Taking the first steps toward mending and reforming the nation’s immigration system, U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) and Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) introduced The Immigration Reform Act of 2004 on Jan. 21. The comprehensive immigration reform legislation calls for improving national security, increasing predictability in the U.S. job market and reuniting families who have abided by United States’ laws.
“America’s immigration policy needs a healthy dose of common sense,” Daschle said. “This bipartisan legislation cuts through ideology. The Hagel-Daschle bill will keep out those who seek to harm Americans, while welcoming those who would strengthen our nation by pursuing the American dream for themselves and their families.”
This bipartisan effort came on the heels of President Bush’s immigration proposal to Congress on Jan. 7, which would allow for some 8 million undocumented immigrants to obtain legal status for up to six years, provided they are employed with jobs that are unfilled by U.S. citizens, and they return to their home countries after their temporary work status expires.
The president’s plan received criticism from both sides on Capitol Hill, as well as from immigrant and labor rights activists. Nationwide, Asian Pacific American organizations said Bush’s plan came up empty-handed on the reform front, since the plan only provided temporary work status and no efforts in helping immigrants obtain citizenship or permanent residence.
“We would like to see the speedy processing of the petition for relatives of Filipino immigrants for the purpose of family unification,” said Loida Nicolas Lewis, national chair of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) in Washington, D.C. “The reduction of the massive backlogs in family immigration must be given top priority. Any meaningful reform should also provide reasonable opportunities for people already living and working in the United States to become lawful permanent residents. Moreover, any temporary worker program must be accompanied by an opportunity for lawful permanent residence and full labor protections for United States and immigrant workers alike.”
Eunsook Lee, executive director of The National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC) in Los Angeles, said she is pleased by the legislation because it aims to address problems in the immigration that need to be fixed.
“We are also hopeful because it is bipartisan, and realistically, no legislation on immigration will be passed without the support of Republicans,” Lee said.
The Hagel-Daschle bill outlines the following: Strengthening national security by identifying undocumented immigrants living inside U.S. borders and tracking foreign workers who enter the country for jobs; provides funding to the Department of Homeland Security for increased border security, and criminal and background checks on visa applicants; increases the number of visas available for those who have followed rules and are waiting family reunification; improves economic stability by creating an enforceable program to bring foreign workers into the country to take jobs with vacancies; and penalizes those who continue to break immigration laws.
“Congress must reform the patchwork of immigration laws that have created an underground, black market labor force,” Hagel said. “The legislation we [introduced] is responsible immigration reform. This is a debate that we have deferred for too long. President Bush deserves credit for the leadership he has shown in putting this issue back on the agenda. Congress must now meet that leadership by having a courageous debate on the tough issues of immigration reform.”
Kent Chaegu Lee, executive director of the Korean American Resource and Cultural Center in Chicago, said a key difference between the Hagel-Daschle legislation and Bush’s immigration reform principles is that the former includes a path toward legalizing immigration status.
The legislation would allow undocumented workers who have lived continuously in the United States for a minimum of five years, worked for a minimum of three years and pass strict criminal and national security background checks to adjust their status to legal permanent residency, and also apply for status adjustment for their spouses and children. Backlogs, some of which have been around for 20 years, have separated many APA U.S. citizens and family members.
“These backlogs have been getting longer and longer, and it’s been so hard for people to endure years of separation from their families,” said Asian Law Caucus Executive Director Phil Ting in a statement. “We’re delighted that this bipartisan plan recognizes the importance of family reunification.”