GOP
CONFERENCE ON IMMIGRATION
January 29, 2014
PREAMBLE
Our nation’s immigration system is broken and our laws are not being
enforced. Washington’s failure to fix them is hurting our economy and
jeopardizing our national security. The overriding purpose of our immigration
system is to promote and further America’s national interests and that is not
the case today. The serious problems in our immigration system must be solved,
and we are committed to working in a bipartisan manner to solve them. But they
cannot be solved with a single, massive piece of legislation that few have read
and even fewer understand, and therefore, we will not go to conference with the
Senate's immigration bill. The problems in our immigration system must be
solved through a step-by-step, common-sense approach that starts with securing our
country’s borders, enforcing our laws, and implementing robust enforcement
measures.
These are the principles guiding us in that effort:
Border Security and Interior
Enforcement Must Come First
It is the fundamental duty of any government to secure its borders, and
the United States is failing in this mission. We must secure our borders now
and verify that they are secure. In addition, we must ensure now that when
immigration reform is enacted, there will be a zero tolerance policy for those
who cross the border illegally or overstay their visas in the future. Faced
with a consistent pattern of administrations of both parties only selectively
enforcing our nation's immigration laws, we must enact reform that ensures that
a President cannot unilaterally stop immigration enforcement.
Implement Entry-Exit Visa
Tracking System
A fully functioning Entry-Exit System has been mandated by eight
separate statutes over the last 17 years. At least three of these laws call for
this system to be biometric, using technology to verify identity and prevent
fraud. We must implement this system
so we can identify and track down visitors who abuse our laws.
Employment Verification and
Workplace Enforcement
In the 21st century, it is unacceptable that the majority of employees
have their work eligibility verified though a paper -based system wrought with
fraud. It is past time for this country to fully implement a workable
electronic employment verification system.
Reforms to the Legal Immigration
System
For far too long, the United States has emphasized extended family
members and pure luck over employment-based
immigration. This is inconsistent with nearly every other developed nation.
Every year thousands of foreign nationals pursue degrees at America’s colleges and
universities, particularly in high skilled fields. Many of them want to use their expertise in U.S industries that
will spur economic growth and create jobs for Americans. When visas aren’t
available, we end up exporting this labor and ingenuity to other countries.
Visa and green card allocations need to reflect the needs of employers and the
desire for these exceptional individuals to help to grow our economy.
The goal of any temporary worker program should be to address the
economic needs of the country and to strengthen our national security by
allowing for realistic, enforceable, usable, legal paths for entry into the
United States. Of particular concern are the needs of the agricultural
industry, among others. It is imperative that these temporary workers are able
to meet the economic needs of the country and do not displace or disadvantage
American workers.
Youth
One of the great founding principles of our country was that children
would not be punished for the mistakes of their parents. It is time to provide
an opportunity for legal residence and citizenship for those who were brought
to this country as children through no fault of their own, those who know no
other place as home. For those who
meet certain eligibility standards, and serve honorably in our military or
attain a college degree, we will do just that.
Individuals Living Outside the
Rule of Law
Our national and economic security depend on requiring people who are living and working here
illegally to come forward and get right with the law. There will be no special
path to citizenship for individuals who broke our nation’s immigration laws -
that would be unfair to those immigrants who have played by the rules and
harmful to promoting the rule of law.
Rather, these persons could live legally and without fear in the U.S.,
but only if they were willing to admit their culpability, pass rigorous background
checks, pay significant fines and back taxes, develop proficiency in English
and American civics, and be able to support themselves and their families
(without access to public benefits). Criminal aliens, gang members and sex
offenders and those who do not meet the above requirements will not be eligible
for this program. Finally, none of this can happen before specific enforcement
triggers have been implemented to fulfill our promise to the American people
that from here on, our immigration laws will indeed be enforced.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/interactive/2014/01/30/house-gop-leaders-standards-for-immigration-reform-document/
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