Another day of debate keeps the momentum for commonsense immigration reform going strong. Today, working families across the nation can continue applauding Senators for passing amendments to the immigration bill that strengthen protections for future and current workers. In particular, the W Visa program was further bolstered with components that reflect the unprecedented agreement made earlier this year between Labor and Business. While the debate will only intensify in the days ahead, we will continue the drumbeat for smart immigration legislation that not only mirrors our national values, but also includes a clear and direct roadmap to citizenship.

Most of our families came to this country simply because they wanted to make a better life and be part of the land of opportunity. We cannot stand by and let the “American Dream” become those black-and-white images of the past. We need a solution that takes the American economy into the future.

Get on the phones to tell your Senator that you support immigration reform with a clear path to citizenship. They must hear from you!

1. Javier Morillo                President                            Jmorillo@seiu26.org
2. Greg Nammacher         Secretary-Treasurer         Gnammacher@seiu26.org
3. Kim Houle                     Office  Manager                Khoule@seiu26.org
4. Veronica Walther         Lead Representative        Vwalther@seiu26.org
5. Sylvia Gonzalez             Grievance Rep.                  Sgonzalez@seiu26.org
6. Belinda Mendez            Call Center Coord             Bmendez@seiu26.org
7. Blanca Pineda                Call Center Rep                 Bpineda@seiu26.org
8. Ibrahim Nur                   Internal  Organizer           Inur@seiu26.org
9. Cynthia Gomez             Internal Organizer            Cgomez@seiu26.org
10. Abraham Misgina         Internal Organizer            Imisgina@seiu26.org
11. Gerardo Cajamarca       Internal Organizer            Gcajamarca@seiu26.org
12. Todd Dahlstrom            Internal Organizer             Tdahlstrom@seiu26.org
13. Rafael Morataya            Immigration Organizer     Rmorataya@seiu26.org
14. Steve Payne                    Lead External Organizer   Spayne@seiu26.org

On May 9th, a bi-parisan committee of 18 Senators will begin mark-ups on an immigration reform proposal.

The bill, S. 744, needs support from both parties to move through Congress and to the President. The measure could pass as early as June 2013, which makes it all the more urgent that we make our voices heard now and throughout the month of May as amendments we like and dislike are introduced.

 Sign up to join our rapid response immigration action team now.

WHEN:

Meet at the Wells Fargo at 2218 East Lake St in Minneapolis at 2pm to support community members closing their Wells Fargo accounts; Rally at 14th and Lake Street in Minneapolis with Keith Ellison at 3:30 p.m.

From there, we will march to the immigration reform vigil that community group Asamblea de Derechos Civiles is hosting. They have been fasting, praying and making hundreds of phone calls to Congress in support of commonsense immigration reform over the last two weeks. At 3:30 p.m., Representative Keith Ellison will address the vigil as to why this issue is so important to all of our communities and why the TIME IS NOW.

Please RSVP — We need to show corporations they can’t be on both sides of this issue and Congress that we are serious about getting immigration reform!

Yes, I’m going to be there on Wednesday.

We just won a new union contract, with good raises and improved benefits for close to 6000 workers and their families.  We know how much hard work it took: long hours, phone calls, marching in the streets.  Now we have the chance to win something that could help millions more working families.  Americans know immigration is good for our country, but the current system just isn’t working. 

I am from Somali. I came here to the United States to leave behind the war and start a new life and raise my children with a better future in the United States. For 21 years my sister, who is still in Kalkayo, Somalia, has tried to join our family here, but she cant get a visa. That’s why I am supporting Immigration reform, to re-unite families.

I have 14 years in the US, I am a single mother, and I have personally felt the pain of our broken laws. I was fired when the government did an audit of the company where I worked as a janitor, and living in the shadows I was also a victim of domestic violence. I have legal documents now, but I support common sense reforms because most who have had experiences like me do not

There are many reasons I support immigration reform right now because It helps keep families together. It stabilizes our communities. It also helps our economy grow in the long-run.

I support Immigration reform because I’m affected when I see my co-workers hurt from this. They’re affected by not having their loved ones here in USA with them. I stand beside them in the fight to legalize citizenship into this country & I have called my Congressman to change laws to end this devastation that affected us all. There is nothing human about facing deportation !!

I was a member of the union, making almost $13 per hour when the government audited the company where I worked and I was fired. Now I work cleaning offices again for a non-union company that pays only $8.50 per hour, with no benefits. I feel exploited and without rights at work. Our broken immigration laws hurt all workers, and the companies are the ones who benefit.

1.      What are the general eligibility requirements for people for legalization?

At the heart of the Senate bill is a broad yet stringent legalization program that will put most of the 11 million undocumented immigrants on the road to eventual citizenship.  The bill provides for a several step legalization program that first allows people to apply for “Registered Provisional Immigrant” (RPI) status and then, after 10 years, for lawful permanent resident status, and then after 3 more years, for U.S. citizenship.

Eligibility requirements include passing criminal and security background checks and establishing continuous physical presence in the United States since before December 31, 2011.  Departures of less than 180 days during that period do not constitute breaks in physical presence. Certain criminal convictions (1 felony or 3 separate misdemeanors) and other grounds of inadmissibility render applicants ineligible for legalization. 

Applicants must pay a penalty fine of $500 at the time of initial application, another penalty fine of $500 at the time of renewal of RPI status, and then a $1,000 penalty fine at the time of adjustment to permanent status. Processing fees for adjudication of the applications  apply at each of 4 stages on the road to citizenship—initial application, renewal of RPI status after 6 years, application for lawful permanent resident status after 10 years, and application for citizenship after 3 additional years (if desired). 

A person may remain in in RPI status and renew it every 6 years if they so desire. At the time of RPI renewal and/or application for permanent residence, the applicant must demonstrate that they have maintained regular employment or education, payment of taxes, and the ability to support oneself.  At the time of application for adjustment to lawful permanent resident status, applicants must demonstrate that they are learning English and have a knowledge of civics.

 Persons who have final orders of removal, or who have previously reentered the U.S. after a prior removal or voluntary departure are eligible to apply for RPI status. In addition, certain people previously deported for non-criminal grounds and who have a spouse, parent, or child USC or LPR in the United States or who would be eligible for the DREAM Act, are eligible to apply for a waiver to reenter the United States in order to apply for legal status. Persons who entered the United States on a valid visa and then overstayed are eligible, provided they have been in unlawful status since December 31, 2011.

Individuals who receive PRI status can work legally in the United States and travel outside the country.  Their minor children, if present in the United States, can be included in their application.

Individuals with PRI status are not eligible for means-tested federal public benefits nor for  subsidies or tax credits under the Affordable Care Act.

2.      What will happen to people in current visa backlogs?

The Senate bill eliminates the entire family and employment-based visa backlogs within 8 years.  All of the people who are currently in the visa backlogs, waiting for their “priority date” to become current, will obtain lawful permanent resident status before the newly legalized RPI’s can obtain permanent status.

3.      Will the border enforcement “triggers” delay the legalization program?

The border enforcement triggers should not delay the initial RPI legalization program.  The “triggers” require the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit, within 6 months of enactment, two plans. The first is a strategy to achieve a 90% effective rate goal in high risk sectors of the Southern border. The second is a fencing plan designed to reinforce current fencing and barriers. The initial legalization program does not begin until these plans are submitted.  The legalization program also will not begin until implementing regulations are issued – within 12 months after enactment of the bill.  

If, after five years, the 90% effectiveness rate in high risk sectors has not been achieved, an additional pool of resources will be authorized for appropriation and a commission of experts and elected officials from border states will be formed. The border commission will issue recommendations to DHS regarding additional measures that should be adopted to help reach the 90% effectiveness rate goal. 

Two other enforcement “triggers” that have to be met before RPIs can apply for permanent residence involve  implementation of the E-Verify program and entry-exit controls at air and sea ports. Both of these triggers are achievable and should not delay the path to permanent residence.

4.      What about family members…spouses/kids of LPRs, siblings, LGBT partners, adult married kids?

The Senate bill provides for increased family unity by categorizing spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents as “immediate relatives” for immigration purposes.  This means that these family members are not subject to any numerical limitations. That, in turn, frees up visas for the other family categories, which will limit the size of any new backlogs that may develop in those categories in the future.

The bill will phase out the U.S. citizen sibling visa category and diversity visas. But all U.S. citizens with sibling petitions currently pending will be able to complete their sponsorship and new petitions may be filed for another 18 months. After that point, siblings still will be eligible for a new “merit based visa” and will receive eligibility points based on their family relationship. They will also be authorized to travel to the United States as visitors for two-month periods each year.

The adult married children visa category will be limited in the future to those who are under 31 years of age.

The bill does not provide for family visas for LGBT “permanent partners.” This provision will have to be added to the bill through the amendment process.

5.      What about DREAMERS, what happens to them?

DREAMERs can earn permanent legal status within five years, and are then immediately eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship.  DREAMERs who have been previously deported may still be eligible to apply for legal status if they meet certain requirements, even if they don’t have a qualifying U.S. relationship

6.      What other changes does the bill make to the employment-based visa programs?

Farmworkers are eligible for an expedited five year path to permanent legal status and then eventual citizenship under current law.  In order to qualify, among other things, they must continue working in the agricultural sector for an additional 3-5 years post-enactment.

Other essential workers may apply for a new “W” worker visa which will allow them to enter and work in the U.S. for participating employers, change jobs to other W employers, and eventually self-petition for lawful permanent status under the new merit based program.

Both the W visa program and the new agricultural worker program are subject to important standards for wages and working conditions, negotiated by labor to protect both immigrant and native-born workers.

Finally, there are new protections against employers using immigration status to intimidate workers and to prevent international recruiters from misleading or otherwise mistreating those they bring to the U.S.

7.      What about people who had TPS or DED?

People who have been in the United States in lawful or employment authorized status, including TPS or DED,  for at least ten years are eligible to apply for lawful permanent residence.  This will allow people in these statuses who have already been here for more than ten years to adjust status immediately, instead of waiting another ten years.

8.      Are there any changes to the asylum and refugee programs in this bill?

The Senate bill provides important improvements to asylum and refugee programs, including the elimination of the arbitrary one-year filing deadline.

9.       What about other enforcement measures, such as E-Verify?

The bill includes a mandatory, universal employment verification program, E-Verify.  The program includes new due process and privacy protections, and is phased in over a period of five years until it includes all U.S employers.

10.  When will this bill become law? What is the process? When can people begin to apply for legalization?

The Senate bill must first move through a process of approval in the Senate Judiciary Committee, where it will be subject to amendment from both Republicans and Democrats on the committee.  The bill will then go to the whole Senate for debate and amendment and a final vote.  The House must also pass an immigration bill. 

If the House and Senate bills are not identical, the two bills will usually go to a House/Senate “conference committee” where further changes will be made as the differences between the two bills are worked out.  The final bill agreed-upon by the conference committee must sent back to both the House and Senate for final votes, and only then can the bill be signed into law by the President.

Once the bill is signed into law, there will be a one-year period in which regulations will be written to implement the bill.  The application period for the new legalization program will begin one year after the bill is signed into law, and applicants will have one year to apply.  The DHS Secretary can extend the application period for an additional eighteen months if necessary.

During the year it will take to finalize the regulations after bill enactment, and through the one or two-and-a-half year application period, individuals who are eligible for legalization will be protected from deportation.

No one can apply for legalization before the program application period begins, one year after the bill is signed into law.  Individuals should not pay anyone to prepare or file their application unless and until the official application period begins.  Information and deadlines will be posted on various government and non-profit organization websites.

