Posted on 05/19/2007 9:30:25 AM PDT by TaxPayer2000
Many illegal immigrants will have to overcome deep-seated fear and distrust of the U.S. government if they are to take advantage of the proposal to emerge from the shadows offered by Senate leaders and the White House.
After months of roundups at workplaces and homes, immigrants are now being asked to come forward to authorities, pay $5,000 in fines and return to their homelands to apply for legal residency.
Cesar Damian Solis, who earns up to $600 a month laying bricks and pipe in Phoenix, thinks most illegal immigrants would rather have a plan that allows them to remain in the United States while their applications are processed. 'I want to wait here and I will pay here,"' said Solis, 22, who left Mexico two years ago. "'Sometimes I think the government is lying. They can say go over there to your country, wait over there. Then they never answer."'
Alvaro Tarazona, who lives in Miami, also worries about the prospect of returning home to Venezuela.
"'That's one of the main points that immigrants don't trust,"' said Tarazona, 19, who came to U.S. with his family when he was 11 years old and overstayed his visa. "'Why do they have to go back and how much time?"'
Immigration lawyers said it is too early to know how many immigrants will accept the offer to seek citizenship, but the prospect of coming out of the shadows holds strong appeal.
The federal government last offered an amnesty program in 1986 to illegal immigrants who had been in the United States at least four years. An estimated 2.7 million people took advantage of it.
"'We've been through this once before in 1986 and everyone came forward - even people who didn't qualify,"' said Carl Shusterman, a Los Angeles immigration attorney. "'This is a great benefit and everyone will be trying to take advantage of it."'
The Senate's proposed legislation would allow illegal immigrants who arrived before Jan. 1, 2007 to remain in the U.S. on probationary status and renew four-year visas. They could eventually get a green card, which could take at least eight years. Heads of households would have to return to their home countries first.
Dan Kowalski, editor of Bender's Immigration Bulletin, said many immigrants will likely wait to see how friends, relatives and neighbors fare.
"'In 1986, it happened in rolling waves,"' he said. "'Not everyone applied all at once. It took time for people to gain confidence in the process. I think the same thing will happen here."'
If the proposed legislation survives with tougher border enforcement and a crackdown on employers, illegal immigrants may have less choice than in 1986, Kowalski said.
"'Staying underground will be less of an option if you're subject to losing your job or not being able to get a new job,"' he said. "'Participation may be higher regardless of how much trust there is."'
Immigration lawyers said a key unknown is whether the agency handling visa application promises not to share information with deportation officers. Such a promise was made in 1986.
"'No one is going to come forward if they think it may lead to deportation,"' said Mary Meg McCarthy, a lawyer at the National Immigrant Justice Center in Chicago.
An immigrant named Juan who works in construction in New Bedford, Mass., said he trusts the U.S. government to follow through on promises to undocumented workers in any new immigration law. He said it is far more reliable than the government in his native Guatemala.
But Juan, who spoke on the condition that he be identified only by his first name, said he worries about being deported because of provisions in the final law that he does not understand.
Juan pays his taxes and hopes that counts for something someday. He said he's "'crossing his fingers"' for the chance to work and live in the open, without leaving his wife and young child.
"'Now it's like, I'm here, but there's still a door in front of me that can't be opened,"' Juan said. "'There are some things I'd like to do in this country, but I can't do it."'
Immigration advocates are warning against unscrupulous attorneys and public notaries making false promises of citizenship.
"'Anytime there's an announcement like this, notaries tell people to come in and pay, and we'll take care of you,"' said Donald Kerwin, executive director of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, which employs about 1,200 attorneys and paralegals. "'It's already happening."'
Genaro Vicente, 35, a Guatemalan in the U.S. for six years, said it was unfair to make workers return to their home countries.
"'When we're already here, why?"' he asked Friday while standing near a Home Depot in Los Angeles. "'I don't trust the politicians to let us back in."'
Juan Carlos Vazquez, 40, also from Guatemala, agreed.
“Many illegal immigrants will have to overcome deep-seated fear and distrust of the U.S. government”
Oh heck. I can’t even do that.
“Illegal Immigrants Feel Fear, Mistrust “
Well, too freakin’ bad.
Most people that believe in their country have had fear and mistrust of
people invading their country and taking things they aren’t entitled to.
Cry me a fricking river Genaro. You shouldn't be here at all.
Why is it that idiot reporters have no problems finding hordes of illegals but ICE can't seem to find their asses with both hands and a map?
L
ditto!
Who cares what a bunch of foreigners think. Get the F out, and stay out!
Ok I’m confused. My problem with this bill is that it doesn’t require them to return home, but according to Cesar Damian Solis he does have to return home first to become legal. So who’s right?
Oh. Btw, high blood pressure warning. Geraldo is having a program called “A Day in the Life” about these poor victimized souls at 8 p.m. Eastern tonight on FOX.
from what I understand, the “head of household” has to return home for one year..... but who knows at this point what the reality is......
Yes, and this is one of the most hilarious things about this monstrosity. I'm surrounded by illegals and they are the most paranoid people on Earth. The very thought that they would subject themselves to jumping through government verifications and bureaucratic hoops is absurd. Just shows how clueless our governing class is.
Of course, that assumes that this legislation is actually something more than a massive shell game to snow the people.
And it most assuredly AIN'T.
Maybe I am not looking hard enough, but when I read stories like this, I never see the illegal mention if he loves this country. It seems like the majority of what is said is that the illegals have some kind of right to be here and it is not fair that they have to do things to become legal.
Not to become legal...to become A CITIZEN. They are all going to be given "temporary LEGAL status" upon enactment.
"Stroke of the pen, law of the land...pretty cool, huh?"
Disgusted BTTT
Will Geraldo also go to the capital cities of other countries and ask those who applied for VISAs to come to the USA legally how they feel about having been rejected because of the huge number of illegals that the USA needs to absorb first?
Yes, because we are fast no longer remaining a sovereign nation...just a giant employment agency.
This is a fact! Ever wonder why Larry Kudlow (CNBC Pubbie Cheerleader) continually pushes the "We Need Immigrants" line? He uses the "Media Speak", always equating ILLEGAL ALIENS with legal immigration!
Having credited his "Catholic Conversion" with saving hia life (from an addiction to cocaine...), he is a "True Believer"!
I would propose that the majority of Catholics in this country do not support the church's activist stance on aiding and abetting illegal immigration! Though, given the demographic shifts, this may no longer be the case!
This is a fact! Ever wonder why Larry Kudlow (CNBC Pubbie Cheerleader) continually pushes the "We Need Immigrants" line? He uses the "Media Speak", always equating ILLEGAL ALIENS with legal immigration!
Having credited his "Catholic Conversion" with saving hia life (from an addiction to cocaine...), he is a "True Believer"!
I would propose that the majority of Catholics in this country do not support the church's activist stance on aiding and abetting illegal immigration! Though, given the demographic shifts, this may no longer be the case!
I wish Geraldo would move to Mexico City and take Juan Hernandez with him. If they are so smart, let them fix Mexico.
What’s unfair is breaking the law and being rewarded for doing so...
...just not enough fear and mistrust to leave on their own accord.
I know of a fellow who has been here illegally for 20 years, he has 3 felony convictions and uses false ID to work. He’s afraid he won’t be able to continue to work and may have to turn to day labor jobs. He has no intention of applying for any legalization because of his criminal convictions. He thinks this is unfair.
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