Let's vote to keep families together
When the removal statistics report from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement came out it was a shock. It stated, “In FY 2012, ICE removed 409,849 individuals.” During his run for president, President Barack Obama promised the Immigrant community a solution to stop deportations and a way to legalize thousands of undocumented immigrants. In an article from The Christian Science Monitor, writer David Grant writes, “In four years, the Obama administration has deported three-quarters of the number of people that President George W. Bush’s administration did in eight.” Thousands of those being deported are head of households, without them their families have no other income. Recently President Obama was interviewed on Telemundo (Spanish television network) and when asked why he hasn’t stopped deportations his reply was, “it would be difficult to halt the deportation of immigrants living in the country illegally without approval of Congress.”
Although US Immigration and Customs Enforcement claim that their policies allow their immigration laws to focus on criminals, 55% of the deportees were criminals and 45% were detained for minor traffic violations. To the contrary of what most anti-immigration activist think, most undocumented immigrants avoid problems with the law in order to avoid being deported.
Although US Immigration and Customs Enforcement claim that their policies allow their immigration laws to focus on criminals, 55% of the deportees were criminals and 45% were detained for minor traffic violations. To the contrary of what most anti-immigration activist think, most undocumented immigrants avoid problems with the law in order to avoid being deported.
This increase in deportations is affecting many families that call the United States home and the main victims are their children. An investigation done by the Applied Research Center found in a yearlong investigation that within that year, “at least 5,100 children whose parents are detained or deported are currently in foster care around the United States.” Many would assume that the children would be sent with their deported families in order to continue their lives in an unknown country but the detention of their mother or father make the reunification practically impossible. The Applied Research Center says, “Ultimately, child welfare departments and juvenile courts too often move to terminate the parental rights of deportees and put children up for adoption.” After this year long investigation it is believed that with the high rate of deportations within five years there will
be about, 15,000 children of deportees in foster care. A solution to this problem has been offered
and it sits on the House of Representatives hands.
The House of Representatives has a proposal for immigration reform, they have yet to set a date to vote on it. Included in the comprehensive immigration reform bill is a provision which would reunite families that have been separated by deportation. The bill also includes a provision which would protect families of loosing their parental rights in case of a deportation and protect children from being put into foster care. Although this provision seems like a ray of light for those that have been deported it will not be an easy path. Needless to say, those that have been convicted of a crime will not be allowed to reenter the United States.
One thing that we can all agree on when it comes to reforming our immigration system is to stop criminals from returning. Let’s not forget that thousands have been in the United States for decades, never had a problem with the law, have a family, work and pay taxes but they live with the fear of being deported. Although many statistics have proved that the Secure Communities program, supported by President Obama, has led to the deportation of people without any criminal offenses. Recently, California State Senator Kevin De Leon implemented the Trust Act, which would, “restrict police from holding deportable immigrants on behalf of federal immigration authorities, unless the suspect had been charged or convicted of a serious crime.”
We need to put more pressure on our government in order to get a vote towards a solution. There will be many benefits if immigration reform were approved; not only for those allowed to stay in the country but also for the nation as a whole. First, it will allow the United States to know who is in the country, benefiting our national security. Second, it will stop employers from hiring undocumented immigrants and paying them under the table, which will benefit our economy.
President Obama said on his State of the Union address, “If we’re truly committed to strengthening our middle class and providing more ladders of opportunity to those who are willing to work hard to make it into the middle class, we’ve got to fix the system. We have to bring this shadow economy into the light so that everybody is held accountable – businesses for who they hire, and immigrants for getting on the right side of the law. That’s common sense. And that’s why we need comprehensive immigration reform.” The statement made by President Obama highlights one of the main issues faced by immigrants today and at the same time he emphasizes the need for immigration reform.
One thing that we can all agree on when it comes to reforming our immigration system is to stop criminals from returning. Let’s not forget that thousands have been in the United States for decades, never had a problem with the law, have a family, work and pay taxes but they live with the fear of being deported. Although many statistics have proved that the Secure Communities program, supported by President Obama, has led to the deportation of people without any criminal offenses. Recently, California State Senator Kevin De Leon implemented the Trust Act, which would, “restrict police from holding deportable immigrants on behalf of federal immigration authorities, unless the suspect had been charged or convicted of a serious crime.”
We need to put more pressure on our government in order to get a vote towards a solution. There will be many benefits if immigration reform were approved; not only for those allowed to stay in the country but also for the nation as a whole. First, it will allow the United States to know who is in the country, benefiting our national security. Second, it will stop employers from hiring undocumented immigrants and paying them under the table, which will benefit our economy.
President Obama said on his State of the Union address, “If we’re truly committed to strengthening our middle class and providing more ladders of opportunity to those who are willing to work hard to make it into the middle class, we’ve got to fix the system. We have to bring this shadow economy into the light so that everybody is held accountable – businesses for who they hire, and immigrants for getting on the right side of the law. That’s common sense. And that’s why we need comprehensive immigration reform.” The statement made by President Obama highlights one of the main issues faced by immigrants today and at the same time he emphasizes the need for immigration reform.