Posted on 05/19/2006 2:23:31 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
HOUSTON - Martin Saucedo, an illegal immigrant from Michoacan, Mexico, would like to participate in a guest worker program like one Congress is considering as a part of sweeping immigration reform.
But he's worried whether a proposal to grant millions of illegal immigrants a path to citizenship is really just an effort to find and deport them.
"It's not a good idea. It won't give us what we need, to be able to come back," Saucedo said in Spanish during a break from clearing tree branches from power lines while working at a landscaping company.
A bill before the Senate calls for providing up to 200,000 new temporary guest worker visas a year. Guest workers would be able to seek legal status on their own if the government determines American workers aren't available to fill the affected jobs. Temporary workers would be required to return home at the end of the program.
"Absolutely there is concern," said Kathleen Walker, vice president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. "'The government is your friend' is not the mantra of this area. ... For those who feel they have nothing in their home country and have lived underground for years, how is that an incentive for them to come forward?"
Despite some immigrants' fears, the immigration debate has recently inspired more to seek legal permanent residency and citizenship.
Nationwide, the number of applications for permanent residency has jumped from 57,011 in January to 76,831 in March, said Maria Elena Garcia-Upson, spokeswoman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Citizenship applications have increased from 53,390 to 74,943 during the same period.
"Anytime there is anything that might affect people's status here in the United States, there tends to be an increase in applications," said Garcia-Upson. "We expect these numbers to increase even more."
Maria Robles, 55, an immigrant from Monterrey, Mexico, said in Spanish she is glad her permanent legal residency application has already been approved because she would be afraid to apply for it in the current political climate.
"Many times the government says one thing, but in the end they might want to just deport all the immigrants back to their countries," she said.
Robles, who has been in the country for 12 years, said she doesn't think the guest worker proposal will benefit illegal immigrants because many of them won't want to return to their home countries after their visas expire.
Community groups who work with illegal immigrants said they have been counseling many who are worried that Congress hasn't yet decided on anything.
"I think a lot of people don't know. They hear talk, the president is talking about immigration, Congress is talking about legalization, and people want to know what's happening and what the law says," said Adam Chester, supervising attorney for Catholic Charities Immigration and Legal Services division in Dallas.
Lately, Dallas immigration attorney Sarah Brown speaks at least once a day with a client who thinks legislation was approved.
"They freak out or get all excited ... so we kind of have to have a little civics lesson," she said. "I tell them to keep listening, the cue is when the president has signed it into law."
Eduardo Patino, 29, an immigrant from Mexico legally in the country on a work permit, said he has paid his taxes, while his wife, who is in the country illegally, doesn't drive because she doesn't have a license. They've tried to stay out of trouble and show they are model citizens, he said.
But he still is concerned it might not be enough and he could be forced to return to Mexico.
"I already have kids here," said Patino, who lives in Chicago but was visiting relatives in Dallas. "I've made my life here. I can't take them to a country that's not theirs."
But he's worried whether a proposal to grant millions of illegal immigrants a path to citizenship is really just an effort to find and deport them.
".............many of them won't want to return to their home countries after their visas expire."
Bingo!
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee have a Winnnnaaaaa!
Just cut a little part of California out and give it to them and make Kerry their president.
ping
ping
More garbage from the Asspress. And Yahoo news is appropriately named.
Model citizens ...MODEL CITIZENS!?.
One Mexican with a work permit, aiding and abetting some low life who slithered into our country, violating its laws and sovereignty. Yeah, they're really stellar.
Seems to me the power company should be in trouble. They nailed Wal-Mart for a sub-contractor using illegals to clean their stores.
A psyops program against illegal immigration would do wonders, given their already-revved natural paranoia and anxiety.
Yes, Laura almost laughed.
someone should tell Snowjob this sounds like
the philosophy of gun control: Teenagers are roaring through town at 90 MPH, where the speed limit is 25. Your solution is to lower the speed limit to 20.
"But he's worried whether a proposal to grant millions of illegal immigrants a path to citizenship is really just an effort to find and deport them."
that is a good idea.
Wouldn't such a program be insensitive? I certainly hope it would.
Worried? Tough titty.
Yo, Saucedo! If ICE really wanted to find you, they could.
Only a public servant, a bureaucrat, a politician, or a functional moron would be surprised at this...
But I repeat myself...
I keep hearing the phrase "the visas expired." What the heck? This isn't just a freak act of nature. They are awarded visas with end dates on them. I hear many claim the visas "expired" and ooops,,,now they are all of a sudden illegally here.
Yes, you are! They want us to think they are model citizens? Welllll,,don't let your friggin visa (which should be considered the most important thing you own) expire then! Geeesh! So our govt's answer is to give them a whole new set of deadlines and paperwork to fill out? They will just let those expire too!!!!! What are the excuses for letting the visas expire????/ This is really sickening.
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