Guyana Institute for Democracy welcomes US immigration reform

Sunday, January 11, 2004

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The Guyana Institute for Democracy (GID) has welcomed the sweeping immigration reform measure proposed by United States President George W. Bush on Wednesday. 

The central provision of President Bush's proposal is the "Temporary Worker Program." Under this program, undocumented immigrants who are currently employed in the US may be granted legal status to work as well as travel in and out of the US. GID firmly supports President Bush's efforts to make US immigration laws more "rational and humane." 

In a January 7, 2004 letter to President Bush, GID President, Rickford Burke, lauded the proposal as "a cogent policy and a rational step in the right direction." However, Burke further petitioned President Bush "to implement more comprehensive measures to genuinely assimilate undocumented workers into the legal process for permanent residency and US citizenship." 

He observed that the vast majority of undocumented Caribbean immigrants pay taxes and are hard working, productive members of society who are in pursuit of the American dream. 

President Bush's proposal allows the Federal Government to offer temporary worker status to undocumented immigrant workers in the United States. Nationals from foreign countries also qualify for employment in the US under this program. Employment can only be offered to foreigners if no American worker is available and willing to take a job. Under the Bush plan, undocumented workers or foreign nationals will be issued a three-year visa that authorizes employment in the US. These visas may be renewed for an additional three to six year period. 

Workers under temporary status will be required to pay a one-time fee to register in the program and abide by the rules. They are also required to return to their country of origin after their period of work expires, unless they have lawfully petitioned the Unites States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for permanent residence status. In the future, only people outside the U.S. may join the temporary worker program, and there will be an orderly system in place to address the needs of workers and companies. 

In his letter, the GID President urged that undocumented immigrants from the Caribbean Region and CARICOM countries (the Regional Grouping) be granted equal opportunity and access to the Temporary Worker Program and not be overlooked. He observed that throughout history, millions of Caribbean immigrants as well as first and second generation Caribbean-Americans, including Alexander Hamilton and Colin Powell, have made invaluable and sterling contributions to the development of the United States. 

Burke said, "Hundreds of thousands of undocumented Caribbean immigrants go to work every day, pay taxes into our nation's treasury and contribute to our economy." He opined, "Traditionally the Caribbean Region, Caribbean-American communities and Caribbean immigrants have repeatedly been "shortchanged and differentiated by United States foreign policy, US immigration laws and government resources. 

He added that such unfair treatment must end and is calling for undocumented immigrants from the Caribbean Region to receive the same benefits as Mexicans and other undocumented immigrants. 

Burke said GID flatly rejects the position of extremists and anti-immigration activists who argue that the Bush proposal rewards illegal behavior. To the contrary, the President's proposal presents a reasonable opportunity for millions of undocumented workers in the US to gain legal status and cease participating in the "underground economy." 

But for this proposal, illegal employment in the US would continue in perpetuity. This program will inspire illegal aliens to become documented, enhancing the federal government's ability track millions of immigrants in the interest of national security. 

If undocumented immigrants are good enough to be babysitters, cooks, construction workers, waiters and otherwise work for permanent residents, US citizens and businesses, then they are good enough to be lawful residents and citizens. This proposal can potentially end the abuse and mistreatment of undocumented immigrants as lesser human beings. 

GID will therefore urge the New York Congressional delegation to vote for this immigration reform when it is put to a vote in the US Senate and House of Representative.  

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