President Obama’s Remarks on Arizona Immigration Bill:
On April 23, 2010 President Obama spoke at a naturalization ceremony for 24 members of the United States Armed Forces. The ceremony recognized the contributions made by immigrant members of the U.S. armed forces who have earned their American citizenship through service to our country, and the contributions immigrants from all walks of life have made to our country throughout its history.
At the ceremony, President Obama also made the following remarks on the Arizona Immigration Bill:
“Indeed, our failure to act responsibly at the federal level will only open the door to irresponsibility by others. And that includes, for example, the recent efforts in Arizona, which threatened to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and their communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe.
In fact, I’ve instructed members of my administration to closely monitor the situation and examine the civil rights and other implications of this legislation. But if we continue to fail to act at a federal level, we will continue to see misguided efforts opening up around the country.”
See President Obama’s remarks addressing Arizona Immigration Bill:
Arizona enacts nation’s toughest illegal immigration law
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed the nation’s toughest bill on illegal immigration into law on Friday. The law aims to identify, prosecute and deport illegal immigrants in Arizona.
The Arizona Immigration Bill (Senate Bill 1070) provides the following provisions:
Immigrants must carry their papers documenting their legal status
Failure to carry immigration documents is a state crime
Police can pull over any vehicle if they suspect the driver of being an illegal immigrant
Police has power to detain anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant
Anyone who hires illegal immigrant – contractor, day laborer, employment – can be prosecuted
It is a state crime to drive someone known to be an illegal immigrant
It is a state crime to conceal, harbor, or shield anyone who is an illegal immigrant
It is a state crime to knowingly reside with anyone who is an illegal immigrant
The new law requires immigrants to carry their immigration papers documenting legal status at all times. Failure to carry immigration documents make it a state crime – a misdemeanor. The law also requires police to question people if they suspect that someone is an illegal immigrant. Police has broad power to detain anyone suspected of being in the U.S. illegally. Previously, the police could check someone’s immigration status only if that person was suspected in another crime. The new law also targets those who hire illegal immigrant day laborers or knowingly transport them. In addition, the law allows people to sue local government or agencies if they believe federal or state immigration law is not being enforced. The law was to take effect 90 days after the legislative session ends, meaning by August. Court challenges were expected immediately.
Click here to read the Arizona Immigration Bill (Senate Bill 1070):
Controversial Arizona Anti-Immigration Bill Draws Outcry of Protests
The pending Arizona immigration bill (Senate Bill 1070) unleashed immediate protests. As Arizonans await Governor Jan Brewer to sign the controversial bill into law, hundreds of demonstrators gathered at the Arizona State Capitol to protest. Students, activists, and protesters from both sides of the issue gathered to voice their support.
Mexico’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it was worried about the rights of its citizens and relations with Arizona. Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles called the bill America’s “most retrogressive, mean-spirited, and useless anti-immigrant law”, reverting Arizonans to “German Nazi and Russian Communist techniques” to spy and turn family members and neighbors on one another to report to authorities because of suspicions based upon appearance.
Click here to read Cardinal Roger M. Mahony’s remarks on Arizona’s anti-immigration bill:
ICE sets controversial deportation quota of 400,000 this year
U.S. Immigration authorities have set controversial new quotas for deporting illegal immigrants. In a memo released by James M. Chaparro, head of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), the police branch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, ICE set a goal of deporting additional 150,000 criminal aliens by Sept. 30, 2010. The memo also stated that total deportations were currently at 310,000, well below ICE’s goal of 400,000, and nearly 20 percent behind last year’s total of 387,000.
Furthermore, Chaparro outlined how ICE planned bring up the deportation numbers:
(1) increase detention space to hold more illegal immigrants while they await deportation proceedings
(2) sweep prisons and jails to find more illegal immigrants for deportation, and offer early release for to
those willing to go quickly
(3) increase efforts to catch illegal immigrants whose only violation was lying on immigration or visa
application or reentering the U.S. after being deported
Over 200,000 people joined the rally on March 21 in the nation’s capitol to demand comprehensive immigration reform.
President Barack Obama addressed the crowd at the rally via video message, to reaffirm his commitment this year to work with the Congress to fix the nation’s broken immigration system. President Obama also said to solve the problems of families being torn apart, employers gaming the system, and police officers struggling to keep communities safe.
Here's President Obama's message on immigration reform:
Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) outlined the framework for the Comprehensive Immigration Reform in the Washington Post article, “The right way to mend immigration”.
The senators outlined the four components of their proposed immigration reform:
1. Require biometric Social Security cards to ensure that illegal workers cannot get jobs
2. Strengthen border security and enforcement
3. Create a process for admitting temporary workers
4. Implement a tough but fair path to legalization for those already here.
High-Tech Biometric Social Security Cards
The immigration reform would emphasize employment verification system that holds employers accountable for hiring illegal workers. To that end, the senators propose a tamper-proof ID system which would dramatically decrease illegal immigration, and reduce the government revenue lost when employers and workers here illegally fail to pay taxes.
