceeds the entire homeland security budget for 2006.
2. The vast majority of undocumented immigrants come here to work hard, pay taxes, and just want a shot at improving the lives of themselves and their families.
3. Our economy depends on these workers. Some facts.
-Over the past twenty years, immigration has contributed to more than 25 percent of the nation's labor force growth. Source: American Immigration Law Foundation, Spring 2002
-Immigrant households and businesses provide more than $162 billion in direct taxes to federal, state, and local governments each year. Source: American Immigration Law Foundation, Spring 2002
-Immigrants will contribute nearly $500 billion to the Social Security system from 1998-2022 and nearly $2 trillion through 2072. Source: National Immigration Forum, 2005
-Undocumented immigrants contribute at least $300 billion to the U.S. gross national product annually. Source: "Comprehensive Migration Policy Reform in North America: The Key to Sustainable and Equitable Economic Integration," (University of California, Los Angeles), August 29, 2001
-The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 48 percent of all job openings between 2002 and 2012 will be held by workers with a high school diploma or less education. Given that less than 13 percent of native-born adults lacked a high school diploma in 2003, compared to more than 32 percent of the foreign born, America will rely on immigrants to fill most of these jobs. Source: Immigration Policy Center, July 2005
-Each new immigrant generates a positive contribution to the country of roughly $1800. Source: American Immigration Law Foundation, Spring 2002
A historic group of business, religious, labor, and community leaders have joined together to pass comprehensive immigration reform that:
Is Comprehensive: The proposal must simultaneously deal effectively with 1) undocumented immigrants working and living in the United States; 2) the future flow of workers and close family members; 3) the need for tailored, targeted, effective enforcement of more realistic policies; and 4) support for the successful integration of newcomers in the communities where they settle.
Provides a Path to Citizenship: Opportunities should be provided for undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S. to receive work permits and travel permission and access educational opportunities once they undergo background and security checks. Those who want to settle in the United States should be eligible for permanent residence and citizenship.
Protects Workers: To replace the deadly, chaotic, and illegal flow of workers to jobs, there need to be wider legal channels so needed workers can be admitted legally to fill available jobs. To avoid the exploitation and abuses of flawed guestworkers programs, the nation needs a "break-the-mold" worker visa program that adequately protects the wages and working conditions of U.S. and immigrant workers. It should also allow workers to change jobs, meaningfully enforce both the program's rules and existing labor laws, protect law-abiding employers from unscrupulous competitors, and provide a path to permanent status.
Reunites Families: Immigration reform will not succeed if public policy does not recognize one of the main factors driving migration as well as one of America's most cherished values: family unity. Restrictive laws and bureaucratic delays too often undermine this cornerstone of our legal immigration system. Those waiting in line should have their admission expedited, and those admitted on work visas should be able to keep their nuclear families intact.
Restores the Rule of Law and Enhance Security: Enforcement only works when the law is realistic and enforceable. This can best be achieved by a comprehensive overhaul that combines reform - a path to permanent status for immigrants here and wider legal channels for those coming in the future - with effective enforcement. A smart enforcement regime should include smart inspections and screening practices, fair proceedings, efficient processing, as well as strategies that crack down on criminal smugglers, get tough with lawbreaking employers, and reduce illegality. Such a system will better enable the nation to know who is already here and who is coming in the future, and bring our system into line with our tradition as a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws.
Promotes Citizenship and Civic Participation and Help Local Communities: Immigration to America works because newcomers are encouraged to become new Americans. It is time to renew our nation's commitment to the full integration of newcomers by providing adult immigrants with quality English instruction, promoting and preparing them for citizenship, and providing them with opportunities to move up the economic ladder. The system should also offer support to local communities working to welcome newcomers.
Learn more at www.cirnow.org
Only a comprehensive approach as outlined above will allow hardworking, taxpaying immigrants a way to earn citizenship, stop employers from exploiting workers, improve security, and grow our economy.
I apologize that this post was so fact intensive, but I wanted to avoid the heated arguments that came from the more rhetorical arguments lately.
!
Comments are closed for this post.
"Undocumented" immigrants?
I'm sorry, but that's patent bullshit.
They're illegal immigrants. You may have different opinions about what should be done with them or to them, but that doesn't change what they are. An acknowledgement that they are in this country illegally has to be a fundamental starting point for any worthwhile discussion.
The American people tend to see through this sort of silliness, and it costs us elections.
You're not making any distinctions in this paragraph between legal and illegal immigration.
The law matters.
Whoa, that's all? I'm not in favor of a complete deportation of illegal immigrants, but I would have seriously assumed it would cost more than that. In terms of our budget, 41.2 billion annually is not overwhelming - especially if all money currently assigned to the drug war were devoted to the task.
Not saying it's desirable, just saying that your numbers aren't exactly as scary as you want them to be.
No dispute from me on this.
Meaningless, as these numbers are not discriminating between legal and illegal immigration - everyone here is in favor of legal immigration.
Oh, and your linked-to proposal is missing what any serious proposal must have: A plan to close the gaps in our incredibly porous border.
You mean "what they've done," right? That's why "undocumented" is a proper term and the one we should be using--the method of entry that we're discussing isn't overstaying a visa in most cases, but jumping the border. For the purposes of the discussion of immigration policy (which this is, not the politics, but the policy--because let's be honest, the politics of immigration are dynamic, to say the least), we should be clear that we're not talking about those here unlawfully, but rather those here without documentation (usually through what is legally called "entry without inspection").
