Immigration Reformation
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 – Legislation Sen. Edward M. Kennedy is co-sponsoring is intended to assist thousands of undocumented foreign workers in Massachusetts and strengthen the U.S. immigration system.
The bipartisan legislation, introduced in May by Mr. Kennedy and Sen. John McCain, R- Ariz., is aimed at strengthening border security, protecting against immigration fraud and giving visas to employed, illegal immigrants for six years. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has given the bill its strong support.
“Our national security and economic vitality are too important to pass half-way repairs that look and sound tough but offer no real solutions or protections,” Mr. Kennedy said during a Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday. “We need sensible solutions, not feel-good empty gestures.”
The legislation would allow illegal workers to apply for six-year work visas. After the six years, the workers could apply for a green card to seek citizenship and could remain in the United States while their application was being processed, usually an extensive procedure.
“The McCain-Kennedy bill is the perfect solution,” said Randy Feldman, a Worcester immigration lawyer. “It’s helping create opportunities that don’t currently exist. It’s incorporated the illegal immigration system into our legal immigration system.”
Another bill, introduced by Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., would require that illegal workers return to their native countries before applying for temporary working visas.
Some in the businesses community have expressed concern over the Cornyn-Kyl bill, saying that it poses a threat to their work force.
Under the McCain-Kennedy legislation, workers applying for legal status would be required to pay a $2,000 fine in addition to any back taxes they owe. During the six years, they would need to stay employed and keep a clean criminal record.
“Our bills offer a genuine alternative -not an amnesty, not a free pass, not an automatic pardon,” Mr. Kennedy said at the hearing. “We offer sensible plans to encourage unauthorized workers to come forward to receive work permits and earn legal status. They will pay a substantial fine and go through rigorous security and criminal background checks.”
Kennedy added, “Those who want permanent legal status must pay all their back taxes, learn English, maintain a strong work record, stay out of trouble and wait their turn.”
Worcester has a very diverse immigrant population, Mr. Feldman said. He noted that recent immigrants have come from such countries as Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Poland and Vietnam.
“Ghana and Brazil are the only two groups that are still coming in large numbers,” Feldman said. “But there really hasn’t been an opposition to immigration in Worcester because these folks are incorporating themselves into the culture.”
According to David Rushford, the Worcester city clerk, at least 78 countries are represented by immigrants in Worcester.
A poll conducted in 2001 indicates that 41 percent of the 3,200 people who applied for marriage licenses in Worcester were born outside of the United States, including 175 from Brazil, 162 from Ghana and 109 from Vietnam.
