Immigration policy is broken and must be fixed

San Diego ACORN members protest increased USCIS fees

The signs displayed in last year’s immigration marches said it so powerfully: We are America.

Immigrants care about their communities, their families and the future of the United States. They hope to achieve the American Dream. Because of their strong desire to become Americans, immigrants in 2006 joined rallies, marches and vigils all across the United States.

During the fall 2006 legislative session, the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate took up two different proposals, but failed to send comprehensive legislation to President Bush for signature.

The House passed a punitive enforcement-only immigration bill in December 2005. Commonly referred to as the Sensenbrenner bill, H.R. 4437 failed to include any effective solutions to the country’s current immigration problems. The bill would have made it more difficult for legal permanent residents to become citizens, allowed local police to become de facto immigration officials and criminalized anyone who provided charitable assistance to undocumented immigrants, including clergy. It provided no mechanism for legalizing any of the 12 million undocumented immigrants currently residing in the United States.

In May 2006, the Senate passed S.2611 – a measure with a three-tier legalization program that put most undocumented immigrants on a path to citizenship. However, that bill was criticized for limiting due process for immigrants and for its treatment of various groups of undocumented immigrants.

A stalemate ensued, with the House Republican leadership refusing to appoint conferees to the committee, which could have provided a forum for both chambers to resolve differences. Instead, they held hearings across the country in an attempt to increase their support for an enforcement-only approach. ACORN wants the House and Senate to stop its partisan divisiveness and enact immigration legislation that helps immigrants become U.S. citizens.

ACORN demands that lawmakers pass comprehensive immigration reform measures that include the following:

A path to citizenship for the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States.
Protection for all workers – both native and foreign-born – by upholding fair wages and working conditions for U.S. and immigrant workers and by ending exploitation and abuse of undocumented immigrant labor.
Reunification of families through removal of restrictions and bureaucratic delays. Those who have waited in line should have their admission expedited, and those admitted on work visas should be able to keep their nuclear families in tact.
Restoration of the rule of law and enhancement of security by providing a path to permanent status with effective enforcement.

Click here to take action now.

Citizenship fairs draw thousands seeking to register before fees increase

With the cost of naturalization set to rise July 30, ACORN offices throughout the Southwest, as well as other regions, recognized an opportunity to assist thousands of immigrants to apply for citizenship. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service has raised the cost of applying for citizenship from $300 to $595 per person.

Despite receiving 3,900 comments regarding the proposed fee increase, the agency adhered to its original proposal, which brings the total cost for citizenship to $675, including fingerprinting.

ACORN offices in Phoenix and Mesa, Ariz.; Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Chula Vista in N.M.; San Jose, San Mateo and San Diego, Calif.; El Paso, Dallas and Houston, Texas; Little Rock, Ark.; Denver. and Northern New Jersey, organized fairs April through July, each attracting hundreds of people in need of assistance and counseling.

In Phoenix, more than 500 attended and at least 200 were helped to complete citizenship application forms. Others were given office appointments or referred to specialized agencies to resolve problems. In New Mexico, 200 people – some of whom drove at least three hours - were counseled at a June 30 fair.

In San Diego, a line started to form at 7:30 a.m., for a fair co-sponsored by ACORN and Justice Over Boundaries. More than 100 ACORN and JOB volunteers, aided by three volunteers from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and pro bono immigration attorneys, counseled approximately 800 residents in need of assistance to complete their citizenship forms.