If you've jumped the border, you are here illegally. Any serious policy discussion must refer to illegal immigrants without mincing words.
Sens. Kennedy and McCain introduced the Secure America Act, which would require undocumented workers to come forward, pay fines, pay back taxes, wait in line, study English, and pass security screenings in order to earn permanent residence and a path to citizenship. It is unrealistic to expect these people to come forward if we are going to send them back to their country.
You are incorrect about the American people. The vast majority of Americans know that our immigration system is broken and needs to be fixed. And they see through the political rhetoric of deporting nearly 12 million people. They know these people do some of the hardest jobs in our country, and we need bi-partisan, sensible, legislation that both makes our country safer and allows hardworking, taxpaying immigrants an opportunity to become Americans.
And those numbers are not meaningless. You are not in favor of legal immigration if you think that nothing is wrong with our current system, and you simply want to deport these people. Those numbers show the contributions immigrants make, regardless of their status. Even undocumented immigrants contribute in taxes and ss funds. It shows that we need to do more to create an immigration system that honors our heritage as a nation built on immigrants and permit these people to come here legally. And it shows that immigrants are not a drain, but rather a benefit to our society.
When we provide these adequate channels, then our law enforcement ofifcials can more easily target those entering our nation to do us harm.
It isn't one or the other. To be successful we need comprehensive reform that protects our borders while at the same time providing adequate legal channels to come here.
The two are separate and distinct topics. I'm not suggesting that they all be deported; you keep bringing that up as a strawman. A further indicator that you're not willing to have a serious discussion on the matter.
They are not separate topics though. We need to tackle this issue on all sides. Looking at one problem instead the entire system creates the problems that have gotten us to where we are today.
I would like to know what you suggest.
You can't say I don't want to have a serious discussion. I've laid out what I believe will work. You are just focusing on one part without offering your vision for real reform
Since you think deporting them all is a stupid idea, why would you impute a stupid idea on anyone who takes issue with you, when all you know about them is that they disagree with something you said?
That's a bit sloppy, wouldn't you say?
Waiiiiitasecond.
The topic of referring to illegal immigrants as "illegal", which they are, and the radical 'solution' of spending a huge amount of our sweat and treasure to deport every last one of them, are not separate topics?
WTF?
No wonder you and JR can't even retreat to the neutral language of referring to "illegal immigration". Apparently, doing so will unleash some sort of Twilight Of The Gods that would mean the most radical position possible on the issue de facto wins the debate.
Consider me more than a little puzzled?
My suggestion is first that we need to be on the same page in terms of language - retreating from the softpedalling of language that's designed to score political points - in order to have a real policy debate.
"Illegal immigrant" is a nice term because it's neutral and accurate. That is the salient fact about this group: that they're here illegally. If the salient fact was that they were 'undocumented', we could just militarize the border with Cenus-Takers and Document every last one of them, thus solving the illegal immigration problem.
"Undocumented immigrant" is clearly a lame attempt to define the debate in softer terms that are more favorable to the advocates for illegal immigrants. Whatever the merits of their position, in the American debate it's not fooling anybody.
I meet normal people of all political stripes, day in and day out. Nobody uses the phrase "undocumented immigration" to describe the problem.
From there, once the terms are defined, we would move on to what the ultimate aims of our comprehensive immigration policy would ultimately be.
Once we've agreed on both the foundations and the aims, then we can talk policy.
It's neither neutral nor acurate. It's loaded shorthand, and many find it dehumanizing in addition.
As to whether or not anyone uses is, run the term "undocumented immigrants" through Google News. You won't get as many hits as "illegal immigration", but you'll get hits from sources that value precision and accuracy, such as the Chicago Trib and the WaPo.
Here's an explanation from Joseph Nevins, professor at Vassar and guest writer for The Nation, in his book Operation Gatekeeper: The Rise of the Illegal Alien and the Making of the U.S.-Mexico Boundary:
In other words, it's neither neutral nor accurate.
Illegal, unauthorized, extralegal - it's all the same thing. We don't put up with all this semantic BS when talking about breaking any other area of the law. Why should we here?
If calling illegals illegals hurts their feelings and makes them feel like criminals, big effin deal. They'll get over it. In fact, I bet they are over it. It probably offends the liberal commentariat far more than the illegals themselves, which makes me care even less.
And we do actually put a high value on semantics when discussing civil and criminal law--are speeders and murderers both "illegal Americans"? If you get a DUI, is that the same as a getting a ticket for failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign?
The issue is ACCURACY more than offense, as I said above. The term lacks accuracy--again, see above.
I am honestly curious what your solution is.
Lets get over this language debate and talk about the real issue and the real solution.
What do you want to do with the 12 million people who are presently in this country, working hard and paying taxes? How do you want to control immigration in the future? Do you support an earned path to citizenship?
I feel all you would like to do is argue with what I write without offering your own perspective.
I'm listening.
Lets here your solutions, Joe.
TMH
We can't talk substance until the language is nailed down. Period. You can't have a serious discussion with someone who isn't willing to be honest from the get-go.
If there are some people who are here legally? Good for them, then - we won't be talking about them.
My solutions would pertain entirely to those who are in this country illegally, and to no one else.
Legal immigration? Certainly an important topic of discussion, but not what I'm interested in here.