Variations on a theme: Major immigration bills currently debated
The debate over illegal immigration intensifies, and here is a brief outline of the main positions in the debate
The debate about illegal immigration is already acrimonious, and it only promises to become more so in the weeks and months to come. Here is the summary of the main ideas currently in circulation:
Bush plan
” Ends the catch-and-release of thousands of illegal border crossers; owing to shortage of detention facilities, border crossers are let go if they promise to appear in court. Bill wants to increase number of holding facilities by 40 percent
” Doubles resources for enforcing laws that employers hire only legal workers
” Creates a program for temporary workers who would be permitted to work in the United States for no more than six years. They would not be granted amnesty but would be able to apply for a Green Card while a guest worker in the United States
Senate bill No. 1
” Senate Judiciary Committee’s bill passed last Monday:
” Allows illegal immigrants who were in the United States before 2004 to continue working legally for six years if they pay a $1,000 fine and pass a criminal background check. They would become eligible for permanent residence upon paying another $1,000 fine, any back taxes, and having learned English
” Adds up to 14,000 new Border Patrol agents by 2011 to the force of 11,300 agents
” Creates a special guest worker program for an estimated 1.5 million immigrant farm workers, who can earn legal permanent residency.
Senate bill No.2
Senate majority leader Bill Frist’s proposal:
Requires employers to verify the identity and immigration status of employees through an electronic system
Assesses civil penalties of between $500 and $20,000 against employers for each illegal immigrant they hire
More than doubles the number of employment-based green cards, from 140,000 to 290,000, and makes more employment-based visas available to unskilled workers
Makes it a misdemeanor crime for an immigrant to be in the country illegally
House bill
Known as the Sensenbrenner bill after Congressman James Sensenbrneer (R-Wisconsin)
” Requires all employers to use within six years a database to verify Social Security numbers of employees or face civil or criminal penalties for hiring illegal workers
” Requires mandatory detention for all non-Mexican illegal immigrants arrested at ports of entry or at land and sea borders
” Makes illegal presence in the country a felony
” Requires building two-layer fences along 700 miles of the 2,000-mile border between Mexico and United States
