|
|
|
|
Last Updated: Apr 9, 2007 - 12:46:40 AM |
SACRAMENTO - By a 62-36 vote, the U.S. Senate has approved legislation that will overhaul the nation’s immigration policy. A final version now goes to the House-Senate conference committee who will hammer out a final version to be sent to President George W. Bush for signature.
The Senate and the House differ radically in their approach to immigration reform. The Senate bill provides for ways to better secure U.S. borders, establishes a temporary worker program and provides an opportunity for millions of illegal immigrants already in the U.S. to stay in the country and become citizens.
The temporary worker program in the Senate bill contains a program called AgJOBS sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho. The AgJOBS program allows more than a million immigrant farm workers a chance to earn permanent residency status through an earned adjustment status.
Advocates say an improved temporary worker program will benefit the immigrant workers who come to the U.S. in search of jobs and will also assure farmers and ranchers in the U.S. that there will be workers available to fill farm labor jobs.
The House version of the immigration bill however focuses entirely on enforcement along the U.S.-Mexican border and makes it a felony for a worker to be in United States illegally. Many House conservatives staunchly oppose illegal immigrants being given an opportunity to become citizens and have said they will not support any legislation that would reward “criminal behavior.”
The House bill advocates the construction of more than 1,000 miles of fencing between U.S.-Mexico border and the construction of 500 miles of vehicle barriers along the border. An additional 1,000 border patrol agents will be hired this year with 14,000 more employed by the end of 2011.
The House bill will make it a felony for anyone to assist a person in entering or remaining in the United States. Employers can be fined between $5,000 and $50,000 for hiring illegal immigrants and can face additional civil penalties of $500 to $20,000 for hiring illegal workers.
A number of legislators have been reluctant to confront immigration reform in an election year, but comprehensive reform has been advocated by the agriculture community since the 1980s.
President Bush has voiced support for immigration reform and has said that he will push hard for the passage of a comprehensive immigration reform bill.
The president has advocated the end of a "catch and release" policy along the southern border with Mexico and has said the guest worker program could create a legal way for foreign workers to enter our country in an orderly way, for a limited period of time.
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
