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April 28, 2007
New Hagel Compromise Bill
U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) (press release) late this week introduced “The Immigrant Accountability Act of 2007.” The legislation would create a point system to deal with those living in the country illegally. Those who receive enough points would be put on a pathway to earn citizenship after 13 years.
Hagel’s legislation is a compromise intended to be incorporated into the comprehensive immigration reform legislation the Senate will consider in May. The legislation builds on previous immigration reform legislation introduced by Hagel in the last two Congresses.
To qualify for a greencard under the Hagel legislation, an individual here illegally must earn points in categories that show specific characteristics that demonstrate investment, contribution and assimilation into the United States. The individual would be required to receive 65% of the available points to qualify for a greencard. After the initial application, if at anytime DHS determines that the alien cannot qualify for the program, the alien would have to leave the U.S. or would be deported. The bill establishes the following point categories:
Military Service (after meeting initial qualifications for adjustment)
Advanced English proficiency
Civic Engagement – significant community service work (religious or secular), a clean criminal record, and on time payment of income taxes for past work
Business ownership (which employs at least 2 unrelated “legal” workers)
Home ownership
Work History (points for each year of work an alien can prove) (Like Hagel/Martinez)
Education (additional points for all levels of education)
U.S. Presence (points for length of time in the U.S.) (Like Hagel/Martinez)
U.S. Citizen/Permanent Resident Spouse or minor child
Click here for a copy of the bill.
KJ
April 28, 2007 | Permalink
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Comments
Why are we making this issue so difficult? Illegal is illegal. Deport, and get in line to come back the legal way just as my daughter-in-law did. I also never understood why illegal's were allowed social services payed for by U.S. tax payers. Free education, free medical (with and without medicade) Food stamps, wick, low cost housing (with a 2 year waiting list), free attorney when they broke other laws and the list goes on and on. Then you have the jobs that they have taken and not just picking fruit,,the wages that hit the bottom in those jobs. The gov. was worried about Social Security going bust in a few years. How long will it take for S.S. to go bust with an additional 12 to 20 million added to that at one time? What about families? Well, the parents can take their children with them, that is an option, no one wants to break up families. That was a risk they took when they entered our country illegally. This new bill is, no matter how you sugar coat the words is amnisty. If they can stay after entering illegally, it's amnisty. I am not against immagration, that is what our country was built on. But we have laws.
Posted by: kerri | May 20, 2007 5:18:39 PM
