CDIR Update No. 9

May 30, 2007

AJLPP / CDIR Rejects The Border Protection and Immigration Reform Bill as Racist, Anti-Immigrant and Anti- Family

The Alliance Philippines (Alliance for a Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines ) and the Coalition in Defense of Immigrant Rights (CDIR) vehemently oppose the so called " US Border Protection and immigration Reform Bil" l that will turn 12 million immigrants into a permanent underclass of “guest workers” and scrap the family reunification laws that will separate millions of immigrant families.

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 protected and all 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

immigrants. The proposed bill 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 four 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,"

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.

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.

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