]]> http://www.seiu26.org/2013/04/18/top-ten-questions-and-answers-about-the-senate-immigration-bill/feed/ 0 http://www.seiu26.org/2013/04/18/respuestas-a-preguntas-mas-comunes-sobre-proyecto-bipartidista-del-grupo-de-los-ocho-del-senado/ http://www.seiu26.org/2013/04/18/respuestas-a-preguntas-mas-comunes-sobre-proyecto-bipartidista-del-grupo-de-los-ocho-del-senado/#comments Thu, 18 Apr 2013 03:22:03 +0000 RafaelMorataya http://www.seiu26.org/?p=3095

Respuestas a  preguntas más comunes sobre proyecto bipartidista del Grupo de los Ocho del Senado, “Ley de 2013 de Seguridad Fronteriza, Oportunidad Económica y Modernización del Sistema Migratorio”

Estas son algunas de las preguntas más comunes sobre el proyecto bipartidista de reforma migratoria del Grupo de los Ocho del Senado, denominado  “Ley de 2013 de Seguridad Fronteriza, Oportunidad Económica y Modernización del Sistema Migratorio”.

1)         ¿Cuál es el componente central del proyecto?

El corazón del proyecto es una vía a la ciudadanía para 11 millones de indocumentados

 Podrían solicitar el estatus de Inmigrante Provisional Registrado (RPI, por sus siglas en inglés) quienes desde antes del 31 de diciembre de 2011 ya se encontraban en Estados Unidos. Esta fecha límite dejaría fuera a entre 200 mil y 300 mil inmigrantes que arribaron a Estados Unidos después del 31 de diciembre de 2011, aunque es probable que existan vías para tratar de ajustar su estatus a través de familiares o empleos.

Camino de 13 años y cuatro etapas para la ciudadanía 

Tomará 13 años solicitar finalmente la ciudadanía para quienes opten por obtenerla pero antes hay un largo proceso. Hay que considerar además que tomará un año después de firmada la ley completar las regulaciones y al cabo de ese año se inicia el período de aplicación. Los inmigrantes tendrán un año para solicitar y el lapso puede extenderse otros 18 meses si fuera necesario.  Durante ese lapso los inmigrantes elegibles estarán protegidos de la deportación.

Los indocumentados solicitarán el estatus de RPI iniciando su vía a la ciudadanía o la primera etapa. Deberán pagar una multa inicial de 500 dólares (excepto los DREAMers) más las cuotas de solicitud, aprobar la revisión de su historial, demostrar su continua presencia física en Estados Unidos desde antes de la fecha límite establecida del 31 de diciembre de 2011. Hay ciertos delitos que harían inelegibles a ciertos inmigrantes: un delito grave o tres delitos menores, por ejemplo.  De ser aprobados, por diez años los inmigrantes estarán bajo ese estatus legal provisional que les permite trabajar, viajar y los ampara de la deportación.

A los seis años, en la segunda etapa, deben renovar su permiso de RPI, que de hecho, es renovable cada seis años. Nuevamente deberán pagar una multa de 500 dólares más las cuotas de solicitud, aprobar la revisión de historial, demostrar que no son una carga pública, y que han trabajado o estudiado y pagado impuestos.

Al cabo de 10 años estas personas podrán solicitar la residencia permanente (tercera etapa) pagando 1,000 dólares de multa más las cuotas de solicitud y llenar los requisitos, entre esos, demostrar que están aprendiendo inglés.

Y en la cuarta etapa, al cabo de tres años, pueden solicitar la ciudadanía, si así lo deciden.

De ahí que el proceso tome 13 años. Al presente un residente permanente debe esperar cinco años para solicitar la ciudadanía, o tres si está casado con un ciudadano de Estados Unidos, pero bajo el plan los solicitantes de RPI esperarán tres años para solicitar la naturalización.

2) ¿Se agilizará la vía a la ciudadanía para algunos sectores de inmigrantes?

