It’s a brand new year and coming off of the fiscal cliff drama, it’s hard to not be worried about the future of comprehensive immigration reform in this Republican controlled mad house that we call the congress.
After all, if something that benefits 98 percent of Americans causes so much rancor, and even an aid package for Super storm Sandy cannot pass the House, what chance does immigration reform have?
But I take heart in the fact that on Thursday, January 3, the number of Latino lawmakers in the House increased by 10 to a total of 28.
This is good news for you as you try your darnest to keep this issue on the front burner, amidst a looming debt ceiling showdown and gun law changes.
Still, with three Latino Senators in the House now, two of whom are Republicans – Cuban Americans Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz; and nine new Latino faces in the Congress, the time is now to push immigration reform as a much needed cash cow for the economy.
Eleven plus million people paying back taxes and a fine for being in this country could add billions to the coffers of this country, at a time when we struggle to find revenue to offset spending.
Add to that the additional funds that could come from those immigrants investing in the U.S. and starting companies with the backing of venture capitalists, allowing them to also create employment for Americans and the fees for special work visas and the revenues will start piling up.
That has to be your main selling points going forward this year, as you engage the grassroots groups and celebrities to make the case for immigration reform now!
Thank you for doing all you can administratively to help the undocumented. The new rule kicking in on March 4th that will allow undocumented immigrants applying for visas who can prove that separation from their U.S.-based family would cause “extreme hardship” and apply for a waiver to a three and ten-year re-entry ban and start their application process without leaving the country, is a welcome one.
With the new changes, which will apply to the spouses or parents of U.S. citizens, or, separately, minor children, applicants can begin their visa application process from within the U.S. and could benefit some 1 million undocumented immigrants currently here, adding to the DHS’ coffers through filing fees and fines.
So let’s keep drumming the economic message of immigration reform and make it a reality now for immigrants who have been living in the shadows of this country for way too long.
Respectfully,
The writer is founder of NewsAmericasNow, CaribPR Wire and Hard Beat Communications.
