Democratic Congressional Hispanic Caucus To Introduce Their Version Of Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Democratic federal legislators to present document detailing their version of immigration reform.

By H. Nelson Goodson

November 26, 2012

Washington, D.C. - On Monday, federal legislative members of the Democratic Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) announced that they will introduce on Wednesday a document of their version of comprehensive immigration reform at the Capitol Visitors Center. CHC members, Chairman Rep. Charles Conzalez (D-TX), Chair-elect Rep. Ruben Hinojoza (D-TX), Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Chair of the Immigration Task Force Committee will present a proposal called "One Nation, Principles on Immigration Reform and Our Commitment to the American Dream." 

The proposal will focus on CHC's commitment to continue to work toward common-sense, comprehensive immigration reform that serves America's interests, promotes fairness and the rule of law and contributes to our economic well-being, according to a news release from the CHC.

The November national surge of Hispanic voters in the country that gave Democrats the White House by reelecting President Obama has placed immigration reform a priority for both Democrats and Republicans.

On November 14, President Barack H. Obama who was reelected also announced that immigration reform will be dealt with after his January's inauguration. He would like a bill that would focus on border security, enforcement including stiffer penalties for employers thay hire undocumented workers, provide a pathway for legalization for millions of immigrants and earned citizenship for DREAMers. DREAMers, undocumented children brought into the country illegally at no fault of their own by their non-citizen parents.

There are an estimated 1.7 million undocumented immigrants that arrived in the country as children.

Last August, the Obama administration and Homeland Security Department enacted an administrative policy allowing eligible DREAMERs to apply for deferred action and pay fees to get federal work permits and legal paper work to apply for state licenses. Under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, an estimated 20,000 work permits have been issued to non-citizen DREAMers, since August. The Obama deferred action policy for eligible DREAMers will continue into 2013, since Obama was reelected for a second term.

Obama's administration in the last four years has deported more than 4 million non-citizens than any former administration. Most of those deported, including U.S. Veterans were removed from the country for minor crimes.

On Tuesday, the Illinois Democratic controlled state legislature will introduce a bill when it convenes to allow non-citizens to seek an Illinois driver license. The driver license bill will grant more than 250,000 of non-citizens in the state of Illinois eligibility to apply for licenses.

Illinois once it approves a license bill for illegal immigrants in the state would join both the state of Washington and New Mexico in granting licenses for non-citizens.

On January 1, 2013, California will grant driver licenses to immigrants with a federal work permit.