US to Reform Immigration Laws

Published in VOA Sauti
(Kenya) on 26 April 2013
by Habari Marekani (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Alisha Karmali. Edited by Laurence Bouvard.
This past Monday, a group of eight senators from both the Democratic and Republican parties in the U.S. reported that they have reached agreement in creating a proposal to change the immigration law. President Obama shared his views on the proposal in a speech on Tuesday in Nevada. The agreement is centered around some difficult and controversial issues.

President Obama has long supported a program that will give citizenship to the 11 million immigrants who live in the United States illegally. The program will ask the immigrants specific questions they must answer before receiving their U.S. citizenship. Those immigrants seeking permanent residency, also known as a green card, must pay taxes, work and be able to speak English fluently. President Obama has also made clear that children who have studied in the U.S. should be granted citizenship. Some children were born in the U.S. or came to the States at a very young age with their parents and are completely unaware of their parent’s country or culture. President Obama has made it clear that children should not be punished because of their parents.

During his speech, President Obama said, "Our journey will not be complete until we welcome the immigrants who see the U.S. as a land of opportunity and hope, until the brightest students and engineers receive their proper place, rather than being expelled by the U.S."* But there remains strong opposition to this proposal. Rosemary Jenkins, a U.S. citizen, said that the legalization of illegal immigrants will only give the message to the world that "you can come to the U.S. illegally, and break the law for a long time, and then be awarded the prize of being able to legally live in the U.S.”*

*Editor's note: This quote, though accurately translated, could not be verified.


Kundi la maseneta wanane kutoka chama cha Democrat na Republican nchini Marekani Jumatatu lilieleza kufikia makubaliano katika pendekezo la mfumo wa kubadili sheria za uhamiaji. Rais Barack Obama anategemewa kufafanua maono yake juu ya pendekezo hilo katika hotuba Jumanne akiwa Nevada.

Wabunge hao walisema makubaliano yao yalijikita katika maswala magumu lakini ya kimsingi ambayo rais Obama ameunga mkono kwa muda mrefu kuelekea kuwapa uraia wahamiaji milioni 11 ambao wanaishi Marekani kinyume cha sheria.

Mpango huo unatoa maelezo mahsusi ambayo sharti yatimizwe na wahamiaji wasio halali kabla ya kupewa uraia wa Marekani. Wahamiaji wanaotafuta ukazi wa kudumu maarufu kama Green Card ili waweze kufanya kazi wanatakiwa kutimiza masharti kadha kama vile kulipa kodi na faini zozote ambazo wametozwa na ni lazima waweze kuzungumza lugha ya Kiingereza kwa ufasaha.

Miongoni mwa maswala ambayo rais Obama ametetea ni kuhalalisha watoto wa wahamiaji wasio halali ambao wamesoma Marekani. Wengine wao walizaliwa Marekani au walikuja na wazazi wao wakiwa wadogo na hawatambui nchi za wazazi wao. Watoto kama hao mara nyingi hukabiliwa na adhabu ya kurejeshwa katika nchi walikotoka wazazi wao wasio halali.

Katika hotuba yake alipokula kiapo kuongoza Marekani muhula wa pili, rais Obama alisema; “safari yetu haitakamilika hadi pale tutakapobaini njia nzuri ya kuwakaribisha wahamiaji wanaoiona Marekani kama nchi ya fursa na matumaini.. hadi pale wanafunzi werevu na wahandisi watakapopata nafasi inayostahiki, kuliko kuwafukuza Marekani”.

Lakini kungali na upinzani mkubwa wa pendekezo hili. Rosemary Jenkins wa kundi la Numbers USA anasema kuhalalisha wahamiaji wasio halali kutapeleka ujumbe kwa dunia kwamba “unaweza kuja Marekani kinyume cha sheria,ukavunja sheria kwa muda mrefu na baadaye ukatunukiwa zawadi ya kuishi Marekani kisheria.
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