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Immigrants are an important part of our districts and nations history, culture and economy. However, our current immigration system is broken. There are more than 11 million undocumented residents living within our borders.

Its time we fix our broken immigration system. We cannot do this through more piecemeal steps. We need to take a comprehensive approach that solves the whole problem.

Were a nation of laws. And its important that we enforce those laws. Immigration reform must strengthen our borders and be fair to U.S. taxpayers.

Were also a nation of immigrants. More than a million immigrants come to our country every year in search of greater opportunities for themselves and their families. They strengthen our nation and contribute to our economy. Reforms should allow immigrants to earn the right to join us as fully participating taxpayers. We should establish a streamlined program for temporary workers, and address unauthorized immigrants who are currently in our country by creating an earned path to citizenship that requires steps like passing a background check, paying a reasonable fine and back taxes, and going to the back of the line behind those who are playing by the rules while continuing to live and work in the U.S.

As Congress take up comprehensive immigration reform, I will work to include policies that will: Strengthen our borders, provide the appropriate number of border patrol agents and supply them with the resources and technology they need to protect our land and maritime borders; Focus enforcement of our immigration laws on criminals and national security threats, including transnational crime and drug traffickers; Give local law enforcement more flexibility in complying with the Department of Homeland Securitys Secure Communities Program. Expedite the naturalization process for our military personnel, veterans, and their families; Reform our current seasonal worker visa program and give agricultural workers the ability to earn legal status provided they meet certain requirements, such as paying taxes and any fines; Enact into law President Obamas deferred action policy for individuals brought to this country as children, who are under the age of 30 and pose no criminal or security threat (the so-called DREAMers); Provide immigration benefits to same-sex couples; Reduce the backlog of visa applications that have been pending for extended periods of time, while ensuring that background checks are conducted to protect our national security.Immigration reform is a top priority for our district and nation, and I will continue my work on comprehensive reform that strengthens our borders, is fair to taxpayers, allows children of immigrants to get a college education, provides an earned pathway to citizenship for families whove been here for generations, and establishes a guest worker program for those here doing the jobs Americans dont want to do.

See the rest here:
Immigration Reform | Congressman Mike Thompson

The Issues

Our nations immigrants are the constant reinvigoration of America. Each wave of newcomers brings their patriotism, bravery and determination to succeed to our shores and in doing so, makes America more American. As students and servicemembers, entrepreneurs and public servants, parents and neighbors, these new Americans affirm our countrys fundamental, founding truth: that in diversity, lies strength.

Yet President Trump and Congressional Republicans continue to push a hateful, harmful anti-immigrant agenda that instills fear in our communities and weakens our country. Instead of respecting the hard-working men and women who want to contribute to our nation, Republicans are trying to make American taxpayers pay for an immoral, ineffective and expensive border wall. At the same time, the Trump Administration is unleashing a cruel deportation force that is tearing apart families across America.

We must reject these senseless and destructive policies. Democrats remain committed to passing comprehensive immigration reform that recognizes and embraces the talents and contributions of our immigrants. We will continue to work toward a comprehensive solution for our countrys broken immigration system, and we will never stop fighting to ensure that America remains a land of opportunity for those who work hard, abide by our laws and dare to dream.

Excerpt from:
Immigration Reform - Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi

Democrats believe immigration is not just a problem to be solved, it is a defining aspect of the American character and our shared history.

-Democratic Party Platform

Democrats are fighting for every immigrant who feels threatened by Donald Trumps election. We will not stand by and watch families be torn apart Democrats in Congress and in states and cities across the country are already standing up to Trumps hatred and bigotry to defend their immigrant neighbors.

Thanks to President Obama, hundreds of thousands of DREAMers have been able to receive a temporary status that allows them to study, work, pay taxes, and contribute to the communities they grew up in. His administration has made a tremendous difference by prioritizing immigration enforcement so that it is focused on those with criminal records and doesnt arbitrarily separate families, and Democrats are fighting to protect that progress.

Democrats will continue to work toward comprehensive immigration reform that fixes our nations broken immigration system, improves border security, prioritizes enforcement so we are targeting criminals not families, keeps families together, and strengthens our economy.

Democrats know the importance of our countrys history as a nation of immigrants. We honor our fundamental values by treating all people who come to the United States with dignity and respect, and we always seek to embrace not to to attack immigrants.

Read more here:
Democrats.org: Change that Matters

Farmers and ranchers need a reliable, skilled workforce. Farm work is challenging, often seasonal and transitory, and with fewer and fewer Americans growing up on the farm, its increasingly difficult to find American workers attracted to these kinds of jobs. Farm labor cant all be replaced by machines either. There are certain farm jobs, like tending livestock and pruning or picking fresh produce, that require a human touch. Where American workers are unwilling or unavailable, workers from other countries have provided crucial support to American agriculture.

