Congressman Luis Gutierrez Introduces a Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill

Nancy Pelosi recently said she will not ask her House caucus to vote on any controversial bills in 2010 to lessen the the number of Democrats getting defeated in November. This bill definitely falls under the category of "controversial". The ironic thing is, 2010 is probably the best chance to pass this or any other bill we'll see in a while. Democrat numbers in Congress are at a high point.

Even some pro-legalization Members of Congress don't like what Gutierrez is doing because they're working towards a bipartisan solution and he, in their mind, is throwing a wrench into the works. For what it's worth, this bill is going nowhere soon. The Democrats will continue to string those who want earned legalization along for electoral reasons, but it'll be a while before they actually sign something into law.

I agree it's hard to muster up a lot of sympathy for people who are in a tough situation solely because of their own doing (for vast majority of undocumented immigrants). But there is a point where the American people have to ask themselves, what is the most realistic and just policy solution.

I think we need to increase the avenues for legal immigration and give people who are here illegally a way to gain some sort of legal status that allows them to work and participate in our society without fear of deportation. Obviously, immigrants who have broken laws other than immigration laws should be immediately deported.

"It is that there are simply not enough legal channels for people to immigrate legally."

Good point. That's also what the Cato Institute's Griswold has said. He advocates that this be corrected.

Unforunately, there is too much racism and xenophobia present here in the U.S. for most politicians to consider raising the number of legal immigration channels. Any politician who even thinks about proposing this solution ends up getting mired with all of the "they're breaking the law; they brought this situation on themselves; they will all go on welfare" types of objections. They probably will face a tough time getting re-elected without a lot more education.

I wouldn't mind that exchange. However, when legal immigration is being processed more quickly, then there will be a lot less enforcement needed.

The link you posted 24Head is a right-wing propaganda rag.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was under the Justice Department. After the Department of Homeland Security was created, the INS ceased to exist. Its functions were given to departments within Homeland Security, most notably U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

I agree it's hard to muster up a lot of sympathy for people who are in a tough situation solely because of their own doing (for vast majority of undocumented immigrants). But there is a point where the American people have to ask themselves, what is the most realistic and just policy solution.

I think we need to increase the avenues for legal immigration and give people who are here illegally a way to gain some sort of legal status that allows them to work and participate in our society without fear of deportation. Obviously, immigrants who have broken laws other than immigration laws should be immediately deported.

"I think we need to increase the avenues for legal immigration and give people who are here illegally a way to gain some sort of legal status that allows them to work and participate in our society without fear of deportation."

I said earlier in this thread: this is exactly what the Cato Institute's Griswold said. Allowing more low-skill people in so that employers can fill these positions with legal people who have the protection of the law on their side -- and employers can get their work done. This makes sense.

Unfortunately, this makes too much sense for the anti-legal-immigration xenophobes who fill too much of the "stop illegal immigration" campaigns.

Thanks for that clarification, Don.

Thanks for that clarification, Don.

Do you have a problem with lessening the huge backlog at the INS that is splitting up families and preventing people from getting legal entry?

Thank you, Justin, for sharing a bit about your personal story. I, too, have benefited from when and how my forebears migrated. This morning, I had breakfast with a dear friend, who after 16 years or so, got his papers just last month. For me, it is what I have learned about faith, trust in God, hospitality, tenacity, and more that has blessed me with the honor of being friend to sojourners, strangers, travelers, migrants. May God speed the work of Congress for CIR ASAP.

I'd be happy to support the hiring of more INS agents to speed the processing of legal immigration applications, in exchange for stronger enforcement of immigration law generally.

LV

USCIS hired a ton of people over the past two years. Applications are being processed at a record speed. The problem (for the most part) is not the processing of applications now. It is that there are simply not enough legal channels for people to immigrate legally. Your choice of stronger enforcement and the hiring of more adjudications officers to process the few (as opposed to the many who cannot) people who can qualify for immigration benefits is simply more of the same stonewalling that many on the right have engaged in for years. It really brings nothing of value or substance to the debate. At best it offers a false dichotomy.

The "broken immigration system" is a stock talking point; the problem isn't with our laws but with the enforcement of those laws, with the enforcement being blocked due to various forms of corruption. As for "families separated" and the rest, that's certainly unfortunate but no one kidnapped them and brought them here against their own will. Doesn't the Bible say things about personal responsibility, not putting your children in harm's way, and the like?

I look at some of the provisions of the bill here. Compare that to anything Justin Fung would tell you about the bill.

Do you have a problem with lessening the huge backlog at the INS that is splitting up families and preventing people from getting legal entry?

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was under the Justice Department. After the Department of Homeland Security was created, the INS ceased to exist. Its functions were given to departments within Homeland Security, most notably U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).