In this election year, there are many important issues that the candidates must speak about, such as the economy and health care, but when candidates consider Hispanic voters’ support, then immigration is the first priority.
Immigration reform in the US means producing a solution that will satisfy the Hispanic voters in America. And that means finding a way to legalize the presence of Eleven Million illegal aliens.
Another area of possible immigration reform would be employment and business based immigration. Some people see foreign workers and entrepreneurs as a benefit to the American economy while others see the same people as a threat to American jobs and businesses. The fact is that immigrant workers and investors have always had a positive effect on the economy.
This is the season of the polls. Every day there are new polls reporting on the candidates’ chances of winning and what the voters think about the candidates and the issues. This month, a CNN/ORC International poll found that 71% of Latinos and Hispanics approve of President Obama's deferred action program (DACA) for DREAM Act immigrant youths.
An overwhelming majority of Hispanics (77%) said the Number 1 goal of U.S. immigration policy should be allowing the country's 11 million undocumented immigrants to become legal residents.
The poll found that there is growing support among Latinos for Obama: 70% support his re-election while only 25% favor Republican challengerMitt Romney. Most polls show Obama with at least a 2-to-1 advantage over Romney among Hispanic voters.
Although Mr. Obama has not fulfilled his immigration reform promises of four years ago, the DACA program has had an extremely powerful effect on the minds of the Latino voters. On the other hand, Mr. Romney has not yet indicated clearly how he expects to solve the matter of immigration reform. He has only said that his proposals will make the DACA program irrelevant and it would be cancelled, so there would be no new DACA approvals if he is elected.
Immigrant advocates think the number of DACA applications is lower than expected because many young undocumented residents are reluctant to give the government their personal information and applyuntil they see the result of the presidential election in November. Because President Obama began the program through an executive order and not a change in law, the DACA program could be ended if Mitt Romney wins the White House.
It may be that in general, Republicans are more likely to maintain the immigration status quo, or at least make immigration reform a project that would be fair to people of all ethnic backgrounds, not just Hispanics.
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In addition to the polls with the usual pre-election speculation, there was an interesting study recently. This study found that one-third of U.S. Citizens who were tested could not pass the Naturalization Test. They were unable to answer basic civics questions. 97% of immigrantsapplying for U.S. citizenship are able to pass the test.
The survey of more than 1,000 voting-age Americans found that native-born citizens did best on questions related to history and geography. A perfect 100% knew why the U.S. flag has 50 stars, and 99% could name the U.S. president. And 98% knew the significant event that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001.
They struggled most with questions about the function of government. They also had trouble when asked to identify current government officials and policymakers. 62% could not name the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and 62% could not identify the governor of their state. Only 26% could name the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and only 37% knew who Susan B. Anthony was.
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Q.1. What about the people who are waiting to enter the US legally? How would they be effected if Eleven Million illegal immigrants are given a path to permanent residence?
A1. Right now, the law allows only 226,000 persons per year to receive immigrant visas and become permanent residents. Congress would have to approve an enormous increase in the number of visas available, and those waiting to enter the US legally would no doubt have a longer waiting time.
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Q.2. For Vietnamese people and for potential immigrants from other countries, what would be the best form of immigration reform?
A.2. Several years ago, there was a failed attempt in Congress to pass a Comprehensive Immigration Reform program. This plan stressed immigration based on education and job skills. Family based immigration benefits would have been at risk. It may seem strange to say it, but perhaps having no immigration reform is the best solution for people wanting to enter the US as legal immigrants.
ROBERT MULLINS INTERNATIONAL www.rmiodp.com
Immigration Support Services - Tham Van Di Tru
9070 Bolsa Ave., Westminster CA 92683 (714) 890-9933
779 Story Road, Ste. 70, San Jose, CA 95122 (408) 294-3888
6930 65th St. Ste. #105, Sacramento CA 95823 (916) 393-3388
42 Dang Thi Nhu, P. Nguyen Thai Binh, Q1, HCM (848) 3914-7638
Immigration reform in the US means producing a solution that will satisfy the Hispanic voters in America. And that means finding a way to legalize the presence of Eleven Million illegal aliens.
