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Skriven 2007-06-27 23:31:02 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (070627c) for Wed, 2007 Jun 27
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Fact Sheet: Bipartisan Border Security and Immigration Reform Bill
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary June 27, 2007

Fact Sheet: Bipartisan Border Security and Immigration Reform Bill Senate
Bill Represents The Best Chance To Reform Our Broken Immigration System

ÿÿWhite House News

ÿÿÿÿÿ In Focus: Immigration

President Bush Urges Members Of Both Parties To Support The Comprehensive
Immigration Reform Bill Now In The Senate. ÿThe status quo is unacceptable
 by acting now, we can ensure that our laws are respected, that our
borders are secure, that the needs of our economy are met, and that our
Nation helps newcomers assimilate.
  þ The Lessons Of History Are Clear: All Elements Of This Issue Must Be
    Addressed Together  Or None Of Them Will Be Solved At
    All.ÿIllegalimmigration is a serious problem that has been growing for
    decades.ÿ Past efforts to address it have failed because they did not
    do enough to secure our Nation's borders, failed to address the
    underlying economic reasons behind illegal immigration, and failed to
    provide sensible ways for employers to verify the legal status of the
    workers they hire.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Must Accomplish Five Clear Objectives

1. Securing The Border

Under The Bipartisan Immigration Reform Bill, Temporary Worker And Z Visas
Will Not Be Issued Until Meaningful Border Security And Worksite
Enforcement Benchmarks Are Met.ÿThese triggers include:
  þ Increasing border fencing.
  þ Increasing vehicle barriers at the Southern border.
  þ Increasing the size of the Border Patrol.
  þ Installing ground-based radar and camera towers along the Southern
    border.
  þ Ensuring resources are available to maintain the effective end of
    "Catch and Release" at our border.
  þ Ensuring a reliable Employment Eligibility Verification System (EEVS)
    is established and in use.

To Show The Government Is Serious About Meeting These Benchmarks, The Bill
Provides $4.4 Billion In Immediate Additional Funding For Securing Our
Borders And Enforcing Our Laws At The Worksite.

2. Holding Employers Accountable For The Workers They Hireÿ

The Bipartisan Immigration Reform Bill Sets Up A Sophisticated Electronic
EEVS To Give Employers The Tools They Need To Verify The Status Of
Workers.ÿEEVS will require workers to present a limited range of stronger
and more readily verifiable identification documents, which will be checked
electronically against Federal and State databases.ÿ
  þ EEVS Will Allow Employers To Verify The Authenticity Of Documents By
    Providing Access For The First Time To Identification Photographs In
    Government Databases.
  þ The Bill Imposes Stiff New Criminal And Civil Penalties On Employers
    Who Continue To Hire And Employ Illegal Workers.ÿUnder current law, the
    civil fine for employers who hire illegal workers is between $275 and
    $2,200 per alien for first-time offenders and between $3,300 and
    $11,000 per alien for four-time offenders.ÿ Under the bill, the civil
    fine for employers who hire illegal workers will be raised to $5,000
    per alien for first-time offenders, and to $75,000 per alien for
    four-time offenders.

3. Creating A Temporary Worker Program

Under The Senate Bill, A Temporary Worker Program Will Allow U.S. Law
Enforcement To Focus More Resources On Apprehending Violent Criminals And
Terrorists.ÿ The temporary worker program will help meet the needs of our
economy and reduce the number of people trying to sneak across our borders
by providing a lawful and orderly channel for foreign workers to fill the
jobs that Americans are not doing.
  þ This Temporary Worker Program Has Tougher Labor Standards And More
    Robust Protections For U.S. Workers Than Any Existing U.S. Nonimmigrant
    Worker Program.
      þ Before hiring a temporary worker under the bill, an employer must
        first try to recruit U.S. workers for 90 days  three times longer
        than any other temporary worker program.
      þ Temporary workers under the bill must be paid the prevailing
        competitive wage, which is based on the wages paid to U.S. workers,
        and ensures that the wages of U.S. workers cannot be undercut.

4. Resolving The Status Of The Millions Of Illegal Immigrants Already In
The Country

The Bill Will Strengthen Our National Security By Bringing The Millions Of
Illegal Workers Already Here Out Of The Shadows  Without Amnesty.ÿThis
will allow law enforcement officials to know who is in the country and
allow immigration enforcement officers to focus their resources on finding
and apprehending violent criminals and terrorists.ÿ
  þ Illegal Workers Already Here Must Come Forward And Pay A Fine.ÿIn order
    to obtain a Z visa granting temporary legal status, workers in the
    country before January 1, 2007, must come forward, pay a $1,000 fine,
    pass criminal background checks, remain employed, and maintain a clean
    record.
  þ Z Visa Workers Must Pay An Additional Fine, Learn English, And Meet
    Other Requirements To Apply For A Green Card, And Cannot Receive One
    Until Years In The Future.ÿ Z visa workers must apply at the back of
    the line and wait until the current backlog is cleared, pay an
    additional $4,000 fine, complete accelerated English and civics
    requirements, maintain employment, leave the U.S. to file their
    application, and compete in the merit system based on the skills and
    attributes they will bring to the United States.ÿ
  þ Satisfying The Requirements In The Bill Will Take Most Green Card
    Applicants More Than A Decade.

5. Finding New Ways To Help Newcomers Assimilate Into Our Society

The Bill Will Strengthen The Assimilation Of New Immigrants. The bill
declares that English is the national language of the United States and
calls on the United States Government to preserve and enhance it.ÿ It also
enacts accelerated English requirements for many immigrants.ÿ In addition,
the DHS Office of Citizenship will be expanded to include coordinating
assimilation efforts in its mission, and the Secretary of Education will
make an English instruction program available for free over the Internet.

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