Immigration Reform Bill Introduced in Congress

As immigration attorneys with very strong roots in the immigrant communities of Los Angeles, the lawyers at Romben Law, APC stay current on legislative developments that could affect our clients and their families. On 15 December 2009, over ninety House Democrats unveiled a comprehensive immigration reform bill. The bill is called the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America’s Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR-ASAP).

President Obama has said there should be comprehensive immigration reform. The bill includes an “earned” legalization program. The program as currently proposed would allow undocumented people in the USA as of 15 December 2009 to apply for legalization. There would be special, more lenient rules for young persons. Many people want to call this an “amnesty,” but it is important to see all the details about the program before getting too excited.

There are other provisions for “visa recapture” to reduce waiting times and backlogs. This bill would also put a new employment-eligibility-verification system into place. There would be harsh penalties for hiring unauthorized workers.

These proposed changes are very exciting; however, we must remember that this bill is only a PROPOSAL. It will have many reincarnations before a final bill passes, if a bill passes at all. The President has said he wants CIR on his desk by the end of 2010, but there are obviously many other things occupying the attention of Congress at this time. Stay tuned. –jcf