For decades, the United States government has avoided the task of modernizing the nation’s immigration policy. The Border Security and Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, a bill proposed to the U.S. Senate by a bipartisan group of eight senators will, if passed, lead to a necessary and beneficial reform of the immigration system. Most importantly, the bill will create a path to citizenship for the millions of illegal immigrants already living in the U.S. The bill also proposes several changes to create a more effective border security system. Furthermore, the new system will initiate an overhaul of the nation’s visa system to make the process of gaining a visa more efficient and adaptable.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, only between 40 and 60 percent of individuals illegally attempting to cross the border are arrested each year. This shockingly low statistic indicates that an overhaul of the border security system is necessary. The Immigration Modernization Act is the optimal choice for achieving these goals because it proposes advanced technological measures that will make a significant improvement in the low DHS statistic. If passed, the bill will appropriate funds for the creation and the use of high-tech drones that will be extremely adept at surveillance techniques and help combat the present issues.
“I actually believe that this bill has a chance of passing the Senate because both of the parties have reached an agreement on this topic and acknowledged the need for reform,” said Honors United States History, Advanced Placement United States Government and Economics teacher Lance Novak.
The most significant and controversial aspect of the Immigration Modernization Act is its policy regarding current undocumented immigrants. According to the Census Bureau, there are approximately 11 million illegal immigrants presently residing in the U.S. Should the bill pass, the government will grant these people a path to citizenship that will prove highly beneficial for the nation as a whole. If granted citizenship, these immigrants will pay taxes that will stimulate the economy. Finally, undocumented immigrants should have the opportunity to become U.S. citizens because many already have strong ties to American schools, jobs and communities.
“Americans have very mixed views regarding the possibility of a path to citizenship,” said Novak. “However, I think many people in Calif. would support this proposal because of the nature of our state.”
The Senate should pass the Immigration Modernization Act because it will improve the nation’s visa policies for both current and future immigrants by switching to a merit-based system that will be better for the country. Under this system, the government would grant visas more easily to immigrants with jobs or those who are studying at American universities. This would ultimately benefit the U.S. economy and promote education and job stability. The bill is also notable as it is the first bill to ever propose temporary visas for migrant workers, which will provide many currently undocumented workers, such as landscapers and house cleaners, with necessary and well-deserved rights and protections in the workplace.
