Immigration Update –

April 16, 2007

Despite promises of immigration reform from both the White House and various leaders in Congress, little has been done to move comprehensive immigration reform forward in this Congress. Over the past few months, there have been promises of progress in the Senate and then missed deadlines, internal squabbling and political brinksmanship. The president has also been inconsistent in his plans for immigration reform, turning to an unworkable and impractical proposal.

The White House

President Bush, a long-time supporter of comprehensive reform, presented a far more conservative plan than the Senate bill he approved and supported last year. Though work visas would be granted to undocumented immigrants, they would be required to return home for six months and pay hefty fines in order to become legal U.S. citizens. The president’s plan emphasizes preference for skilled workers who meet “national interest criteria,” limiting visas for parents, children and siblings.

Congress

Despite our hopes that the Senate would take leadership in this issue as it did last year, we have yet to see an immigration reform bill introduced in the Senate. Nonetheless, Senator Reid has promised to schedule time in late May to debate immigration reform with the expectation that there will be a bill by that time.

In the House of Representatives, a bipartisan compromise bill was proposed in late March by Representatives Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) that combines some key elements needed to fix our broken system. The introduction of the bill, Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy (STRIVE) Act of 2007 (H.R. 1645), is an important first step in moving the immigration debate forward.

What you can do

While we are encouraged that initial steps are being taken in Congress and the administration to address immigration reform, we must keep the pressure on to ensure that immigration reform gets passed in this Congress. During the upcoming months, we have the opportunity to advance comprehensive immigration reform in a manner that reflects our vision for humane and just policies for migrants and U.S. citizens alike – one that makes the American dream a reality. Please contact your Members of Congress and tell them to support just and comprehensive immigration reform, which includes the means for earned legalization with a path to citizenship for those who desire it, family unification through a diminishment of the backlog of family visas, provisions to combat exploitative labor conditions, and effective border security that is both just and humane.