DEFEAT UNFAIR UNJUST IMMIGRATION BILL

The more I look at the provisions of the immigration bill being considered in the U.S. Senate - S.1348- the more I want Bush's immigration "reform" to be defeated. It is grossly unfair to immigrants, especially the 12 million undocumenteds already in the U.S.

One, it continues to fund the hated wall along the Arizona border. Not only is this wall a serious impediment to wildlife and an environmental disaster, it makes people throughout all Latin America hate Americans and view the U.S. as exclusionary and racist. The U.S. is not building a wall along the Canadian border. It should not build a wall along the Mexican border.

Second, it forces the 12 million undocumenteds to jump through hoops if they want to become legal permanent residents. They must pay fines/application fees of at least $5,000, the head of the family must return to his/her country of origin to make official application, and there will be a long waiting period. These provisions are excessive. Let the undocumenteds already in the U.S. remain here without having to return to their countries. Let's not stigmatize the process of becoming permanent residents. Let's give everyone already here the chance to become citizens, and let's expedited and simplify the whole process.

Third, the temporary guest worker problem will force workers to return to their countries of origin after every two-year period and remain there for at least one year. Furthermore, after a total of six years working in the United States, workers are barred from returning. This is unfair to the workers. It removes any hope of becoming permanent residents or citizens. It treats foreign workers as worthless cogs who have no rights to stay in the U.S. or to put down roots.

For all the above reasons - the hated wall, the return to country of origin, the barring of any citizenship rights from temporary workers - this immigration bill is a nasty bill that is is inimical to immigrants, especially those already in the U.S. without documents. Work to defeat Bush's immigration bill.