Immigration

Immigration

Immigration has come to the forefront of our national policy making, and Florida, being a gateway for welcoming newcomers to this great land, plays an increasingly important role in our nation's immigration policy. I am very proud of America's immigrant heritage and support fair and orderly immigration policy. I have always worked to make sure the federal government keeps its commitment to the fair and equitable treatment of all immigrants.

During the 2005 State of the Union speech, President Bush called on Congress to reform our immigration laws. Recently, the Senate passed a bipartisan comprehensive immigration bill. Though imperfect, this bill represents a positive comprehensive approach to resolving the immigration issue. It takes into account our need for improved border security while taking a balanced and reasonable approach to the undocumented workers who perform the jobs Americans and legal U.S. residents are often unwilling to fill.

Every country has a right and a duty to protect its borders. During the last decade, Congress has tripled the budget and manpower of the U.S. Border Patrol. This rapid increase in agents allowed the USBP to place more agents directly on the border. Continuing the work we have done over the last decade to enhance border security, the Senate bill includes new robust enforcement measures that will further help secure the border as well as an employer verification system.

The Senate bill creates a guest worker program that allows for the registration and identification of undocumented workers in the U.S. This registration would give the Department of Homeland Security the opportunity to determine whether the immigrant poses a threat to the national security or is simply in the U.S. to work hard. As part of the registration program, certain undocumented workers would be given the chance to become legal residents if they pay a fine, stay employed, pay their taxes and obey U.S. laws.

In the coming weeks the House of Representatives and the Senate will convene a conference committee to try to devise a final immigration bill. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this important issue.

Many who arrive on our shores have fled war torn, impoverished countries, often leaving all of their worldly possessions behind. The Welfare Law of 1996, which barred legal immigrants from receiving food stamps and social security income (SSI), set back the efforts of some immigrants to create a new life in this country. Working with the House Leadership, I worked to ensure that as many needy immigrants as possible continued receiving the vital benefits which were barred by the passage of this law. On May 15, 1997, I offered an amendment to legislation considered by the House to restore SSI and Medicaid coverage for legal immigrants. This amendment was adopted by an overwhelming vote of 345-74. The 1997 Balanced Budget Act reinforced these efforts, permanently restoring SSI for legal immigrants receiving assistance in August 1996, when the ban became law.

One of my proudest days in Congress was November 19, 1997, when the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA), was signed into law. I was the primary author of this legislation which created a process for the obtaining of legal residency for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable individuals who sought safety in the United States for themselves and their families. NACARA has been the model for other legislation which I have co-sponsored to protect vulnerable populations.

The Andean Adjustment Act (AAA), which I introduced in the 108th Congress, follows suit by seeking to enable Peruvians and Colombians, under certain conditions, to adjust to permanent status. AAA continues to be one of my top immigration priorities and I will continue working diligently for passage of this bill. In addition to gaining bipartisan support for AAA, I have also requested that the administration grant temporary protected status to Colombians, having contributed to achieving that status for Hondurans, Nicaraguans and Salvadorans.

I have also requested that the Administration grant temporary protective status (TPS) to Haitians. The purpose of TPS is to create a safe haven for undocumented aliens who face deportation to a country which presents a dangerous situation. Both the political upheaval following the fall of the corrupt Aristide government and the effects of Hurricane Jeanne posed a risk to Haitians deported back to their homeland which led me to request TPS for Haitian nationals.

I am proud to have been an original cosponsor of H.R 1954, the Armed Forces Naturalization Act of 2003 which overwhelmingly passed the United States House of Representatives with my support on June 4, 2003. This important legislation became law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-136). We must recognize the sacrifice made by our men and women in uniform and honor their commitment and loyalty to the United States. The Armed Forces Naturalization Act reduced the three year residency requirement for naturalization to one year and also removed barriers to extending derivative immigration benefits to their immediate family members, as well as removed other significant restrictions. The United States, and particularly Florida, has always been a destination for immigrants. From St. Augustine, our nation's oldest city settled by Europeans, to Miami, our state has been and continues to be a fascinating and favorite place for immigrants. The United States of America was founded by immigrants--people fleeing oppression, or simply hoping to find a better life here. I am proud of both our nation's and our state's immigrant heritage and during this critical time, I will continue to work toward justice in the treatment of immigrants and the safety of the United States of America.

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