Los DREAMers o Soñadores, los que por más de diez años han estado legalmente en el país amparados por estatus de protección con permiso de trabajo (como TPS o DED por ejemplo), y los trabajadores agrícolas obtendrán la residencia permanente de una manera más directa. Por ejemplo, el estatus legal provisional de los DREAMers será de cinco años al cabo de los cuales podrán solicitar la residencia y la ciudadanía al mismo tiempo.

3) ¿Qué ocurre con los inmigrantes que están en proceso de deportación o los que ya fueron deportados?   Bajo el proyecto de ley del Senado, los inmigrantes que están en proceso de deportación, quienes reingresaron al país tras ser removidos o quienes optaron por una salida voluntaria pueden solicitar el estatus legal provisional de RPI si llenan los requisitos, incluyendo su revisión de historial. Las personas que ya fueron deportadas por causas no criminales también pueden solicitar el estatus legal provisional si son elegibles para el DREAM Act o sin son cónyuges, padres o hijos de ciudadanos estadounidenses o residentes permanentes. Estas personas tendrían que solicitar una dispensa para ingresar a Estados Unidos y solicitar el permiso de RPI.

4) ¿Pueden accesar beneficios públicos los inmigrantes con el estatus RPI?    No. Los inmigrantes con el estatus de RPI no son elegibles para beneficios públicos ni subsidios o créditos tributarios bajo la Ley de Cuidado Accesible (Affordable Care Act).

5) ¿Qué ocurre con los rezagos (backlogs)?   El proyecto tiene como meta eliminar en un lapso de ocho años el rezago de los 4.7 millones de personas que están aguardando por sus tarjetas verdes, mayormente por vías familiares y de trabajo, en sus países de origen o aquí. Estas personas obtendrán sus tarjetas verdes antes de que los inmigrantes en estatus de RPI puedan solicitar la residencia permanente.

6) ¿Retrasarán o entorpecerán los requisitos de seguridad fronteriza la vía a la ciudadanía?

 Se supone que los requisitos de seguridad, en teoría, no impedirán que los inmigrantes inicien y completen su vía a la ciudadanía, pero es uno de los puntos más observados por los grupos pro inmigrantes.

Seis meses después de promulgada la ley, el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) debe someter dos planes para cumplir con los requisitos de seguridad fronteriza que propone la ley. El primer plan es para lograr detener a 9 de cada 10 indocumentados que intenten cruzar la frontera, denominado la tasa de efectividad del 90%. El segundo plan es para reforzar las barreras y muros en la franja.  La fase inicial del plan de legalización no comienza hasta que se sometan estos planes. Pero se supone que esto no retrase la vía a la ciudadanía porque el proceso de solicitud se inicia un año después de promulgada la ley, año en que se completen las regulaciones del proceso.

Si al cabo de cinco años no se han completado los requisitos de seguridad, es decir, la tasas de efectividad del 90% de detenciones, se asignarán más fondos y una comisión especial integrada por funcionarios de estados fronterizos recomendará al DHS qué medidas tomar para lograr los objetivos.

7) ¿No retrasarán la vía a la ciudadanía otros componentes de seguridad como el E-Verify y la verificación de entradas y salidas de personas al país?  Según el proyecto, al cabo de cinco años el programa de verificación de identidad E-Verify será obligatorio para todos los empleadores. Asimismo, tiene que implementarse un sistema electrónico para verificar las entradas y salidas de personas en aeropuertos y puertos marítimos. Se calcula que 40% de la inmigración indocumentada son personas que ingresaron al país legalmente como  turistas, estudiantes y otro tipo de permisos, y se quedaron más allá de lo autorizado por sus visados. Pero ambos programas son viables y no deberían entorpecer la vía a la ciudadanía porque tienen que estar establecidos antes que los inmigrantes con RPI puedan solicitar la residencia permanente.  Asimismo, el programa E-Verify contemplará protecciones de privacidad y del debido proceso de ley. 

8) ¿Se reducirán ciertas categorías de visas para familiares?   El borrador reduce los tiempos de espera de cónyuges e hijos menores de edad de residentes legales para reunirse con su familia. Estos “parientes inmediatos” no tendrán limitaciones numéricas de visas y eso libera visas para otras categorías familiares, previniendo así nuevos rezagos.

