Hutchison-Pence Immigration Proposal is “The Hutchison-Pence proposal caters primarily to the big business and cheap-labor lobbies as it would allow importing unlimited workers under indentured servitude-like conditions,” said NumbersUSA Executive Director Roy Beck. “This bill should be called the ‘Chamber of Commerce Bill’ since its members and cheap-labor allies are the real beneficiaries of this legislation.” The plan, which has yet to be formally introduced as a bill, contains no penalties for those who are currently breaking our laws either by their illegal presence in the United States or by employing illegal aliens. Instead, it grants amnesty to most of the estimated 12 million illegal aliens currently in the United States by allowing them to live in the country legally as “temporary” workers if they first return home and immediately re-enter after processing at an “Ellis Island Center” and being granted a “Good Neighbor SAFE Visa.” However, because the bill only allows citizens of NAFTA and CAFTA-DR countries to participate in the foreign worker scheme, the bill discriminates against citizens outside Central and North America. “This proposal is a huge step backwards and would usher in a new era of Robber Barons and foster labor exploitation reminiscent of a century ago,” said Beck. “Americans need immigration legislation that puts national security and rule of law above the demands of greedy business profiteers.” Although there are currently no estimates for how many new workers the Hutchison-Pence plan would allow, the number is sure to be staggering, for there is no limit on SAFE Visas for at least the first three years of the program; any citizen of a NAFTA or CAFTA-DR country may apply; and spouses and minor children will also be allowed to enter with the visa holder. Additionally, SAFE Visas are renewable for up to 10 years in two-year increments, after which the visa holder may apply for an “X-Change Visa,” which lasts five years and then, after a total of 17 years in the United States, he may apply for Legal Permanent Residence followed by citizenship. “Calling 17 years ‘temporary’ is like calling the period of time a baby is born to the time he or she applies for college ‘temporary.’ Anyone who stays for 17 years is neither temporary nor a guest,” said Beck. “The sheer influx of people that would be allowed in the country under this plan would further overwhelm our communities, schools, hospitals, and roads while making it even more difficult to find work and driving wages down for American workers.”
### |