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Conservatives are ready for immigration reform Conservatives are ready for immigration reform
(5 months later)
America's legal immigration system is broken. The current system is de facto amnesty. Everyone agrees that we must address this issue now. We need a lasting reform that overhauls our bureaucratic visa system, secures our borders, creates a temporary worker program, establishes a worker verification system, and allows the eleven million undocumented immigrants in our country to earn a legal status.America's legal immigration system is broken. The current system is de facto amnesty. Everyone agrees that we must address this issue now. We need a lasting reform that overhauls our bureaucratic visa system, secures our borders, creates a temporary worker program, establishes a worker verification system, and allows the eleven million undocumented immigrants in our country to earn a legal status.
We must protect America's legacy as a nation of immigrants and as a nation of laws. The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 is a strong, conservative start to the immigration reform process.We must protect America's legacy as a nation of immigrants and as a nation of laws. The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 is a strong, conservative start to the immigration reform process.
This is a conservative issue; passage of genuine bipartisan immigration reform legislation will aid the economic success of our country. The trifecta of improving economic growth, raising the level of economic output per person, and reducing the deficit makes immigration reform beneficial for every American. As the American Action Forum's Doug Holtz-Eakin has stated:This is a conservative issue; passage of genuine bipartisan immigration reform legislation will aid the economic success of our country. The trifecta of improving economic growth, raising the level of economic output per person, and reducing the deficit makes immigration reform beneficial for every American. As the American Action Forum's Doug Holtz-Eakin has stated:
"[A]ny discussion of immigration reform that omits the benefits on economic performance is incomplete.""[A]ny discussion of immigration reform that omits the benefits on economic performance is incomplete."
According to an AAF study, immigration reform means more rapid population growth, which translates directly into more rapid GDP growth rates by 0.25% annually over the first decade years. Over the first 10 years of benchmark immigration reform, the federal deficit would be reduced by a cumulative amount of $2.7tn. Overall growth rate in real GDP would rise from 3% to 3.9%, on average annually. Per capita income would increase by $1,700 after 10 years. Combined with improved productivity and labor force participation, and accounting for dynamic effects, the economic and budgetary opportunities in immigration reform are clear.According to an AAF study, immigration reform means more rapid population growth, which translates directly into more rapid GDP growth rates by 0.25% annually over the first decade years. Over the first 10 years of benchmark immigration reform, the federal deficit would be reduced by a cumulative amount of $2.7tn. Overall growth rate in real GDP would rise from 3% to 3.9%, on average annually. Per capita income would increase by $1,700 after 10 years. Combined with improved productivity and labor force participation, and accounting for dynamic effects, the economic and budgetary opportunities in immigration reform are clear.
The legislation introduced in the Senate secures our border and includes the toughest immigration enforcement laws our country has ever seen. Of course, what most people want to discuss is the earned legal status system for undocumented immigrants or "registered provisional immigrants" as the legislation calls them. This is a type of temporary worker visa that must be renewed after six years. To be eligible, undocumented immigrants must have been in the country since 2011, pay all applicable fees and penalties, and pass a background check.The legislation introduced in the Senate secures our border and includes the toughest immigration enforcement laws our country has ever seen. Of course, what most people want to discuss is the earned legal status system for undocumented immigrants or "registered provisional immigrants" as the legislation calls them. This is a type of temporary worker visa that must be renewed after six years. To be eligible, undocumented immigrants must have been in the country since 2011, pay all applicable fees and penalties, and pass a background check.
We must keep the best and brightest in America. That's why what is truly important is that this legislation increases H-1B visas for high skilled workers by raising the base cap of 65,000 to 110,000. The 20,000 visa exemption for advanced degree graduates of US schools will increase to 25,000 visas. If we are investing our intellectual property in these students, we should allow them to stay and contribute to our economy instead of sending them away to our competitors.We must keep the best and brightest in America. That's why what is truly important is that this legislation increases H-1B visas for high skilled workers by raising the base cap of 65,000 to 110,000. The 20,000 visa exemption for advanced degree graduates of US schools will increase to 25,000 visas. If we are investing our intellectual property in these students, we should allow them to stay and contribute to our economy instead of sending them away to our competitors.
Under our current immigration system, less than 7% of visas are merit-based. We need skilled workers to ensure a robust economy; our legal immigration system should reflect that.Under our current immigration system, less than 7% of visas are merit-based. We need skilled workers to ensure a robust economy; our legal immigration system should reflect that.
As the immigration reform debate moves forward in Congress, we at the Hispanic Leadership Network look forward to an open, honest, and constructive discussion that will ensure a real immigration reform solution. Each member of Congress should be able to contribute to the debate, ensuring the voice of every American is heard.As the immigration reform debate moves forward in Congress, we at the Hispanic Leadership Network look forward to an open, honest, and constructive discussion that will ensure a real immigration reform solution. Each member of Congress should be able to contribute to the debate, ensuring the voice of every American is heard.
We need a lasting reform that overhauls our bureaucratic visa system, secures our borders, creates a temporary worker program, establishes a worker verification system, and allows the 11 million undocumented immigrants in our country to earn a legal status. This is what the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 has brought us. I believe that this legislation will pass this year. The time is now.We need a lasting reform that overhauls our bureaucratic visa system, secures our borders, creates a temporary worker program, establishes a worker verification system, and allows the 11 million undocumented immigrants in our country to earn a legal status. This is what the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 has brought us. I believe that this legislation will pass this year. The time is now.
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