Immigration Reform

[Hennry Cuellar-sac]

Immigration Reform

The immigration reform started to be a real deal in 1986:

In 1986, Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), which bolstered the border patrol with a $35 million aid package. In 1990 congress gave the Border Patrol further funding to repair, maintain and construct fences along the U.S. border. (“A Border Becomes a Wall” 283)

The immigration reform contains twenty six points. Almost all of them are closing the options for the immigrants that want to come to United States for work and to have a better way of life. The first six points contained the infrastructure and the personal that the government will invest to close the entrance for illegal immigrants. The next two points are about the interior enforcement; The Administration is training hundreds of state and local law enforcement officers to address Illegal Immigration in their communities. The next seven points contained the penalties that the government will impose to those employers who hire illegal immigrants, and the criminal charges that they will have. Next four points are about that the only people that the USA will permit to work are the talented and skilled people; The Department of Labor Will Issue Regulations Streamlining the H-2B Program For Non-Agricultural Seasonal Workers. The Department Of Homeland Security will extend the Visa term for professional workers from Canada and Mexico to attract more of these talented workers to the United States. Subsequently reform points say that the administration is working for that illegal aliens do not earn credit in the Social security system for illegal work. The last three points are about the process that the immigrants need to become citizens.

Henry Cuellar

A little background of the candidate Henry Cuellar:

Henry Cuellar, a Democrat elected in 2004 after a primary contest. Cuellar was the oldest of the eight children of migrant workers who had only elementary education. He graduated from Georgetown University and later got a Ph.D. in government from UT. In 2002 governor Rick Perry appointed him secretary of state and then he occupied other important positions. (Barone and Cohen 1659)

Henrry Cuellar position- Issue: Immigration Reform

Henry Cuellar believes that it must be a strong border and immigration reform “We have to address the undocumented immigrants already living in the United States to obtain legal status and expand avenues for permanent immigration if workers meet other requirements, including paying additional fines and back taxes and registering for selective military service."

Cuellar emphasis that it is necessary to include these aspects in the immigration reform “Humanitarian concerns, employment needs, and the ever intensifying realm and scope of our nation's security challenge.”(Cuellar, Henry)

The statistics declare that there are an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living and working in the United States. Cuellar said “Many of these immigrants have been in the country for decades; they have put down roots and have given birth to children who are U.S. citizens." (Cuellar, Henry)

Cuellar believes that an immigration reform is necessary but it will only succeed if it encourages citizenship, enhances national security, promotes economic growth, and protects freedom and liberty.

Congressman Henry Cuellar is a member of the House Budget and Agriculture committees in the 109th Congress; accessibility to constituents, education, health care and economic development are his priorities.

Works Cited

"Comprehensive Immigration Reform." The White House. 10 Aug.-Sept. 2007. 05 Nov.-Dec. 2007 <http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/immigration/>.

Cuellar, Henry. "Congressman Henry Cuellar." US House of Representatives. 28 Mar.-Apr. 2006. 05 Nov.-Dec. 2007 <http://www.house.gov/cuellar>.

Barone, Michael, and Richard E. Cohen. Almanac of American Politics. Nationak Journal Group, 2005. 1659.

“A Border Becomes a Wall.” Issues and Controversies on File/July 27, 2001. 2001. 283.

“Skilled Workers Visas.” Issues and Controversies on File/July 13, 2001. 2001. 265.

[Cristina Blangiardo]

This is such a delicate issue, that everyone should be well informed on. The immigration reform has been in effect since 1986, to help consolidate the questions and concerns about illegal immigrants. Its a pretty basic guide line for people to understand and follow, which I think is a good thing to do at a time like this.

[Elizabeth Mata]

Immigrants have always been coming into our country since World War I. But back then the immigrants we coming into our country the legal way. Now, we immigrants sneeking into our country, and trying to make a living without having to pay taxes. They have tried these immigration reformities and they haven't worked at all.

[Tramell Tennyson]

The United States has been big on immigration ever since the end of World War II. It is a problem that needs to be handled very carefully. The United States itself is made up of different cultures. It comes together in a huge "melting pot" to make up what is the United States.

[Vanessa Valdez]

Maybe we do need a little bit reform in how immigrants are coming to the US illegally. And i understand it can affect that it can harm our economy. But all of these illegal immigrants are getting just coming over to the united states for a better life. I personally witness the hard life people live in mexico. People sometimes make about 75-150 dollars a week and they have to try to get through life with that. Then their government doesn't have any programs that help them out economically like the US does. Thats why waiting 10 years for a proper VISA is too long to wait. Just crossing the Rio Grande or coming with illegal paper seems the right thing to do. If the US wants all illegal immigrants to have proper papers, then they should have a faster process.

[hconklin]

Mr. Cuellar, thank you for informing me of the complicated issue of managing illegal immigrants. This is undoubtedly one of the most complex, most humantarian issues we, as Americans, must address. I think you have stated what many citizens believe, but the test will be how you can carry out remedies. It is so costly to protect our borders from people just wanting a better life, but everything has a price and I think you are saying that when you want immigrants to participate in military duties and pay for entering this country illegally.

[Alana Baron]

Illegal Immigration is a big issue in the US. Many people come here because this is a country with many opportunities. They just want a better life for themselves and their famililes. Nowadays there are many illegals living here in the US who have their roots planted deeply, children born here, people with jobs; but to deport them all would be impossible. Like Cuellar said, there should be an immigration reform; but it would only work if it were for the best of the country and the citizens (encouraging citizenship, enhancing national security, promoting economic growth, and protecting freedom and liberty).

[Juan Torres]

Henry Cuellar position is too broad about some important issue as immigration is. I think that a lot of people come from other countries with the expectations of a better way of life, and the only reason that the majority of the immigrants come is looking for a job. A lot of people are coming from a lot of places, because USA is a land of opportunities. I am not agree with some points of the reform, because the government want to send back some immigrants that have been living in USA for a long time. A lot of immigrants already have some of their roots in USA, and all of they have been working for, could be taken away from them. Cuellar said that the nation it is badly broken, and in some cases is broken because some employers prefer to pay lower wages to the immigrants. Henry Cuellar said that the government should give temporary visas for workers, and I think that is a good way to regulate immigration. Some people think that the immigrants are taking the jobs from the American people, but the majority of the jobs that are the hard ones, like construction, in the Restaurants kitchen, in the yard, and some others, are jobs that nobody wants. But of course that I think that the immigration must be regulated it. Some regulations could be as Lowel, Lindsay explain “Foreign professionals or skilled workers are legally permitted to work in the U.S. if they are able to get a temporary visa known as an H-1B” (Issues and Controversies on File/july 13, 2001 265). This could help so those workers can be legally in the United States and of course paying taxes as any other USA citizen.