All U.S. citizens and legal immigrants who want jobs must obtain a high-tech, fraud-proof Social Security card. Each card's unique biometric identifier would be stored only on the card; no government database would house everyone's information. The cards would not contain any private information, medical information or tracking devices. The card would be a high-tech version of the Social Security card that citizens already have.
Prospective employers would be responsible for swiping the cards through a machine to confirm a person's identity and immigration status. Employers who refused to swipe the card or who otherwise knowingly hired unauthorized workers would face stiff fines and, for repeat offenses, prison sentences.
Tough Border Security and Illegal Immigration Enforcement
The senators propose a zero-tolerance policy for gang members, smugglers, terrorists and those who commit other felonies after coming here illegally. They would increase the Border Patrol's staffing and funding for infrastructure and technology. More personnel would be deployed to the border immediately to fill gaps in apprehension capabilities.
Other steps include expanding domestic enforcement to better apprehend and deport those who commit crimes and completing an entry-exit system that tracks people who enter the United States on legal visas and reports those who overstay their visas to law enforcement databases.
Green Card for Certain Graduates of U.S. Institution of Higher Education
Ensuring economic prosperity requires attracting the world's best and brightest. The senators propose legislation that would award green cards to immigrants who receive a PhD or master's degree in science, technology, engineering or math from a U.S. university. It makes no sense to educate the world's future inventors and entrepreneurs and then force them to leave when they are able to contribute to our economy.
Temporary Work Visas for Lower-Skilled Workers
The blueprint for the immigration reform also creates a rational system for admitting lower-skilled workers. Our current system prohibits lower-skilled immigrants from coming here to earn money and then returning home. The senators’ framework would facilitate this desired circular migration by allowing employers to hire immigrants if they can show they were unsuccessful in recruiting an American to fill an open position; allowing more lower-skilled immigrants to come here when our economy is creating jobs and fewer in a recession; and permitting workers who have succeeded in the workplace, and contributed to their communities over many years, the chance to earn a green card.
Path towards Legal Immigration Status
For the 11 million immigrants already in this country illegally, the reform would provide a tough but fair path forward. They would be required to admit they broke the law and to pay their debt to society by performing community service and paying fines and back taxes. These people would be required to pass background checks and be proficient in English before going to the back of the line of prospective immigrants to earn the opportunity to work toward lawful permanent residence.
The White House Office of the Press Secretary released the following on March 11, 2010:
Statement by the President on Today’s Meetings on Immigration Reform
Today I met with Senators Schumer and Graham and was pleased to learn of their progress in forging a proposal to fix our broken immigration system. I look forward to reviewing their promising framework, and every American should applaud their efforts to reach across party lines and find commonsense answers to one of our most vexing problems. I also heard from a diverse group of grassroots leaders from around the country about the growing coalition that is working to build momentum for this critical issue. I am optimistic that their efforts will contribute to a favorable climate for moving forward. I told both the Senators and the community leaders that my commitment to comprehensive immigration reform is unwavering, and that I will continue to be their partner in this important effort.
President Obama’s Promise: the Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR)
Expectations are running high as the nation awaits President Obama to move forward with his campaign promise of immigration reform. Supporters of the immigration reform have voiced growing criticism as President Obama has not yet kept his word. With Congress focused on economic and healthcare reform, there has been lack of progress on immigration.
In an effort to show his commitment, on March 11th, President Obama met with key senators, grassroots immigration organizations, and faith community groups to discuss updates on immigration agenda. In three scheduled meetings, President Obama met with Senators Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Graham (R-S.C.), immigration advocates, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucause.
The framework for the comprehensive immigration bill has not yet been introduced. Senators Schumer and Graham are working on the bill. Their plan includes a path to U.S. citizenship for undocumented immigrants and national ID card as safeguards for workers.
President Obama has not offered any detail on the reform, and the immigration reform was mentioned in passing at his State of the Union speech. Senator Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) has urged the administration to move more quickly, stating that “[F]or the Latino community in this country, it’s the civil rights issue of their time, so delay obviously adds to disillusionment.”
USCIS Reminds Chilean Nationals of Immigration Benefits Available
WASHINGTON—In light of the recent natural catastrophes in Chile, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds Chileans of U.S. immigration benefits available to eligible Chilean nationals upon request. Temporary relief measures available to nationals of Chile may include:
The grant of an application for change or extension of nonimmigrant status on behalf of a Chilean national who is currently in the United States, even in cases where the request is submitted after the individual’s authorized period of admission has expired;
Re-parole of individuals granted parole by USCIS;
Extension of certain grants of advance parole, expedited processing of advance parole requests;
Expedited adjudication and approval, where possible, of requests for off-campus employment authorization due to severe economic hardship for F-1 students;
Expedited processing of immigrant petitions for immediate relative(s) of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs);
Expedited issuance of employment authorization where appropriate; and
Assistance to LPRs stranded overseas without documents in coordination with the Department of State.
For more information on USCIS humanitarian programs, visit www.uscis.gov.
