Border Security is the Compromise for a Path to Citizenship

The Senate has come to a compromise on bill language, the New York Times reported today. In exchange for a path to citizenship for many immigrants currently in the US, the senators want to strengthen border security, at huge expense to taxpayers. The estimated $3.5 billion plan includes a mandatory worker verification system, an electronic visa system at all entry and exit ports to the US, and surveillance capabilities along the entire length of the U.S. border.

While the plan does offer undocumented immigrants an opportunity to apply for green cards, this plan would also make them wait ten years before they could begin to apply. Even worse, the availability of applications may depend on whether the border security programs are operational.

The senators seem to agree with the idea that undocumented immigrants should be given a way to become American citizens. However, this plan seems to thwart that goal. How will people manage to work when there is a mandatory verification system? Will they be able to visit their families during the 10-year waiting period, or will they be blocked by the electronic visa system? This bill is in its early stages, and there is no guarantee that the final result will have any of these provisions.

More Mexicans Obtaining US Visas

July 11, 2011 - The New York Times has reported that officials at the United States Embassy in Mexico City are permitting more Mexicans to obtain visas to visit and work in the United States.  As a result, rejections of visa requests has dropped dramatically.  Waiting times for visas has also decreased and some H-2B visas are issued on the day of application. Consular Officer McKeon stated that persons who are subject to the 3 or 10 year bar to re-entry because they have previously overstayed their visa may be able to successfully seek permission to re-enter the United States with a waiver.  Officer McKeon stated: "It's not easy going through this process and I think people who are willing to go through all of that and risk going back to the United States where they have to pay taxes, and withholding, I think we should look favorably on them.  The New York Times article is available at  www.nytimes.com./interactive/2011/07/06/world/americas/immigration.html.