U.S. IMMIGRATION SYSTEM | hOT TOPICS

In light of the widely held view that our immigration system is in need of serious repair, a bipartisan initiative spearheaded by Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) was introduced in the House of Representatives on March 22, 2007. The bill’s official name is The Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy (STRIVE) Act of 2007 (HR 1645). We expect to see a fairly similar proposal introduced on the Senate side, but thus far the leadership has yet to formulate a legislative proposal. For those who would like to view this bill in its entirety, you can access it at: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.1645:

Essentially, the STRIVE Act is an initiative aimed at enacting Comprehensive Immigration Reform, meaning that it addresses the three central pillars of a workable immigration system: 1) border security (keeping out “illegal aliens”); 2) internal enforcement (enhancements in the apprehension and removal of foreign nationals) and 3) benefit reform (reengineering of the temporary and permanent visa system and initiatives to address and clear up our nation’s unauthorized foreign national population). The essential, underlying premise of Comprehensive Immigration Reform is that enlargement and rationalization of our immigration benefits program – in particular, clearing up the increasingly long backlogs – would remove much of the pressure that realistically (although perhaps not justifiably) leads many foreign nationals to illegally enter the United States or to violate the terms of their immigration status.

The STRIVE Act contains seven titles addressing the following areas in need of immigration reform:

1. Border enforcement;
2. Interior enforcement;
3. Enhanced employer verification requirements that will create greater marketplace enforcement;
4. A guest worker program;
5. Visa reforms aimed at reducing the waiting period for immigrant and nonimmigrant visas;
6. Earned legalization for hard-working, qualified, undocumented individuals, including children whose illegal status arose solely through the actions of their parents;
7. Miscellaneous provisions related to the immigration court system, immigrant victims of the 9/11 tragedy, and expedited naturalization for members of the armed services.

We will analyze in greater detail at a later time these provisions, particularly as the respective Congressional subcommittees actively take up this issue. However, the readership of this article should be informed and, as desired, should make their views known to their Congressional representatives on the issue of Comprehensive Immigration Reform, particularly given the fact that the current state of affairs negatively impacts so many of our business clients. You can contact your House Representative via: http://www.house.gov/writerep/

Aronson & Associates, P.A.
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Minneapolis, MN 55403
Tel: 612-339-0517
Fax: 612-349-6059
info@aronsonimmigration.com

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