CIR- and ASAP

Its not just that we need CIR ASAP, but that is actually the name of the bill that Congressman Luis Gutierrez introduced today (Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity). With 89 co-sponsors, (that's 40% of the votes needed to pass this bill in the House) the bill outlines the progressive side of a CIR Bill. While, we expect a bill out by Senator Schumer in early 2010, the momentum behind CIR-ASAP is unprecedented.

Here is a description of the bill.

The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) released a summary of key provisions in the bill, which includes:

• A legalization program for qualified undocumented immigrants (and their spouses and children) who would first receive a conditional nonimmigrant visa which is valid for six years, after which they could apply for legal permanent residence and eventually become U.S. citizens. The DREAM Act and AgJOBS are also included.

• Promotion of family unity through measures designed to keep U.S. families together. The bill contains several measures designed to reduce long backlogs in family and employment immigrant and nonimmigrant visa processing as well as other measures prevent families from being separated.

• Reforming the legal immigration system and creating new legal channels through the Prevent Unauthorized Migration Visa (PUM Visa) that seeks to provide for safe, humanitarian migration. A new Labor Commission would also be created to make recommendations on future legal immigration flows. The bill reforms temporary worker programs and includes measures to protect U.S. workers.

• Reforming enforcement activities by seeking to ensure due process, judicial review, and other protections during enforcement activities. Repeals the 287(g) program.

• Border security provisions which seek to enhance border security and achieve effective immigration enforcement in close collaboration with border communities.

• Improving conditions of detention provisions which seek to improve detention conditions, and to protect U.S. citizens, LPRs, and vulnerable populations.

• Improving the naturalization process and integration to encourage citizenship among immigrant communities by providing for uniform administration of the naturalization exam, creating incentives for English language acquisition programs and requiring timely response on background checks and evaluating their efficiency.

On a side note, I would like to thank the four Representatives from Colorado who co-sponsored the bill, Representative Perlmutter, Polis, Salazar, and Degette.