IMMIGRATION FACTS AND FIGURES WHAT IS NEXT??

Cleo Rodriguez, Jr., Executive Director • National Migrant Seasonal Head Start Association • Washington, D.C. IMMIGRATION FACTS AND FIGURESWHAT IS NEXT??

Voters overwhelmingly reject mass deportation (81%) Most Americans believe in a balanced approach (66 %) The public at large strongly supports the Obama administration’s decision to grant undocumented youth protection from deportation and work permits- known as DACA (70%) Americans reject mass deportation

There were 39.9 million foreign-born people in the United States in 2010. 44 percent were naturalized citizens. 24 percent were legal permanent residents. 29 percent were unauthorized migrants. 3 percent were temporary legal residents (such as students or temporary workers). Immigrants largely arrive through legal channels

11.5 million undocumented immigrants were living in the United States in January 2011 86 percent of undocumented immigrants have been living in the United States for seven years or longer. 5.2 percent of the U.S. labor force consisted of undocumented immigrants in 2010 45 percent of unauthorized immigrant households are composed of couples with children. 16.6 million people are in families with at least one undocumented immigrant 4.5 million U.S.-born children had at least one unauthorized immigrant parent in 2010, Most immigrants have made a home in the United States

Undocumented immigrants are increasingly settling throughout the 50 states. The number of undocumented Mexican nationals arriving to the United States declined by 80 percent between 2004 and 2010. Policies of “self-deportation” do not lead to large-scale resettlement. Instead of leaving the United States, undocumented immigrants living in anti-immigrant states move to friendlier neighboring states. Immigrants are all over USA. Unfriendly laws ≠ “self-deport”

Immigrants—even the undocumented—pay a significant amount of taxes. A 2011 study found undocumented immigrants paid $11.2 billion in state and local taxes, adding a significant amount of money to help states. It is important to note that immigrants—even legal immigrants - are barred from most social services-- meaning that they pay to support benefits they cannot receive. Even undocumented immigrants pay taxes

Immigrants help keep Social Security solvent According to the National Foundation for American Policy, immigrants will add a net of $611 B to the Social Security system over the next 75 years. Immigrants are a key driver of keeping the Social Security Trust Fund solvent. Even undocumented immigrants pay taxes

$1.5 trillion—$ contributed to GDP over 10 years with a comprehensive immigration reform plan that includes legalization for all undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States. $11.2 billion—The amount of money households headed by unauthorized immigrants paid in state and local taxes in 2010. $4.5 billion to $5.4 billion—The amount of additional net tax revenue that would accrue to the federal government over three years if all undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States were legalized. Immigrants are a net gain for our economy

$2.6 trillion—$ that would evaporate from U.S. GDP over 10 years if all undocumented immigrants were deported or “self-deport.” $285 billion—The cost of removing the entire undocumented population from the US over a 5 yr period, including continued border- and interior-enforcement efforts. $23,482—The cost of apprehending, detaining, processing, and transporting one individual in deportation proceedings. In contrast…

Latino voters care about immigration reform. Latino voters have personal connections to our broken immigration system (25%) 91 % of Latinos support the DREAM Act Latino voters strongly oppose Arizona’s anti-immigrant laws and similar laws (81%) Latino electorate strongly supports CIR

What's going on now????

April 17, 2013, a bipartisan group of 8 Senators introduced a bill, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, S. 744, intended to reform the nation’s broken immigration system. Two major components of the bill would have profound impacts on farmworker families. These components are the result of intense negotiations that resulted in a detailed compromise among Senators, agribusiness representatives and the UFW.

The Earned Legalization Program The earned legalization program would allow certain agricultural workers and their immediate family members residing in the U.S. to obtain legal immigration status leading to citizenship. 2 Steps

Step One: Apply for “Blue Card” Temporary Resident Status. • A farmworker could apply for a “blue card” (temporary residency). A farmworker’s spouse and minor children would also be eligible for status. The application period would begin after the final regulations are published and would last 1 year unless extended. Eligible workers are those who: • have worked in U.S. agriculture for at least 100 work days or 575 hours during the 24-month period ending December 31, 2012; • are not excluded by certain immigration laws;

Step One: Apply for “Blue Card” Temporary Resident Status- continued: • complete national security and law enforcement clearances; • have not been convicted of a felony, 3 or more misdemeanors, or certain other crimes; and • pay an application fee and a $100 fine.

Step Two: Earn Legal Permanent Resident Status: Prospective Work Requirement. The blue card holder must fulfill the following requirement to earn a “green card.” Immediate family members may also apply for and receive permanent resident status when the farmworker does, so long as they continue to meet the admissibility requirements. • perform agricultural work for at least • 100 work days/year for each of 5 years during the 8-year period beginning on the • date of enactment; OR • 150 work days per year for 3 years during the 5-year period beginning on the date of • enactment (however, the green card will not be issued until 5 years after date of enactment).

Step Two: Earn Legal Permanent Resident Status: Prospective Work Requirement, Continued: • pay a $400 fine and application fee; and demonstrate that they have paid applicable federal tax liability. The earliest that an agricultural worker would be able to obtain a green card is 5 years after the date of enactment of this act. • If a blue card worker is unable to fulfill the agricultural work requirement, s/he may seek adjustment to registered provisional immigrant status under the general legalization program.

The Future Flow: A New Nonimmigrant Agricultural Visa Program • New nonimmigrant agricultural worker visa program that would replace the • current H-2A program: • a contract-based visa (W-3 visa) and • a portable, “at-will” employment-based visa (W-4 visa)

Application Process: • To hire W-3 and W-4 visa workers, employers would first be required to register with the USDA as a Designated Agricultural Employer (DAE). • Cap • Recruitment • Wage • Workers Compensation • Housing or Housing Compensation

Final thoughts, comments! Questions/Concerns/Comments

IMMIGRATION FACTS AND FIGURES WHAT IS NEXT??