Amnesty my As$

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 8:33am

My republican friend texted me last night saying "Look what republicans are going to do for immigration!"

I immediately went to the web to check it out. I had heard recently that Bush was going to possibly try to push something out before the end of his presidency. I've always been a skeptic when it comes to any kind of immigration bill outside of real amnesty. It is a very complex issue to say the least.

Republicans are the last people that would seemingly endorse amnesty. It's clear enough to me they enjoy an economy built on this type of labor. Anyways here is my breakdown of some things in the bill.


*Providing Tools For Employers To Verify The Eligibility Of The Workers They Hire: Employers will be required to verify the work eligibility of all employees using an employment eligibility verification system, while all workers will be required to present stronger and more verifiable identification documents. Tough new anti-fraud measures will be implemented and stiff penalties imposed on employers who break the law.

This is not the problem with the H1-B Visa. These tools are in place already. It is not a simple task sponsoring anyone for work in this country. The current problem is that we do not allow enough skilled people into this country. This is a worthless measure.

*Creating A Temporary Worker Program: To relieve pressure on the border and provide a lawful way to meet the needs of our economy, the proposal creates a temporary worker program to fill jobs Americans are not doing. To ensure this program is truly "temporary," workers will be limited to three two-year terms, with at least a year spent outside the United States between each term. Temporary workers will be allowed to bring immediate family members only if they have the financial ability to support them and they are covered by health insurance.

Legalizing below minimum-wage people is inherently wrong. This will just resume the cycle that currently exists. How is one able to afford health insurance for a family member let one him/herself? This makes no sense.

*No Amnesty For Illegal Immigrants: Illegal immigrants who come out of the shadows will be given probationary status. Once the border security and enforcement benchmarks are met, they must pass a background check, remain employed, maintain a clean criminal record, pay a $1,000 fine, and receive a counterfeit-proof biometric card to apply for a work visa or "Z visa." Some years later, these Z visa holders will be eligible to apply for a green card, but only after paying an additional $4,000 fine; completing accelerated English requirements; getting in line while the current backlog clears; returning to their home country to file their green card application; and demonstrating merit under the merit-based system.

Why would any illegal immigrant come out to sign up for these terms? What if they can't learn English proficiently? I wonder if average Americans would pass this test. What is involved in this merit-based system? Will it even be possible "some years later" to get anything other than the boot? Will people on Z Visa's be entitled to minimum wage US work standards? If yes, how are these people supposed to maintain a job when their employer only wants to pay under-the-table? This just doesn't add up.


*Ending Chain Migration: The immigration system would be reformed to better balance the importance of family connections with the economic needs of our country by replacing the current system, where nearly two-thirds of green cards are awarded to relatives of U.S. citizens, with a system in which future family immigration will focus on the nuclear family and parents.


This has to take the cake! To begin with, the 13 million people here "illegally" are NOT able to sponsor anyone. The system that is in place currently is a challenge for immigrants as it is, and I don't really see much of a difference if you can sponsor your kids, parents and siblings? Isn't that what currently stands? Are they taking away sibling sponsorship?



Here are the current 2007 standards for sponsoring a relative:


Eligibility

In order for a relative to sponsor you to immigrate to the United States, they must meet the following criteria:

They must be a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S. and be able to provide documentation providing that status.
They must prove that they can support you at 125% above the mandated poverty line, by filling out an Affidavit of Support
The relatives which may be sponsored as an immigrant vary depending on whether the sponsor is a U.S. Citizen or a lawful permanent resident.

Husband or wife
Unmarried child under 21 years of age
Unmarried son or daughter over 21
Married son or daughter of any age
Brother or sister, if the sponsor is at least 21 years old, or
Parent, if the sponsor is at least 21 years old.

If the sponsor is a lawful permanent resident, they may petition for the following foreign national relatives to immigrate to the U.S.:

Husband or wife, or
Unmarried son or daughter of any age.



I don't see how any of this bill helps anyone. Is this a measure the Republicans are using to show Democrats are anti-amnesty when they shoot it down? This is certainly not amnesty? Is this a measure to legalize the illegal employee of people in this country? I'm confused. This bill does not break any cycles. It also does not help improve the current system that desperately needs to expand the H1B Visa cap if we plan to have any future in the world at all.

This is messed up.








Source!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 6:51pm

It is a form of amnesty. How is someone barely making minimun wage supposed to pay $ 5000?. If someone is a guest worker & has a child (who is a US citizen) how are you supposed to send this party back?

10 or 15 years from now we will be having the same discussion

Updated On: 5/18/07 at 06:51 PM

[Luscious]

Posted: 5/19/07 at 5:03pm

This bill is a joke. No illegal alien is going to step forward if it means having to return to their home country to apply for a visa. Most would never have a visa granted them and they would never make it back into the U.S.

And how exactly does this help those foreigners who have been in this country legally and still can't manage to get a work permit or green card? I personally know someone; one of the smartest, hardest working, most honest and above board people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. He came here on a student visa 8 1/2 years ago. He didn’t speak a word of English upon his arrival. He put himself through school (first a language institute where he took English classes and computer courses), learned the language, and now speaks fluent English and is in college (on the Dean's list) working toward his Bachelor's degree. And he still can't get a work permit, let alone a green card. It's a goddamn disgrace that someone as earnest and hard working as him has to go through what he's gone through (paperwork, leg-work, lawyer’s fees, false hopes) and still can't manage to gain residency status. And no… it certainly is not easy to get an employer to sponsor a foreign student. He’s been down that road and back. Every lawyer will still tell you that the easiest way to get a work permit/green card is the dishonest way; through an arranged marriage of convenience. That’s how the system is set-up and that’s what people like my friend are eventually forced to resort to. The more you play by the book, the more screwed you are. Sad, but true.

Updated On: 5/19/07 at 05:03 PM

[RadiGal2]

Posted: 5/21/07 at 2:28am

This bill is so pathetic... I really wonder why the need for something so distracting

This 'grand compromise' was put together behind closed doors-- announced to a ton of fanfare at the end of the Spring session so candidates on both sides could say in good faith "we tried"...
the clear intention on the national level since last Spring has been to let legislation die until 2009.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/21/07 at 11:58am

"I really wonder why the need for something so distracting..."


That's the way the Republicans have always worked.

Screw something up, then throw out some distraction to try and draw attention away from their mistakes....

[BigFatBlonde]

Posted: 5/21/07 at 3:54pm

I'm waiting for Republicans, in cahoots with some Democrats to..

Screw up the process

Throw up their hands

Proclaim "Government doesn't Work"

Then offer a no bid contract to some corporate donor and "privatize" immigration process.

Which of course costs us more in the long run and offer little to no accountablity.


The MO is getting old.