Immigration Reform

Members of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress introduced a draft immigration bill that paves the way for the legalization of millions of people living in the northern country. Construction of a road, which does not yet have the support of Republicans, has been restarted.

The third time’s the charm, says the popular adage, and, in spite of the enormous obstacles that will be presented in the debates, expectations have increased for achieving one of President Obama’s campaign promises.

In 2005, the House of Representatives passed a bill against terrorism and illegal immigration, while in 2006 the Senate passed a comprehensive immigration reform proposal. Neither one succeeded in becoming law, because members of both houses were unable to reconcile their differences in committee in 2007.

The first draft blocked the legalization of undocumented immigrants and established a strong security policy, which included raids, massive deportations, the construction of a fence along the Mexican border, jail for foreigners without legal residence permits and criminalization of undocumented stays.

A second draft included a strong national security component and a path of legalization regulated by fines and requirements, which ranged from returning to one’s home country for a period of at least three years, to knowing English, paying taxes and having no criminal record, among other requirements.

A year later, in 2007, Democrats and Republicans again debated the topic, but ended without resolution in May, due to lack of support by both houses, following a war of amendments to a bill that allowed the legalization of some immigrants.

The contents of the document presented – which also contained the controversial and thorny issue of border security – highlighted, as a first point, the creation of a temporary visa program for a period of six years, which would be a prelude to naturalization for immigrants and their families and bring them closer to obtaining U.S. citizenship.

The papers are on the table, and its sponsors say it is not a question of whether or not to do it, but a “moral obligation” to the millions of people working and performing their civic duties, but who are labeled second-class citizens.

In the meantime, Honduran leaders in the U.S. have begun rapprochement with Congress in attempts to persuade them to extend the term of the Temporary Protected Status that, year after year, has been renewed for the benefit of the 75 Hondurans who entered the U.S. before January 1, 1999. These efforts will help ensure that the issue of Honduran compatriots being allowed to remain in the U.S. will be, from day one, on the new administration’s agenda.