With more than 11 million illegal
immigrants in the United States,
congressional leaders are finally seeing the real problem — America’s
borders are not secure. But isn’t this what the American people have been
saying for years? Yet, the politicians in Washington,
DC are blaming the illegal immigrants for all
the problems America
is having. And so, before the US Congress recessed last December, the House of
Representatives passed H.R. 4437, known as the “Border Protection,
Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005," buoyed with
optimism that it would sail through the Senate without a storm.
When the Senate reconvened last January,
H.R. 4437 was hit by a “rogue wave” and just like the pleasure ship “Poseidon,”
sank beyond salvage. The “rogue wave” that sank H.R. 4437 was the unexpected
but organized demonstration of more than one million — legal and illegal alike
— Latino immigrants and other ethnic groups including Filipinos.
The massive demonstrations that erupted in
more than 120 cities created a political tinder box that could ignite and
polarize the nation along racial lines. This is a specter that a majority of
the US
senators would not like to happen. On the other hand, the mood is different
among the congressmen: they want the US Senate to pass H.R. 4437. However, in
the aftermath of the Latino protests, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist — who
is perceived to have presidential ambition — and his counterpart in the House,
Speaker Dennis Hastert, have announced that the US Congress would not pass any
legislation that would criminalize “illegal presence,” a key provision of H.R.
4437. But could they control those who are intolerant of any legislation that
would give a window of opportunity for illegal immigrants to gain legal status?
The issue that has created an uproar from
the anti-illegal immigrant groups is the term “amnesty.” Even some legal
immigrants felt that “amnesty” is too easy for illegal immigrants to acquire.
Their reaction is understandable because of what most legal immigrants had gone
through: long years of waiting for their green card, some of whom waited more
than 20 years. As one legal immigrant said, “Why would the government make it so
easy for an ‘illegal’ to become ‘legal’? It’s not fair."
And this is the dilemma that has baffled the
senators: “Amnesty” is too easy. In my opinion, the reason why the word
“amnesty” is abhorred is because it is a term associated with criminals. You
only grant amnesty to those who have violated the law and some Americans simply
could not look at it differently. They don’t want “criminals” in their midst.
But there is always a way out of such a predicament.
So the Senate leaders, by lexical
legerdemain, removed the word “amnesty” from the legislative bill they’re
fashioning. Key provisions of the compromise immigration reform bill are:
allows illegal immigrants in the country five years or more to remain, continue working and
eventually become legal residents after paying fines, back taxes and learning
English; requires illegal immigrants between two and five years to go to a
point of entry at the border and file an application to return; and requires
those in the country less than two years to leave. Now, the question is: What
criteria would be used to approve an application to return?
With the removal of the word “amnesty,”
the proposed immigration reform bill would be more palatable and... politically
correct. It would take an illegal immigrant longer time to gain legal status,
just like those who came in as legal immigrants.
Another key provision of the compromise
bill is the creation of a special guest worker program for an estimated 1.5
million immigrant farm workers, who, after satisfying certain criteria could
also become legal residents. In addition, up to 325,000 temporary visas a year
would be provided for future workers, which could be increased depending on the
labor market demands.
In regard to border security, the
proposed legislation would add up to 14,000 Border Patrol agents to the
existing 11,300 agents. The bill would also authorize additional detention
facilities for illegal immigrants who are apprehended.
Barring unforeseen obstacles, the
proposed legislation is expected to be passed by both houses and sent to
President Bush for his signature by Memorial Day. Meanwhile, President Bush
announced last May 15, 2006, that he will dispatch as many as 6,000 National
Guard troops to the US-Mexico border to stop the flow of illegal immigrants. It
was seen as a move to win the support of the conservatives in Congress who have
been critical of President Bush’s guest worker program proposal and the
senators’ “formula” for giving legal status for illegal immigrants. In his
announcement,. President Bush said: “there is a rationale middle ground between
granting an automatic path to citizenship for every illegal immigrant and a
program of mass deportation." Clearly, he is trying to convince critics
that “amnesty” is not going to happen. In reference to the comprehensive
immigration reform bill being hammered out by the Senate and House leaders,
President Bush said, “It is a way for those who have broken the law to pay
their debt to society." And, on a sympathetic note to illegal immigrants,
he said, “Every human being has value no matter what their citizenship papers
say." Isn’t that what America
is all about?
While “path to citizenship” would finally
shine like a bright beacon of light at the end of the tunnel for the more than
11 million illegal immigrants, the “Great Wall” of Fortress America would
soon rise to protect its borders from hordes of illegal immigrants. It would be
the dawn of a new age; one that has yet to be defined.
However, one thing is certain: America will
never be the same again.
(PerryDiaz@aol.com)
By Perry Diaz
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