Congress needs to pass responsible immigration reform that addresses agricultures current experienced workforce and creates a new flexible guest worker program. Instability in the agricultural workforce places domestic food production at risk--increasing immigration enforcement without also reforming our worker visa program could cost America $60 billion in agricultural production.

Farm Bureau supports legislative reform that provides access to a legal and stable agricultural workforce in the short- and long-term.

Stability will be provided through:

Read the rest here:
Agriculture Labor Reform - The Voice of Agriculture

This article needs to be updated. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (November 2010)

The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act (CIRA, S. 2611) was a United States Senate bill introduced in the 109th Congress (20052006) by Sen. Arlen Specter [PA] on April 7, 2006. Co-sponsors, who signed on the same day, were Sen. Chuck Hagel [NE], Sen. Mel Martnez [FL], Sen. John McCain [AZ], Sen. Ted Kennedy [MA], Sen. Lindsey Graham [SC], and Sen. Sam Brownback [KS].

The bill dealt with immigration reform. It proposed to increase some security along the southern United States border with Mexico, allow long-term illegal immigrants to gain legal status, and to increase the number of guest workers over and above those already present in the U.S. through a new "blue card" visa program. The sponsor of the Bill, Senator Arlen Specter, introduced it on April 7, 2006. It was passed on May 25, 2006, by a vote of 62-36. Cloture was invoked, which limited debate to a 30-hour period. The parallel House Bill H.R. 4437 would have dealt with immigration differently. Neither bill became law because the two Houses were not able to reach an agreement to go to a conference committee. The end of the 109th Congress (January 3, 2007) marked the defeat of both bills.

In 2006 there were estimated to be between 8 and 20 million illegal immigrants living within the United States, with the most common estimates being around 11 to 12 million.[1] Further complicating the issue is the extreme poverty present in Mexico and other Latin American countries, the high demand for unskilled labor in the United States, the alleged inadequacy of current legal immigration routes, and the presence of drug and human smuggling on the border. On December 16, 2005, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4437, which solely focused on US-Mexican border security and penalties for employers, smugglers, and those, such as churches and charity workers, providing assistance to illegal immigrants. One of the most controversial aspects of the house bill aimed to change illegal presence in the United States from a civil offense to a felony.

The major difference between H.R. 4437 and S. 2611 was the proposed legalization for illegal immigrants in S. 2611. The Senate legislation allowed illegal immigrants who have been in the country for more than five years, estimated to be 7 million in number, to apply for citizenship by paying fines and back taxes. Illegal immigrants who have been in the country for 2 to 5 years, numbering around 3 million, would be allowed to stay in the country without fear of deportation, but after 3 years would have to leave the U.S. and could apply for citizenship abroad. Those in the country for under 2 years would be required to return to their original nations. Thus, with some waiting, 10 million illegal immigrants could be eligible to become citizens. The fine is around $2000, but some sources say it might be higher.

The Bill also introduces a H-2C visa, or "blue card." This visa allows employers to bring in outside workers for up to 6 years, after which the employee must spend one year in their original country. The Bill proposes 370 miles (600km) of fencing along highly populated areas near the border; H.R. 4437 proposes 700 miles (1,100km) of fencing. The Bill does not mention any expanded role for local law enforcement for border enforcement tasks (primarily for interior enforcement) the way that H.R. 4437 does. There is an added clause, the Inhofe Amendment, an English-only proposal that makes English the "national language" of the United States aiming at discouraging services in any other language than English.

The bill would also increase the annual cap for H-1B work visas from 65,000 to 115,000, with an automatic 20% increase year on year, thus increasing the number of information technology and other professionals from foreign countries eligible to work in the U.S. It also would lower the standard by which judges determine who is eligible for refugee status from "clear and convincing evidence" to "substantial evidence."

It would allow illegal immigrants who later become legal to collect Social Security benefits based on social security credits earned while they were illegal. Also, the United States federal government would have to consult with Mexican officials before commencement of any fence construction on the U.S. side of the border.

This bill has been compared to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

The Bill set forth border security and enforcement provisions, including provisions respecting:[1]

(1) personnel and asset increases and enhancements; (2) a National Strategy for Border Security; (3) border security initiatives, including biometric data enhancements and a biometric entry-exit system, document integrity, and mandatory detention of aliens apprehended at or between ports of entry; and (4) Central American gangs.

Sets forth provisions respecting: (1) noncitizen Armed Forces membership; (2) non-immigrant status for athletes; (3) extension of returning worker exemption; (4) surveillance programs, including aerial and unmanned aerial surveillance; (5) a Northern Border Prosecution Initiative; (6) reimbursement of Southern Border State and county prosecutors for prosecuting federally initiated drug cases; (7) conditional nonimmigrant worker-related grants; (8) border security on federal land; and (9) parole and status adjustment relief for qualifying widows and orphans.

See more here:
Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 - Wikipedia