by the Asian Law Caucus
Democrats propose flawed biometric employment verification system despite promising legalization, family provisions
SAN FRANCISCO – Yesterday, six leading Democrat Senators unveiled a framework that would overhaul our nation’s badly-outdated immigration system. The proposal, not yet a bill, prioritizes a biometric identity card for all Americans as well as increased border militarization. The blueprint also includes a pathway to legalization for undocumented immigrants and addresses the long waits in family immigration backlogs.
“Legalization is a human rights issue that the Asian American community deeply cares about,” states Titi Liu, Executive Director of the Asian Law Caucus. “Our democracy will only be strengthened when we finally address the second-class that stigmatizes undocumented immigrants living and working in the United States.”
The legalization proposal allows undocumented immigrants to obtain probationary status for eight years, which permits them to travel abroad and work in the U.S. before they could apply for a green card, provided they meet various criteria. The blueprint also modernizes the family immigration system by clearing out the backlogs over eight years. Also for the first time, the bill would permit US citizens to sponsor same sex partners for permanent residency.
Despite these promising provisions, the Democratic framework is undercut by severe interior and border enforcement provisions. Chief among them is the creation of a new, biometric Social Security card that all Americans will be required to show for employment eligibility. This biometric data will be stored in a database and every U.S. employer will be required to use a card reader for authentication. Additionally of concern is the proposal to increase mandatory detention and retain the flawed 287(g) program that deputizes state and local police to act as federal immigration agents.
“These provisions raise several civil liberties and privacy concerns for all Americans. Immigration reform cannot be used to encroach on basic civil rights,” says Liu. “The Democratic blueprint is only the beginning of Senate debates for fair immigration reform. More robust civic engagement and closer analysis of any legislation will be essential in the coming weeks in order to ensure that civil and human rights are respected.”
This is a crucial time for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to weigh in on the immigration debate. Historically, California has been the gateway for AAPI communities to immigrate to the US. “We must remember these journeys and move forward together with all immigrants, as the immigration debate takes center stage. AAPIs should be vocal and build momentum towards ensuring a humane immigration bill in 2010,” said Liu.
Tomorrow, May 1, International Workers’ Day, AAPIs across the country will march calling for fair and just immigration reform in solidarity with thousands of other immigrant communities. Rallies will be held in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Jose, Oakland, San Bernardino and Orange County.
In the US today, more than 60 percent of the Asian American community were born abroad. Approximately one in ten are undocumented. AAPI immigrants face some the longest waits in the family immigration system. Since 1998, nearly 50,000 Asians have been deported and more than 38,000 were removed for non-criminal reasons.
