At a press conference on the steps of Congress, and as hundreds of thousands of migrants crowd the border with no intention of entering the United States, a Republican lawmaker on Tuesday introduced a bill that creates a path to legalize migrants. With nearly 12 million undocumented immigrants already living in the country, a sweeping, bipartisan initiative addressed an issue not seen in 36 years and a sensitive and divisive campaign.
At a press conference with the Capitol behind her, Republican Representative for Miami Maria Elvira Salazar detailed the project that she wrote off but has the support of several opposition legislators. Standing next to him were co-sponsors of the event, Texas Democrat Veronica Escobar, and other Republican and Democratic lawmakers who called it “historic.”
The program is called “The Dignity Act”. According to Salazar, this is the first bipartisan immigration bill of this magnitude introduced in Congress since Ronald Reagan’s reform in 1986.
In addition to legalizing those in the country, the program also envisages allocating billions of dollars to increase border security, an effort that would be paid for by the migrants themselves, who would have to contribute money to regularize their status.
“This is a historic moment,” Salazar said. “We’re fixing legal immigration and it won’t cost the taxpayer a dime,” Salazar said. “It will be fully paid for by those who are here” and will have to do with the established path to legitimize their status.
Salazar said the project has a great chance of being approved by Congress and called on all legislators to get involved and discuss ideas. He says the plan addresses the concerns of both sides. “They have been trying to fix migration for 36 years. Many have tried before us, but today is a new day.”
The issue of immigration is very divisive in the country. It always generates election campaign promises, but very rarely comprehensive measures are taken in this regard. Donald Trump wanted to build a wall along the entire border, but did not agree. Joe Biden promised a “humane” reform and is only now taking some measures to combat the crisis along the border with Mexico.
The bill introduced this Tuesday contemplates an innovation that Republicans have been reluctant to accept: a path for immigrants who have been in the United States illegally for more than five years and who have obeyed the law have paid taxes and raised American children, they can regularize their status. ,
“It’s dignity for the millions of people who are invisible to many Americans, but who are doing work that others won’t or can’t do. They deserve respect,” Salazar said.
But that legalization would not be a “pardon” and it would not be free for immigrants. Republicans want to make this very clear to their followers.
A woman with her daughter in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, is seeking to reach the United States. Reuters photo
With the exception of those who have committed a crime, the program would allow undocumented immigrants to remain in the United States for up to seven years, after paying US$5,000 under the so-called “Dignity Status” program. During that period they will be able to leave the country and return to the country without any problems.
After those seven years, immigrants would qualify for “redemption status”, which would lead to citizenship at a cost of $5,000.
“This Is Not Apology”
“I don’t want anyone to confuse the word dignity with amnesty. Amnesty is what undocumented people have had for 30 years: free schools, free hospitals and public services. Under this law everyone has to pay their share Is.’
The bill envisages that the money collected from immigrants – which they estimate could reach up to US$45,000 million – which could amount to several billion dollars – be used to help any American worker Funding of a new employee re-education program will be done. He has lost his job to an immigrant in order to get the training needed to get a better job.
Citizenship seekers will not have access to government programs or subsidies and must pay for their own health insurance. Apart from this, 1.5% will be deducted from his salary for a special fund which will be used for border security and along with this he is also planning to buy surveillance technology and more patrols. The project establishes that a wall will not be built as Trump wanted.
The plan also includes the construction of five “humanitarian campuses” along the border. The deputy said building those centers would end a controversial policy known as “catch and release,” in which detained illegal immigrants are allowed to go free while they await resolution of their cases. Is.
Campuses will prevent family members from being split up and immigrant cases will be resolved within 60 days, after which applicants will know whether asylum is approved, denied, or pending, in which case they will be allowed to wear an ankle bracelet Will go
It also contemplates building processing centers in various countries (an initiative that is included in Biden’s latest plan), so that migrants do not crowd the border and avoid human trafficking. Salazar said he hoped the private sector would support the bill, which provides a solution to the labor shortage they are facing.
“And dignity is the best solution, because the reality is there is no other full immigration reform that we know of that has been written in the House of Representatives or the Senate,” he said.
