Senators announce plan for immigration reform

A group of Democratic and Republican U.S. Senators today announced their plan for immigration reform in the United States. The bipartisan group, which includes Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY), John McCain (R-AZ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Jeff Flake (R-AZ), proposes to solve one of the biggest challenges facing the country: finding a balance between protecting the border and legalizing the approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants.

The senators' plan includes the following key points:

Create a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. provided that the border is secured and the number of people who remain undocumented after entering the country legally is reduced.

- The bill will try to strike a balance between sealing our border and maintaining the flow of immigrants our country needs.

- Continued investment in border security. The senators propose to give U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) more workers, the latest technology and infrastructure to prevent, detect and stop the flow of undocumented persons without affecting the flow of commerce. For example, there will be more unmanned aerial vehicles and better electronic and radio surveillance equipment, and an increase in the number of agents patrolling ports of entry.

- Prohibitions against racial discrimination and inappropriate use of force will be strengthened. Border patrol agents will be better trained and supervised. There will be a better mechanism for border communities to share their opinions including criticisms.

- There will be an entry-exit system that records whether all persons entering the United States on temporary visas through airports and seaports where they have left the country after their authorized stay has expired.

- A commission comprised of governors, attorneys general and community leaders living along the southwest U.S. border will be created to monitor the progress of border protection and make recommendations regarding it when this goal is completed.

- Undocumented individuals will have to register with the federal government if they wish to get on the path to citizenship. They will be subject to a criminal background check, pay fines and taxes, if owed. In return they will be granted provisional legal status, which will allow them to live and work legally in the U.S. People with felony records or others who pose a threat to our national security will not be eligible for provisional legal status and will be subject to immediate deportation.

- There will be no permanent residency for those granted provisional legal status until the border is deemed secure.

- Persons receiving provisional legal status will not be eligible for federal public benefits.

- In addition, they will have to undergo additional criminal background checks, pay taxes, learn English and civics, demonstrate a work history in the United States, including having current employment if they wish to have the opportunity to apply for and obtain permanent residency.

- For most people who receive provisional legal status, they will have to wait until everyone who is currently waiting for an immigrant visa receives one. Currently there is a long wait to obtain an immigrant visa. For example, unmarried children over the age of 21 of Mexican origin who are being petitioned by their U.S. citizen parents have to wait almost 20 years to immigrate to the U.S. Unless the federal government increases the annual number of immigrant visas, there will be a long delay for those who wish to receive permanent residency after being granted provisional legal status.

- There will be preferential treatment for people who came to the U.S. illegally as children (DREAMers) and those who are working in agriculture. These people will be granted a faster path to permanent residency.

2. Improve the legal immigration system and create immigration benefits to attract people. brighter of the world

- The legislative plan will reduce the backlog in the family and employment visa categories to reduce family separation and the loss of human capital.

- Permanent residency will be granted to immigrants who have received a doctorate or master's degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics from a U.S. university.

3. The employment verification program will be stronger

- According to the senators, most immigrants who come to the U.S. do so for economic reasons. Therefore, there needs to be a better employment verification system so that undocumented people cannot work.

- Employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers will face heavy fines and criminal penalties for those who flagrantly violate the law.

- The federal government will provide U.S. employers with a fast and reliable electronic system to confirm that any new employee is authorized to work in the U.S..

- The new employment verification system will prevent identity theft and the hiring of future undocumented workers. Future job seekers will have to prove their identity and legal status in the country.

- There will be procedural safeguards to protect U.S. workers, prevent identity theft, and provide due process should problems arise.

4. Admission of new workers and protection of workers' rights.

- It will create a more efficient and timely immigration system that allows U.S. companies to hire lower-skilled workers when jobs are available and U.S. workers are unwilling or unwilling to do the work.

- Employers will be allowed to hire immigrants as long as they demonstrate that they were unsuccessful in recruiting a U.S. worker to fill an open position, and hiring an immigrant will not displace U.S. workers;

- A viable program will be created to meet the needs of the U.S. agricultural industry, including the dairy industry, to find agricultural workers when U.S. workers are not available to fill vacant positions;

- More immigrants with fewer skills will be allowed to come to the U.S. when the economy is creating jobs, and the number of immigrants will be reduced when the economy is not creating jobs;

- Workers will be protected through a system that has and enforces strong labor protections.

- Workers who have been successful in the workplace and have contributed to their communities over many years will be allowed to obtain permanent residency in the U.S.