What's the Best Immigration Policy?
Posted on Sun Jan 13, 2008 at 07:52:00 AM EST
Tags: immigration reform (all tags)
With the news and bloggers returning to a discussion of immigration this weekend as the Democratic candidates vie for the Latino and Hispanic vote (more here) and the Republican candidates try to show they are the toughest on the undocumented, here's ten point immigration reform plan TalkLeft supports:
1. We need a comprehensive program that allows undocumented immigrants from all nationalities and living in the U.S. to obtain legal permanent residency.2. Future immigrants should also be able to come here legally and safely, have access to permanent residency, and not fear criminal prosecution for unlawful entry or exit.
3. Immigrant workers’ rights should be promoted and protected; employer sanctions and the criminalization of work must be ended. Labor laws should be strictly enforced, and immigrant workers should have the freedom to join unions to improve wages and working conditions.
4. The human rights of all immigrants should be respected in the enforcement of immigration laws throughout the U.S. and at the nation’s borders.
5. Immigrants should be able to adjust their status and reunite with families in a fair and timely way. [More...]
6. There should be an end to unfair political asylum and deportation processes and other barriers to acquiring and maintaining permanent residency.7. All immigrants should have access to all public services and benefits including driver licenses, higher education, and health care.
8. Ensure legal access and fair treatment of immigrants who are detained, or in political asylum or deportation procedures.
9. We need foreign policies that address the root causes of migration, such as sustainable development and fair trade agreements with other countries.
10. Protection, fairness, equality and benefits should be extended to all immigrants, without sacrificing the rights of some for the rights of others.
A shorter version from the Immigrant Solidarity Network:
1) No to anti-immigrant legislation, and the criminalization of the immigrant communities.
2) No to militarization of the border.
3) No to the immigrant detention and deportation.
4) No to the guest worker program.
5) No to employer sanction and "no match" letters.
6) Yes to a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
7) Yes to speedy family reunification.
8) Yes to civil rights and humane immigration law.
9) Yes to labor rights and living wages for all workers.
10) Yes to the education and LGBT immigrant legislation.
Democrats should say no to a border fence and mandatory ID cards. The undocumented should not have to leave their families and return to their home countries while awaiting re-entry at the back of the line, which will take years. Drivers' licenses should be available to the undocumented as well as the ability to open bank accounts. They must be encouraged to come out of the shadows and live without fear.
Our immigration policy must respect basic human rights. As NNIRR says(pdf)
We call for a national immigration policy in the U.S. built upon the principles of human security with dignity, justice, and equality, and that uphold the civil and human rights of all people, regardless of their race, color, class, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, immigration or citizenship.
Do any of the Democrats running support all or even most of these positions? No. But they are better on immigration than the Republicans.
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