President Obama spoke today in Las Vegas, Nevada on the crucial importance of immigration reform for the United States and the more than 11 million undocumented currently living in this country. Although many expected him to present the Administration's plan on comprehensive immigration reform, his address was more general in scope and outlined three key points that he expects will be addressed in any successful proposal for immigration reform. Specifically, he is looking for reform to include: (1) continued improvements to enforcement and border security; (2) a path to "earned" legalization and citizenship; and (3) bringing our legal immigration system into the twenty first century.
The President emphasized that the process for "earned" legalization will require background checks, compliance with all tax obligations, proof of English-language ability and payment of a fine or penalty. He stated that the process will not be quick but it will be fair. The President also noted that United States citizens should not have to wait years after filing visa petitions for their family members to reunite with them in the United States. Finally, he highlighted the importance of keeping the best and the brightest graduate and post-graduate students in the sciences and math in the United States by affording them the opportunity to obtain lawful permanent residency after graduation.
The key points outlined by the President are quite similar to a fast moving, bipartisan agreement presented by Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) earlier this week. The Senators' plan is focused on the creation of a system that will "help build the American economy and strengthen American families." In addition to reducing backlogs in the family and employment visa categories, they propose permanent resident status to immigrants who have received a Ph.D. or master's degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics from a U.S. university.
Overall, the Senate plan outlined the following key points:
- Creating a "tough but fair" path to citizenship for unauthorized immigrants currently living in the United States that is contingent upon securing our borders and tracking whether legal immigrants have left the country when required;
- Reforming our legal immigration system to better recognize the importance of characteristics that will help build the American economy and strengthen American families;
- Creating an effective employment verification system that will prevent identity theft and end the hiring of future unauthorized workers; and
- Establishing an improved process for admitting future workers to serve our nation's workforce needs, while simultaneously protecting all workers.
Among other things, the Senators' have proposed that those who have been working in the U.S. agricultural industry without legal status and who "commit to the long-term stability of our nation's agricultural industries" will be able to "earn a path to citizenship through a different process under our new agricultural worker program." In addition to changes to the U.S. immigration system, the senators have proposed a mandatory employment verification system with stiff penalties for egregious offenses.
We expect that these basic principles may change somewhat in the coming weeks. However, we are strongly encouraged by the swift action of the Senators and the Administration. The fight for a fair and balanced immigration system is far from over, but the first steps are promising and we believe that the momentum for change is growing. We will keep you updated as changes occur.
