CDIR Update No. 3
May 17, 2007

AJLPP / CDIR Rejects New Immigration Proposals as Anti-Immigrant, Anti- Family Reunification and Inhumane

Los Angeles—The Alliance Philippines (AJLPP) and the Coalition in Defense of Immigrant Rights (CDIR) vehemently oppose the US Senate proposals that will turn 12 million immigrants into “guest workers” and scrap the family reunification laws that should unite and not separate families.

The new US senate taunted proposals that constitutes a far-reaching change in the immigration system that would admit future arrivals seeking to put down roots in the U.S. based on their skills, education levels and job experience, limiting the importance of family ties.

The AJLPP and the CDIR exclaimed that a new class of guest workers would be allowed in temporarily, but only after borders were fortified and measures were in place to ensure the rules were followed.

The CDIR opposes the proposal not only because it is racist, exploitative and inhuman but also fosters anti-immigrant bias and separates families and individuals and fleece profits from exploited worker immigrants.

The proposed agreement provides the following:

1. Would allow illegal immigrants to come forward and obtain a "Z visa" and — after paying fees and a $5,000 fine — ultimately get on track for permanent residency, which could take between eight and 13 years. Heads of households would have to return to their home countries first.

2. They could come forward right away to claim a probationary card that would let them live and work legally in the U.S., but could not begin the path to permanent residency or citizenship until border security improvements and the high-tech worker identification program were completed.

3. A new crop of low-skilled guest workers would have to return home after stints of two years. They could renew their visas twice, but would be required to leave for a year in between each time.

4. If they wanted to stay in the U.S. permanently, they would have to apply under the point system for a limited pool of green cards.

5. Family connections alone would no longer be enough to qualify for a green card — except for spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens. Strict new limits would apply to U.S. citizens seeking to bring foreign-born parents into the country

Bush hails the proposal and said the proposal would "help enforce our borders but equally importantly, it'll treat people with respect." This is a bill where people who live here in our country will be treated without amnesty but without animosity,"

But even some senators, both republican and democrats oppose the proposal "tears families apart" because a new point system used to evaluate future legal immigrants would value family connections well below employment-related criteria.

FIGHT FOR FULL RIGHTS FOR ALL IMMIGRANTS!

NO TO RACIST ANTI IMMIGRANT AND ANTI FAMILY PROPOSALS!

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