President Obama has announced a reform to the immigration bill that could mean good news for the 5 million or more undocumented workers that are at risk or are in the midst of getting deported. The reforms will allow these individuals who work in good faith and are in good standing with the law to extend their stay in the United States.

The proposals sound very promising for these individuals, who contribute to generating billions of dollars in many of the country’s leading industries. Losing these individuals could be costly to the U.S. For an industry like agriculture, which is largely comprised of undocumented workers, this can most assuredly leave a gaping hole in its ability to keep up with demands that America puts on the food supply. In short, if we were to lose these workers due to deportation, production would decrease dramatically and the money generated simply would not exist.

Defining a New System of Immigration

The President is using his executive powers to influence the reforms. There are many holes to the current system that were identified. One of the issues that the President is trying to put across is that the hard-working, honest workers who work diligently at their jobs and wish to have the rights much the same way as the average tax payer can share those rights.

At the same time, the President wants to ensure that regulations are tighter at the border from a law enforcement standpoint. They are designed to give more appreciation for the individuals with integrity, and less leeway to the criminals.

Here are some of the plans in the new immigration reform:

• Families will not be separated
• No threat of removal for those who have lived in the U.S. for five or more years
• Individuals held accountable through background checks and tax payments
• Extended authorization to work for highly skilled individuals or workers in-demand professions
• Creating more efficient steps toward citizenship
• Removing limits for employer-sponsored visas
• Tighter security at the borders
• Deportation for criminals and known felons

Unfortunately, Congress has not put forth and agreement to full passage, largely to the majority Republican House of Representatives lending a hand in putting a standstill to the bipartisan bill.

Immigration Bill Still in Limbo

As of now, it remains to be seen where the end result of the immigration reform bill might go. There are enormous amounts of legal matters for immigrants to consider during this time. If you need assistance with your immigration, or would like the additional information on Obama’s immigration reform, it is recommended that you contact a Waterbury immigration attorney.

Call the Law Offices of James A. Welcome today and speak with our team about your immigration issue! We are proud to offer services in both English and Spanish.