ವಲಯ ಎಕ್ಸ್ಪ್ಯಾಂಡೆಡ್

ವಲಯ ಎಕ್ಸ್ಪ್ಯಾಂಡೆಡ್
ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸಿದ: ಡಿಸೆಂಬರ್ 16, 2009

ಕಳೆದ ದಶಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಸುಮಾರು ಹತ್ತನೇ ಬಾರಿಗೆ, ನಾನು ಅಮೇರಿಕಾದ ಆ ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ ಬಹುತೇಕ ಸಕ್ರಮಗೊಳಿಸುವ ಅವಕಾಶ ಅರ್ಪಿಸುವ ಹೊಸ ಶಾಸನ ಉಪಕ್ರಮದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಬರೆಯುತ್ತಾ ನಾನು. ನಮ್ಮ ವಲಸೆ ನಿಯಮ ಉಲ್ಲಂಘನೆಯಾಗಿದೆ. ಈ ಬಾರಿ, the initiative is called Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America’s Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (“CIR ASAP”). The measure was introduced before the U.S. House of Representatives on December 15, 2009 by Congressman Luis Gutierrez (ಡಿ-ಐಎಲ್), a lawmaker who has shown himself to be a leader in the comprehensive immigration reform movement. Gutierrez, like many other politicians in Congress, along with our President, realizes that eventually our society has to make a choice about what we will do about our nation’s 15 million or so undocumented individuals. Absorb? Deport? Some stay, some go?

Whatever the solution, for sure, by doing nothing our country ignores the issue and pretty much establishes a de facto amnesty, where the status quo is maintained and the undocumented population continues to be allowed to live and work in the U.S., albeit in the shadows. Based on the underlying premise of most undocumented workers’ embarking for the U.S. in the first place (“better to be in the U.S. illegally and make a living and get ahead than be in my home country legally”), this population will not be packing their bags for a trip home anytime soon, no matter the level of immigration enforcement.

ವಲಯ ಎಕ್ಸ್ಪ್ಯಾಂಡೆಡ್ includes a broad range of initiatives, including enhanced border security and immigration law enforcement, improved verification systems for employers and otherwise establishing some integrity in our broken immigration system. The truly potent, provocative goodies in the legislative proposal involve the legalization of the undocumented population.

The most notable provision allows for the out of status/no status foreign national to establish an interim legal status by, ಇತರ ಅವಶ್ಯಕತೆಗಳನ್ನು ನಡುವೆ,

ಒಂದು) documenting their unlawful status in the U.S as of December 15, 2009,
ಬೌ) paying an application fee, along with a $500 ಉತ್ತಮ, ಮತ್ತು
ಸಿ) attesting to having made societal contributions through employment, education, ಮಿಲಿಟರಿ ಸೇವೆ, or social service volunteering.

The applicant would also need to demonstrate a relatively clean criminal record, where a felony or three (3) misdemeanors will prompt ineligibility.

Other highlights of the ವಲಯ ಎಕ್ಸ್ಪ್ಯಾಂಡೆಡ್:

• Allows for adjustment to permanent status after a six (6) year interim, conditional status. In conditional status, while awaiting permanent status, an applicant will have the right to work in the U.S. ಮತ್ತು ಅಂತರರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯವಾಗಿ ಪ್ರಯಾಣ; individuals in removal proceedings will be among the pool of eligible applicants.
• ಡ್ರೀಮ್ ಎಸಿಟಿ: similar to above provision, except that students brought to the U.S. before 16 years of age would have an accelerated path to permanent residence upon high school graduation, completion of two (2) years of college study or several other milestones,
• Expands opportunities for U.S. employers to hire and keep foreign workers by liberalizing rules for facilitating temporary and permanent (ವಲಸೆ) visas for foreign workers and
• Provides greater discretionary authority for Immigration Judges presiding over a long time U.S. resident’s removal (ಗಡೀಪಾರು) hearing.

There are at least another 100 interesting provisions included in this legislative proposal. Most likely, ಆದರೂ, if and when any of these measures get signed into law, the details and language will probably only faintly resemble this proposed language. To many in Congress, a measure like ವಲಯ ಎಕ್ಸ್ಪ್ಯಾಂಡೆಡ್ is toxic territory, where any type of support for this cause will open up the floodgates for criticism and accusations of “rewarding the lawbreaker.”

ನಿಸ್ಸಂಶಯವಾಗಿ, for any sort of immigration reform to pass, courage and brutal honesty will have to find a way into the discussion — particularly to get past the argument that, ಕೊನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ, the lawbreaker may very well be rewarded. ಆದರೆ, looking at the potential benefits such reform may yield for our society, including a substantial economic shot in the arm (think of all the billions of dollars the 15 million undocumented will start spending knowing that their stay here is secure), as well as the cost of doing nothing, comprehensive immigration reform, in some form or another, is inevitable. Here’s hoping that the introduction of ವಲಯ ಎಕ್ಸ್ಪ್ಯಾಂಡೆಡ್ at least gets an honest and courageous conversation started.

ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸಿದ ಡಿಸೆಂಬರ್ 16, 2009 - "ವಲಸೆ ಕಾನೂನು ವೇದಿಕೆ"
ಕೃತಿಸ್ವಾಮ್ಯ © 2009, ರಿಚರ್ಡ್ Hanus ಕಾನೂನು ಕಚೇರಿಗಳು ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೆ, ಚಿಕಾಗೊ, ಇಲಿನಾಯ್ಸ್