What Do You Think? Bi-Partisan Immigration Reform Ideas in 2012

In tomorrow’s class, we’ll cover key immigration cases—and we’ll revisit what the public policy debate looked like in 2012.

If you were in class, what would you say about these concepts?

Eight senators—four Democrats and four Republicans (see below)—unveiled this comprehensive approach.

1.       Create a non-forgeable electronic system to enable prospective employees to prove their legal status and identity

2.       Stiffen fines and penalties for employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. Other proposals include:

3.       Create a path to citizenship for millions of aliens unlawfully residing in the U.S.

4.       Increase border security.

5.       Improve the exit-tracking system for temporary visitors to the U.S.

6.       Create a commission of southwest lawmakers to address regional issues.

7.       Allow unlawful aliens to register with the federal government, and grant them probationary status, provided they pay fines and back taxes, if owed.

8.       Transition probationary aliens to permanent residents as border security improves.

9.       Grant people brought as children, and also farmworkers, a faster path to citizenship.

10.   Grant green cards (legal permanent residence) to a greater number of aliens who have advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering or math from American universities

Proposed by:

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-CO; Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-IL; Sen. Jeff Flake, R-AZ; Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC; Sen. John McCain, R-AZ; Sen. Bob Menendez, D-NJ; Sen. Marco Rubio, R-FL; Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY