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How It Came to Be
After what happened on September 11th of 2001, it became plain to see that some people who came to America legally had overstayed their visit and the INS (immigration, Neutralization, Service) did not notice them. On March 3rd, 2003, the actions of INS and those of U.S. Custom Service transferred into the DHS (Department of Homeland Security). U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection (CBP) oversee the movement of goods and people into the United States. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is responsible for enforcing immigration laws within the United States along with its land and water boundaries. The biggest illegal entry problems occur along the 1,956-mile border between the United States and Mexico.The IIRIRA (Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act) forced the INS to add 1,000 Boarder Patrol agents each year starting in the year 1997. After the terrorist attack in September, the need for Border Patrol became crucial. However, many of the agents went to work at different jobs because of the pay. To resolve this the INS gave the Border Control agents a pay raise and more benefits. On the northern border there was where 300 agents working at the 5000 long border. Since September 11, there are now 1000 people working at that boarder.
The Importance of The Immigration Reform Legislation
In simple terms the immigration reform legislation being considered by congress aims to toughen border security and update the process for admitting temporary workers while also providing a pathway to citizenship for the 12-20 million people in the United States who are here illegally. Considering the sheer amount of people this legislative reform could come to effect, it would seem astonishing if the Obama administration had decided to overlook the issue just because of the previous ineffectiveness in passing immigration reform or simply because the topic is controversial. This is the perfect time for congress to consider reforming the immigration policies of the United States, this is not the congress of 2006 or 2007. Clearly the demographic has changed with previously minority players looking to stake their future with a new government. The problem now with the immigration reform legislature is that this issue has become as much, if not more, of an issue over feelings of discrimination and government monetary contributions to illegal immigrants. The majority of illegal immigrants currently, originate from Latin American countries and as such because Hispanics have come to be the face of illegal immigrants, many feel that when congress talks about immigration reform (regardless of their citizenship statues) the decisions of congress are sure to affect their whole community. Furthermore, because some Americans feel that illegal immigrants are a financial drain of the economy (but then again this is common during times of recession) and seek tighter border control without really wanting to compromise and allow the current 12-20 million illegal to start a path for legalization. They don’t pause to understand how immigration policy could be important to America’s long-term economic development or how many illegal immigrants contribute already. For now, however, we all wait for congress collectively to come to agreement as to how urgent the need for reform is.What is Happening Now
On Friday April 23, 2010 Governor Jan Brewer signed the nation’s toughest bill on illegal immigration into law for the state of Arizona. The bill, SB 1070, permits law enforcement officials or agency of the state or a county, city, town or other political subdivision of the state where reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an illegal alien, a reasonable attempted shall be made to determines the status. In other words any person who looks illegal can be questioned and asked for proper identification of their legal status. According to the New York Times, this bill will lead to major racism. People will be identifying and targeting Hispanics due to the fact that the state is close by the border. Despite the fact that the officials will be trained there will still be harassment and discrimination from people. The bill will act as a recipe for racial and ethnic profiling.Noted from the NEW YORK TIMES- On April 15th Pramila Jayapal's assertion that the first step for immigration reform is the legalization of all the undocumented immigrants, instead of reforming the current system for legal immigration, is disingenuous. She states that "We can't afford to wait in immigration reform". Serious reform must address both, comprehensively. I have the impression that Jayapal’s vision of reform for the undocumented immigrants would be immediate and unconditional amnesty. This is repugnant.
“Any process of legalization must be rigorous — not crippling — and include fines and a requirement to acquire basic proficiency in English. With respect to legal immigrants, as a nation we are seriously at risk without an immigration system that makes us attractive to the talented, educated and ambitious from all corners of the globe.”
— James B. Paden, Blaine
On March 21st tens of thousands immigrants and activists met up to rally on Washington Mall for immigration reform. They where calling for legislation this year to give legal status to millions of illegal immigrants and seeking to pressure President Obama to keep working on the contentious issue once the health care debate is behind him.
