US Immigration Reform Bill For Guest Wor...

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US Immigration Reform Bill For Guest Worker Visa

Domenici Unveils U.S. Immigration Reform Bill:  from the Office of Senator Pete V. Domenici

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici today introduced legislation to reform U.S. immigration laws, recommending a strategy for dealing with millions of illegal workers in the United States and improving guest worker guidelines.

Domenici today offered the Welcoming Immigrants to a Secure Homeland (WISH) Act of 2006. The comprehensive measure is the second major border/immigration bill offered by Domenici, who believes in a two-step reform approach—secure America’s borders and reform immigration issues. In November, he introduced the Border Security and Modernization Act (S.2049) to address border security issues.

“As a border state Senator and the son of immigrants, I have a unique perspective on immigration. I understand the need to provide a secure homeland for my constituents who see the problems caused by illegal entries into our country every day. I also understand the need to welcome immigrants to our country, so that America remains a country where hard-working, entrepreneurial, and intelligent immigrants can prosper,” Domenici said.

The WISH Act would authorize a series of reforms to U.S. immigration laws including:

• Improving immigration law enforcement

• Creating a new guest worker visa

• Establishing a process for illegal immigrants in the U.S. to gain legal guest worker status

• Improving foreign student, highly-skilled worker and visitor regulations

“The time is right to fix our immigration laws, which are not working properly,” Domenici said. “My bill strikes a sensible and realistic balance between cracking down on illegal immigration while encouraging legal immigration. Slamming the door on immigration or unilaterally deporting millions of illegals already in the country is just unrealistic.”

Domenici said he will encourage the Senate Judiciary Committee to carefully consider his WISH Act and S.2049 as it readies comprehensive border security and immigration legislation for consideration in early March.

Domenici’s bill would increase the number of Department of Homeland Security personnel to investigate human smuggling, employment of illegal immigrants, and immigration fraud. The bill would also increases penalties for violations, as well as provides a system for verifying worker employment eligibility.

The bill would create a guest worker visa for up to three 3-year periods (9 years total) for immigrants to gain legal entry into the Unites States, and potentially apply for permanent resident status. The bill would allow 500,000 such visas the first year, with subsequent visas increased based on market need.

The measure establishes a program to allow illegal immigrants now in the United States—estimated at up to 12 million people—to apply for legal guest worker status. This proposal entails paying a fine and obtaining a legal guest worker visa.

The bill would clarify the limitations and restrictions placed on student visas after 9/11 in order to allow high-tech foreign workers and full-time foreign college students to study, work and travel in the United States. It would also establish a means for foreign students who graduate with honors to be allowed to work in the United States.

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