Finally, progress on immigration
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hen it comes to the latest incarnation of immigration reform in Congress, there are so many people on the right and left complaining about the current bill's provisions -- and for such vastly different reasons -- that you can't help but suspect it must be a fairly good piece of legislation. It's often true that the best compromises leave no one truly happy.
About the only elected leader in Washington who's saying nice things about the bill, which is currently being debated in the Senate, is President Bush.
He hasn't committed himself to signing it, but he's pleased that it addresses his top three priorities when it comes to immigration reform: border security, a guest-worker program and a pathway to citizenship for the illegal aliens who are already in our country.
There is reason to suspect immigration reform might just push its way through to passage this time. There have been two previous failures during the Bush administration, but the public clamor for solutions has only intensified -- and polarized -- in recent years. Congress understands that if it is not successful this time, if reform is not achieved, it won't be until 2009, after the next round of elections, that the immigration-reform task will be undertaken again.
The hallmarks -- and major points of contention -- in the compromise bill now before the Senate are:
l A path to legalization. Opponents are calling this "amnesty," but supporters argue that it presents a long and arduous route to citizenship for illegals. To enter the pipeline to eventual citizenship, an illegal would pay a $5,000 fine. Then their journey is in limbo until specific hurdles are cleared -- security along the border and backlogs of legal immigrants applications -- that are completely outside their ability to affect the outcome. It would also require heads of households to apply for citizenship in their home countries; this so-called "touchback" provision could be an even more significant obstacle than the $5,000 fine.
l The guest-worker program. This provision, obviously, is opposed by organized labor and, some say, ignores the estimated 12 million illegals in the U.S. right now. It allows as many as 400,000 per year to cross the border to work, but allows them to stay between two years and six years only. If an employee turns out to be a great worker and the employer wants them to stay past the time limit? Tough. That doesn't sound fair, to us; an employer should be able to sponsor a guest-worker and upgrade them to some sort of permanent-resident status. The bill would also increase the penalties for guest workers who overstay their visas: no immigration benefits for 10 years.
l Qualification to immigrate legally. It does change, on a basic philosophical level, the historical U.S. approach to legal immigration. No longer will families be as readily able to bring other family members into the country based on kinship; that will be diminished in favor of criteria focusing more on possession of marketable skills for businesses and an applicant's educational achievement. Those qualifications are valid, yes, but we ought to continue to encourage the strengthening of immigrant families living and working in this country.
l Border control. It remains to be seen whether or not this component, arguably the most critical of all, will be adequately addressed. If the border isn't regulated to a much greater degree than it is now, nothing will be solved.
We have long advocated for immigration reform, and have generally agreed with the president's outlook.
We urge Utah's congressional delegation to do its part to see that effective reform is accomplished.
Though not perfect, the current proposal makes an effort in the right direction, and is worthy of their support.
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