5 Things to Know for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

First:

There is a fine line between the promised “tough but fair” policy proposals and we’re still in “tough” territory. Both Congress and the President are promising tough but fair measures. Yet, the tough policy proposals that are currently at play are not so fair. Consider this infographic from the folks at Color Lines on Eight Ways to Shrink Immigration Reform:

Read more here!

Second:

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals was granted to eligible undocumented youth who were brought to the United States at an early age. There is agreement on both sides of the congressional aisles to allow these DACAmented youth to immediately get on a path towards citizenship (for, what crime did a two year old commit when they came to the country with their family? Or, what crime did a child commit when they came over to be reunited with their family?)

Many of these young immigrants have received their work permits and those fortunate enough to have settled in non-Arizona style states are studying for road tests and finally experiencing every American 16 year old’s dream of getting a Driver’s License. Yet, there are many young immigrants who qualify in every way, but in age. We should remove the age cap and allow these would-be-DACAmented to apply and move forward in their path to citizenship along with the current applicants.

The back of the line(s) looks like this:

PDF Version here! Courtesy of this WONKBLOG of the Washington Post.

Or consider this flash from the infographic past:

Third:

Immigration Reform = $1.5 trillion to U.S. GDP + Billions in Tax Revenue.

Educated DREAMers --> Higher earnings = Economic boost for all.

More on how Immigrants are makers not takers here!

Fourth:

We spent more on immigration enforcement than on the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Secret Service, U.S. Marshals Service, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives….COMBINED. 24% More to be exact. I made my own info graphic for this one:

Read more here!

The border is more secure than it has ever been. To state that we need to address this first is to reuse a broken crutch that keeps us from standing on our own and addressing comprehensive immigration reform. That was 2007. This is now. #ImmigrationReform2013

Fifth

All of these enforcement only policies are increasing the vulnerability of Latino workers. Undocumented Latina workers fare even worse.

Read LCLAA’s Trabajadoras report for more on the challenges and conditions of Latina immigrant workers in the U.S. (Chapter Five)

For more on Latino workers as a whole, consider our Latino Workers in the United States report released in 2011. Consider these facts as you listen to leaders drafting and encouraging immigration reform legislation and speak up when you think they need a reminder of them.