News Update - July 2, 2009
By Alan Lee, Esq.†‡
President Obama Begins Discussions on Comprehensive Immigration
Reform
In a private discussion with congressional members of both parties
at the White House on June 25, 2009, President Obama began discussions
on Comprehensive Immigration Reform by stating the goal to provide
a path to legal status for the estimated 12 million undocumented
immigrants living in the United States. The specifics have not been
established yet, but positions are already beginning to be staked
out. Republicans said they would only support a measure only if
it included a guest worker program. Senator John McCain stated that
an immigration overhaul had fresh urgency because of the surge in
violence along the border in Mexico, but any immigration bill needed
to include a guest worker program. The American Civil Liberties
Union (ACLU) later announced its principles to serve as guidelines:
a) Immigration reform must not create a national ID system.
b) State and local intrusions into immigration policy and enforcement
should be halted immediately.
c) Reforms to our immigration laws should be fair and ensure that
the constitutional guarantee of due process for every person is
fully respected and vigilantly protected
d) Any new legislation to reform our immigration system must address
endemic due process failures embodied in current law.
According to a study conducted by the Joint Center for Housing
Studies of Harvard University, immigrants are a key element to reviving
the housing market. Currently, housing prices continue to fall as
job losses increase and credit eligibility requirements become tougher.
However, minorities are likely to fuel 73% of household growth in
2010-2020 and immigration levels are a “wild card that could
either dampen housing demand or lift production even higher.”
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