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David A. Armendariz |
The most important issues confronting the Immigration section are the proposed changes to the immigration law presently being considered by Congress. The SABA Immigration section is attempting to ensure that any new law concerning immigration will adequately protect immigrant rights in addition to safeguarding our nation’s security. The proposed law passed by the House and being considered by the Senate fails to achieve this balance; therefore, the SABA Immigration section, acting in concert with immigration lawyers throughout the State of Texas, distributed thousands of postcards addressed to U.S. Senator John Cornyn asking the Senator to help pass fair, comprehensive immigration reform. Fair and comprehensive immigration reform includes: (1) The creation of a reasonable avenue for undocumented immigrants to earn the legalization of their status. There are over 12 million undocumented immigrants present in the United States, many with firmly established ties to this country. If these immigrants leave the United States, businesses will lose a substantial amount of their workforce, families will be separated, and the government will be deprived of millions of dollars in tax revenue. Such a legalization plan will only work if it provides a real incentive for the undocumented immigrants to take part in it, namely, permanent legal status. Many undocumented immigrants will not apply for a “temporary” program that will require them to eventually leave their job, family, community and home in the United States. (2) Comprehensive immigration reform includes better enforcement of the border. The postcards we mailed to Senator Cornyn ask him to provide border patrol with better technology and more personnel and to reject the proposal to build a fence. A fence is no guarantee to stop or even deter illegal immigrants from entering the United States. Better technology and more personnel is what the border patrol wants and is what it should receive. We are asking Congress to spend the taxpayers’ money responsibly, instead of fencing us in. (3) The immigration laws should be true to the identity of the United States. Many of our ancestors, like many of today’s immigrants, came to the United States to escape poverty, corruption, and even persecution. Recognizing our history, we should embrace today’s immigrants, not criminalize their presence here. In addition to working to make good immigration laws, the SABA immigration section continues to meet each month at Aldaco’s restaurant in Sunset Station to discuss immigration law issues. The luncheons usually have a speaker addressing a topic on immigration law and are normally approved for one hour of CLE credit. Join us! |
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