Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Immigration Reform: Reality or Killed by Deadlock

To me the United States has been built from immigration. Why is Immigration Reform being discussed you may ask? It more about the mass flood of illegal immigration occuring. According to both the White Houe and Fabian there are 11 million undocumented workers. The White in Jaunary 29th, released a brief of the President's Plan. It revolves around four principles: countinuing to stregthen the borders, streamlining legal immigration, earned citizenship, and cracking down on employers hiring undocumented workers. The earned citizenship is about letting those undocumented workers legally earn citizenship by passing backgroup checks, paying taxes and a penalty, and learning English. Since then according to Avila, a senate group of eight, four from each side has been hard at work on creating their own bill. They are hoping to introduce it next week. Also Avila is stating that a general principle agreement has been reached on the main big parts, such defining border security. Also according to Avila, "labor and business have agreed on a guest worker plan." Despite labor and business agreement to Guest Worker Plan, that may be the undoing of the bill. The part in contention about the Guest Worker according to Fox News it seems like a reward for rule breaking. Also the Fox News in the article has new republican Senator Ted Cruz stating "insisting on a path to citizenship is the surest way to kill the bill." In the same Article it is writen that Senator Rand Paul a republican from Kentucky, is in favor of the idea of path to citizenship. The Fox News Article also states that although few democratic in the pass have favored pathway to citizenship today majority agree pathway is needed. According to  Fabian Senator Cruz is quoted saying Obama insisting on a pathway to citizenship is trying to kill the bill in order to use issue in 14 and 16 elections. The Pathway isn't the only problem with getting this bill through or even forming it.

According to the Fox News Article, Democrats and Republicans have asked the White House on how it plans to measure the improvement in border security with no response. The Deparment of Homeland Security responded by saying "department had not completed any new measurements and was not going to be able to do so in coming months", from Fox New Article. Fox News Article is claiming Democrats are accusing Republicans of trying to push out millions of illegal Immigrants from the country that are on the path of citizenship. Republicans are off course denying this.

My view on this issue is reform needs to happen. I'm also believe that people take the easiest road to survive. By choosing illegal immigration many of those people may be scared to apply for citizenship. By allowing the pathway that fear is eliminated and it gets them to pay taxes adding the national income, which is only fair. The fact illegals don't pay taxes is the biggest reason people have issues with it.  The only part I fear is according Fabian is Senator Cruz is calling on Conservatives to not pass the bill. If this bill doesn't pass who know when the issue with come to light again or with the increasing differences on views when agreement of terms will happen again. This bill seems like the only chance to get reform on immigration to happen.

In ending I would just like to ask you what you think on this issue.


Bibliography
Avila, Jim. "Immigration Reform for Thanksgiving." ABC News Blog (web log), April 1, 2013. Accessed April 1, 2013. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/04/immigration-reform-for-thanksgiving/.
 
"Creating an Immigration System for the 21st Century." Immigration. January 29, 2013. Accessed April 02, 2013. http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/immigration.
 
"Despite Guest Worker Deal, Path to Citizenship Looms as Key Divide in Immigration Debate." Fox News. April 02, 2013. Accessed April 02, 2013. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/04/02/path-to-citizenship-could-be-make-or-break-issue-for-parties/.
 
Fabian, Jordan. "Why Ted Cruz Is Holding Out on Immigration Reform." ABC News. April 02, 2013. Accessed April 02, 2013. http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/Politics/immigration-reform-senator-ted-cruz-conservative-holdout/story?id=18864224
 

5 comments:

Unknown said...

I Definitely support your agreement. I would like to see immigration reform happening in the United States. As president Obama noted, there are many children who were born here in the United States from illegal immigrant parents and they still are not recognize as American citizens. I don't think its fair to these children who the only country that they know is the United States and our government still don't recognize them. I think that there are many things that these illegal immigrants can contribute to the country. First, As Brandi noted in her blog I think they can help build the economy of the country. while none of them pay taxes that's means that they are not contributing to the economy of the country. After becoming citizens some of them can even become business owner and can hire people in their community. I don't see why it is hard for both Republicans and Democrats to pass a an immigration reform. This make me think that many of them don't even know the history of the country. Therefore, it is time for our government to recognize all of the children who were born in the United States and other illegal immigrants as citizen of the United States.

Unknown said...

I enjoyed reading this post. I feel passionately about this topic because (as you stated) the United States is a country of immigrants. I find it interesting that many people discriminate against particular immigrant groups (usually Latinos) when it was not long ago other groups such as Irish, Italians, and Germans immigrated to the United States. Immigrants, both legal and illegal, contribute immensely to the economy. Often they are willing to work the jobs many Americans do not want to, such as being cashiers at fast food restaurants and gas stations. I do not mean this in a derogatory way of course. My own grandparents were immigrants to the United States who worked several jobs in order for their children and grandchildren to have more opportunities in America. This being said, I do not understand why there is so much political animosity regarding citizenship for immigrants. Surely there should be respect (and a place) for people and children who immigrate to the United States and contribute to the economy. Let us not forget that we all come from immigrants.

Brandi said...

Thank you guys for your response. Gahungu Simon its does make me sad that many american citizens aren't recongized. It also makes me think about the history of US immigration and how in each wave there has been a group singled out and not liked. Ashley DiMartino I love how you shared a personal element with us. I feel that many people just see illegals are taking jobs especially in this tough economy.
The thing I didn't consider at first but with talking to an Uncle of mine came to mind. The question that come to light is would the immigration reform make it easier for crime bosses or terrorists to get into the United States and carry out acts of terror or crime.

Unknown said...

I don't think that the proposed immigration reform goes nearly far enough. It would still be a difficult and time consuming process to get citizenship. If policy makers wanted to really address the issues that would look at the population coming into the United States and see that U.S. "free trade" policies have forced rural Mexicans into cities and lack of opportunity has driven them here.

Angelica said...

Immigration reform is going to be an uphill climb in my opinion and unfortunately is clearly a bit of a racist topic since we don't seem to be up in arms about Asian immigrants and or European. I think its time we take a look at what the real problem is.