Agencies

New York, May 16:

Seven influential US lawmakers have introduced bipartisan comprehensive immigration legislation designed to strengthen border security and enforcement of immigration laws and reduce the flow of illegal immigrants by offering them visas to work in the US.

The bill, the ‘2005 Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act’, would allow undocumented migrants who take English and civics courses and undergo medical and background checks to apply for permanent resident ‘green cards’ and eventually citizenship. It would create a new type of work visa, the H-5A, to allow low-skilled foreign workers who have guaranteed jobs in the US to enter for three years. The visa could be renewed once for an additional three years. Illegal workers now in the US could apply for H-5B visas that would be valid for six years. When the visas expire, immigrants could either return home or apply for permanent residence and ultimately, citizenship.

The department of homeland security would be required to develop new approaches to tighten border control, based on increased use of technology and greater information sharing and cooperation among federal, state, and local authorities as well as the Mexican government. Local authorities would be reimbursed for costs incurred for holding illegal immigrants, or prosecuting those charged with crimes. Foreign countries would have to enter into migration agreements with the US.

The state and homeland security departments would work together processing the visas. Immigrants applying for the H-5A would have to demonstrate that they have a job waiting in the US, and pay a $500 processing fee. Initially, immigration would be capped at 400,000 people, roughly the number of illegal immigrants thought to enter the US each year. Sponsors of the proposed legislation include John McCain, a Republican from the Mexican border state of Arizona, and Democrat Edward Kennedy from the northeastern state of Massachusetts.

The legislation is supported by a coalition of more than a dozen immigration and workers’ rights groups and labour unions.

‘’We welcome the introduction of the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act of 2005, comprehensive immigration reform legislation that would address problems that have long plagued our immigration system and help enhance our security,’’ said a spokesperson for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). “A recent survey tells us that Americans agree on the need for immigration reform that is comprehensive and bipartisan. Congress needs to step up to the plate and enact such reform.”

Douglas Rivlin, communications director for the National Immigration Forum, said, “the debate over immigration has been transformed. The debate is now about recognising and regulating the reality that immigrants are coming, immigrants are needed, and wouldn’t we prefer that they came legally rather than illegally so that their and the rights of US workers are respected?”

Bush opened door to comprehensive immigration reform legislation by including a ‘guest worker’ programme on White House agenda.