Senate Judiciary
Committee Work on Immigration Reform Package Is
Getting Closer to Finalization
By James E. Root
As seen in newspapers throughout
the United States as well as in a March 17, 2006
article in the Los Angeles Times, entitled, “Guest-Worker
Plan Gets Senate Boost,” there is currently
a tremendous amount of pressure from U.S. business
groups, labor groups, immigrants rights organizations,
the national American Immigration Lawyers Association
and other small businesses who favor creating a
temporary-worker program. They are substantially
interested in putting strong pressure on the Senate
and Congress to pass such legislation to help fill
jobs that Americans either cannot or will not do.
Additionally these business groups are in favor
of a program which would give current undocumented
workers a way to obtain legal status in the United
States.
Due to the strong pressure on the part of the groups
mentioned above to complete and pass immigration
legislation, on March 16, 2006 the U.S. Senate came
close to an agreement on the Presidents Guest Worker
proposal which would enable some 12 million illegal
foreign nationals who are presently living and working
in the USA a chance to legalize their status. Contrary
to immigration opponents statements, this program
in clearly not an amnesty, since illegal foreign
nationals seeking legal status would have to pay
a $2,000 fine, apply for a six-year temporary status,
remain employed, file and pay their taxes, learn
and demonstrate understanding of English and U.S.
government.
At this point, however, there will be no vote will
until after Congress takes a recess for a week.
However the Senate Judiciary Committee is close
to being ready to back the immigration legislation
proposed by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee
Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy and Republican
Senator John McCain.
U.S. business groups, labor groups, agriculture/farm
businesses, immigrants rights organizations, the
national American Immigration Lawyers Association
and other small businesses experience the reality
of the fact that many jobs in America are those
that U.S. Citizens will not take. These occupations
include: agricultural workers, landscaping, restaurant
workers, construction, and other similar service
and labor jobs due to the lower level of pay and
undesirable working conditions. Farms and landscaping
companies can often be heard to say that they have
tried hard to fill their job openings with Americans,
but cannot get any to either take such jobs or if
they do, most if not all Americans who take such
jobs do not last longer than one week at maximum.
This harsh reality is faced by many businesses that
contribute heavily to the America economy.
One example cited by the Los Angeles Times, clearly
showed how serious the situation is and how critical
the passage of the immigration legislation is to
businesses, was of a produce grower, packer and
shipper in California who could not find enough
workers to handle the picking and harvesting of
the lemon crop for his business. To accomplish the
task he normally required eight crews of 25-30 workers
each, but due to the crackdown on illegal immigration
and also the fact that his efforts to get American
workers were futile, he has to now run only 5-6
crews of 18-20 workers, and without a full workforce
he faces the loss of lemon crops which will cost
his company over $100,000 in losses.
This is also true of landscaping and the construction
industry as well as many other small businesses
and companies who are forced due to the severe labor
shortage to hire illegal foreign nationals to do
the jobs that they cannot get American workers to
take.
Despite the reality that most illegal foreign nationals
take such jobs and frequently work 1 to 2 other
jobs, and contribute substantially to the economy
in the United States, there are still many opponents
in Congress who only favor border security legislation,
and toughening laws on immigration enforcement against
aliens and businesses.
Once this or any other immigration reform passes
through and is approved by the Senate Judiciary
Committee, it then goes to the full Senate for vote,
and must also be considered by Congress the House
of Representatives, before it is finalized into
a formal legislative Bill for presentation to the
President for his signature.
You too can help!!! You are not without a voice,
even if you are not legal in the United States.
You are able to encourage those U.S. Citizen whom
you know, your employers, and others who have the
right to vote, to prepare signature petitions, and
to contact their U.S. Congressmen and Senate Representatives,
either my mail or over the internet and to add pressure
in favor of the Guest Worker Program. Tell your
story and encourage American Citizens to take action
in favor of this necessary immigration reform legislation.
For more information and a “free” initial
legal consultation please contact Immigration Attorney
James E. Root at 1(888) ROOT-LAW or visit his website
at www.RootLaw.com. Mr. James E. Root heads an Exclusive
Immigration Law practice with two offices in Southern
California.
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