Document 33.2: Fixing a Broken Immigration System, January 29, 2014
The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 made it illegal to hire or recruit illegal immigrants, but it did not provide a workable nonimmigrant visa system for lesser-skilled workers to enter the United States. Since the 1986 law was enacted, nearly 12 million undocumented workers have entered the United States, and immigration reform has become a critical political issue in recent state and federal elections. This poster that appeared on the White House Web site outlines President Barack Obama’s four-part approach to immigration reform.
How Do You Fix a Broken Immigration System so That Everyone Plays by the Rules?
President Obama’s Common-Sense Immigration Reform Proposal Has Four Parts.
[1] Continuing to Strengthen Border Security
- Build on the progress we’ve made since President Obama doubled the number of Border Patrol agents.
- Enhance infrastructure and technology that strengthen our ability to remove criminals and address national security threats.
[2] Cracking Down on Employers that Hire Undocumented Workers
- Hold businesses accountable for knowingly hiring undocumented workers.
- Give employers who want to play by the rules a reliable way to verify that their employees are here legally.
[3] Creating a Path to Earned Citizenship
- Provide undocumented immigrants a legal way to earn citizenship so they can pay their taxes and play by the same rules as everyone else.
- Require undocumented immigrants to pass national security and criminal background checks, pay taxes and penalty, go to the back of the line, and learn English before they can earn their citizenship.
[4] Streamlining our Legal Immigration System
- Establish a simple and efficient legal immigration system that rewards anyone willing to work hard and play by the rules.
Source: wh.gov/immigration.
- Why do you think this immigration-reform proposal begins with border security?
- Why is it important for countries to have clear national immigration policies?