Another area of possible immigration reform would be employment and business based immigration. Some people see foreign workers and entrepreneurs as a benefit to the American economy while others see the same people as a threat to American jobs and businesses. The fact is that immigrant workers and investors have always had a positive effect on the economy.
This is the season of the polls. Every day there are new polls reporting on the candidates’ chances of winning and what the voters think about the candidates and the issues. This month, a CNN/ORC International poll found that 71% of Latinos and Hispanics approve of President Obama's deferred action program (DACA) for DREAM Act immigrant youths.
An overwhelming majority of Hispanics (77%) said the Number 1 goal of U.S. immigration policy should be allowing the country's 11 million undocumented immigrants to become legal residents.
The poll found that there is growing support among Latinos for Obama: 70% support his re-election while only 25% favor Republican challengerMitt Romney. Most polls show Obama with at least a 2-to-1 advantage over Romney among Hispanic voters.
Although Mr. Obama has not fulfilled his immigration reform promises of four years ago, the DACA program has had an extremely powerful effect on the minds of the Latino voters. On the other hand, Mr. Romney has not yet indicated clearly how he expects to solve the matter of immigration reform. He has only said that his proposals will make the DACA program irrelevant and it would be cancelled, so there would be no new DACA approvals if he is elected.
Immigrant advocates think the number of DACA applications is lower than expected because many young undocumented residents are reluctant to give the government their personal information and applyuntil they see the result of the presidential election in November. Because President Obama began the program through an executive order and not a change in law, the DACA program could be ended if Mitt Romney wins the White House.
It may be that in general, Republicans are more likely to maintain the immigration status quo, or at least make immigration reform a project that would be fair to people of all ethnic backgrounds, not just Hispanics.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to the polls with the usual pre-election speculation, there was an interesting study recently. This study found that one-third of U.S. Citizens who were tested could not pass the Naturalization Test. They were unable to answer basic civics questions. 97% of immigrantsapplying for U.S. citizenship are able to pass the test.
The survey of more than 1,000 voting-age Americans found that native-born citizens did best on questions related to history and geography. A perfect 100% knew why the U.S. flag has 50 stars, and 99% could name the U.S. president. And 98% knew the significant event that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001.
They struggled most with questions about the function of government. They also had trouble when asked to identify current government officials and policymakers. 62% could not name the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and 62% could not identify the governor of their state. Only 26% could name the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and only 37% knew who Susan B. Anthony was.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.1. What about the people who are waiting to enter the US legally? How would they be effected if Eleven Million illegal immigrants are given a path to permanent residence?
A1. Right now, the law allows only 226,000 persons per year to receive immigrant visas and become permanent residents. Congress would have to approve an enormous increase in the number of visas available, and those waiting to enter the US legally would no doubt have a longer waiting time.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.2. For Vietnamese people and for potential immigrants from other countries, what would be the best form of immigration reform?
A.2. Several years ago, there was a failed attempt in Congress to pass a Comprehensive Immigration Reform program. This plan stressed immigration based on education and job skills. Family based immigration benefits would have been at risk. It may seem strange to say it, but perhaps having no immigration reform is the best solution for people wanting to enter the US as legal immigrants.
ROBERT MULLINS INTERNATIONAL www.rmiodp.com
Immigration Support Services - Tham Van Di Tru
9070 Bolsa Ave., Westminster CA 92683 (714) 890-9933
779 Story Road, Ste. 70, San Jose, CA 95122 (408) 294-3888
6930 65th St. Ste. #105, Sacramento CA 95823 (916) 393-3388
42 Dang Thi Nhu, P. Nguyen Thai Binh, Q1, HCM (848) 3914-7638