El proyecto sí elimina la categoría de hermanos de ciudadanos, pero las peticiones pendientes podrán completarse e incluso podrán someterse nuevas solicitudes por un lapso de 18 meses después de firmada la ley. Luego los hermanos serán elegibles a visas por méritos y recibirán puntos por su relación familiar con ciudadanos.

La visa para hijos adultos estará limitada a menores de 31 años de edad. Asimismo, el plan excluye a familias y parejas LGBT del sistema de visas por familia, aunque no del plan de legalización. 

La eliminación del sistema de visas por diversidad también es preocupante. El plan mejora los programas de asilo y de refugiados eliminando la arbitraria fecha límite de un año para presentar las peticiones.

9) ¿Cómo se manejan los futuros flujos y las visas por empleo?

El proyecto propone la creación de la Visa W para trabajadores no especializados esenciales con un mínimo de 20,000 por año. La Visa W les permite ingresar al país, trabajar para empleadores participantes, cambiar de empleo entre patronos participantes, y eventualmente pueden solicitar la residencia a través del nuevo programa de visas por mérito.

Se crea además un programa de trabajadores agrícolas con protecciones laborales y salariales. Estos trabajadores agrícolas también son elegibles a una vía acelerada a la residencia y la ciudadanía si, por ejemplo, continúan trabajando en el sector agrícola por otros tres a cinco años tras promulgada la ley.

El plan crea además una visa de méritos basada en obtener puntos por diversas vías: por tiempo de residencia en Estados Unidos, lazos familiares, nivel educativo, educación o empleo.

St. Paul, MN – Today members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) of Minnesota celebrated the long-awaited immigration bill introduced at the U.S. Senate early this morning.

“We applaud the bipartisan Senate committee for their tireless work in negotiating and drafting commonsense immigration reform legislation which includes a pathway to citizenship,” said Javier Morillo, President of SEIU Local 26. The majority of Americans believe immigration is good for our country but say the current system is just not working. Our country needs a commonsense process now for new American immigrants to become citizens.”

The bill – which was delayed this week due to the Boston Marathon bombings – was introduced this morning in Washington D.C. Leaders who worked on the bill are expected to hold a press conference tomorrow in D.C. to discuss the bill. Discussion in the Senate Judiciary committee could begin as early as Friday. Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar both sit on that committee.

“This bill is a good starting point, and we look forward to working with Senators Franken and Klobuchar on improving it,” said Jigme Ugen, executive vice president of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota. “We thank Senators Franken and Klobuchar for their support and urge them to be vocal leaders on an issue that impacts all Minnesotans, regardless of immigration status.”

SEIU will work with local business, faith and immigrant communities to address some concerns with the bill, including the length of the citizenship pathway, along with restrictions and a cut-off date that would leave hundreds of thousands out of the process.

“A pathway that lasts 13 years is unreasonable and unjust,” said Carol Nieters, Executive Director of SEIU Local 284. “It should be substantially shortened so all aspiring immigrants have a chance to become a full part of the American dream in a reasonable amount of time. We must expand the number of people eligible for the path to citizenship. The cut-off date and other restrictions including family classifications will tear apart hundreds of thousands of families.”

“Immigration reform must seek to keep families together,” said Morillo. “And that includes LGBT families. The current bill provides no recognition of LGBT families. Our nation was founded upon the very powerful idea that in this land, all people have rights. No matter what you look like, where you come from or who you love – everyone should get a fair shot at life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

SEIU has been a leader in the immigration debate for years and Minnesota’s lavender caucus has been influential in issues surrounding LGBT families, including the effort to pass bills granting the freedom to marry in Minnesota.

“These Minnesotans – just as all new American immigrants – contribute to our communities, our society and our economy,” said Ugen. “As an immigrant myself, I came to America to pursue a better life and the opportunity America promises. We must act now to bring the 11 million aspiring citizens out of the shadows.”

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