Issue Position: Immigration

Issue Position

Our borders have become a convenient tool for Republicans who want to keep our immigration system broken for political gain. The louder the American people call for comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level, the harder the GOP opposes it by describing any attempt to fix our employment, labor and naturalization laws as "amnesty." Raúl believes we need to take the issue seriously rather than reduce it to a heated slogan and let the problem get worse.

That's why he supports the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act, which has several crucial features favored by a clear majority of Americans:

* Requiring immigrants to get legal and pay their fair share of taxes by reporting to the government, submitting to a background check and participating in a new employer verification system.

* Making sure that undocumented immigrants who have no criminal history are able to begin the process of gaining permanent status by starting at the back of the line and paying a fine.

* Ensuring that border agencies have the resources they need to stop criminal gangs and smugglers, especially at ports of entry.

* Reducing the severe visa backlog and removing the caps for highly skilled workers and family members of permanent residents.

Raúl believes immigration is a national issue that needs a national solution, not a chaotic patchwork of state-level responses. He also believes the federal government should address the issue now, not kick the can any further down the road.

Comprehensive reform includes several components that Raúl believes could be acted on sooner than a full bill. He's been a prominent supporter of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, which allows high-achieving children of undocumented parents to remain in the country legally if they:

* arrived in the U.S. as minors

* have been in the country continuously for at least five years prior to the bill's enactment

* are between the ages of 12 and 35 when the bill is enacted

* have graduated from an American high school or obtained a GED

Qualifying students would obtain temporary residency for six years, during which they would be required to either:

* get a degree from an institution of higher education in the United States

* complete at least two years of a bachelor's degree or higher degree in the United States

* serve in the uniformed services for at least two years and, if discharged, receive an honorable discharge (enlistment contracts require an eight-year commitment)

Raúl thinks the DREAM Act is a fair, sensible way to address the many people whose parents brought them to this country as children. Encouraging scholastic achievement and service to the community are much more useful, positive solutions than unrealistic cries for massive deportation programs. Raúl knows immigration is a hot-button issue, and that's exactly why he's not shy about his support for common-sense policies that actually address the problem instead of just talking about it. Some people like to use immigration as a wedge -- Raúl knows what a success story the American immigration experience has always been, and what it can still be if we make the right choices in Congress.

Immigration isn't just about students. He's also a big proponent of the Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits and Security (AgJOBS) Act, a measure with broad Congressional support that would implement a much-needed update to our agricultural labor policies. Undocumented workers who can show they've worked in the country for at least a year, who pay a fine, and who can prove payment of federal income taxes would be given a chance to earn legal status down the road. The bill enjoys the support of growers and labor unions alike -- there are few groups that object to the measure, although Congress has yet to pass a final version. Raúl knows how great the need is for a regular labor force in Arizona agriculture, and he believes people without criminal records who can show they're sincerely committed to being a part of the American workforce should have a chance to apply for legal residence. As with other aspects of immigration reform, he knows there are plenty of people out there ready to call every step forward another case of "backdoor amnesty," but he's not going to let that stop him from pushing Congress to do the right thing. Our immigration system has been broken for too long to keep playing those games. It's time for legislative solutions, and Raúl is on the front lines making sure those solutions are on Washington's agenda.

In the meantime, he's not waiting around. He wrote a letter to President Obama June 10 calling for $300 million to increase Customs and Border Protection (CBP) staff at ports of entry across the Southwest, particularly at the underfunded crossings in Nogales, San Luis and Douglas. Funding for 500 new CBP agents was included in a funding bill the House approved July 30, and Raúl looks forward to the bill becoming law as soon as possible.

Ports of entry need unique attention because they bring in millions of people, billions of dollars and important quantities of food each year. According to a 2008 survey by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, the United States imports at least 15 percent of the food it consumes by volume annually. Those imports don't just appear in neighborhood markets -- they pass through a port of entry inspection system that handles more volume each year without sufficient financial and manpower support. While Border Patrol funding has increased since 1993 from $400 million to approximately $3.5 billion in 2010, support for customs officials has only increased from $1.6 billion to $2.7 billion over that time -- and much of that increase was consumed by inflation. Raúl believes the gateways to the American economy need to be modern, fully staffed and part of a well-integrated inspection and law enforcement system, not the afterthought they've become.

Arizonans know the importance of a functional border economy. According to the University of Arizona's Economic and Business Research Center, "In 2008 alone, $20.78 billion worth of goods moved through the six [border ports of entry]. . . . Of the $20.78 billion U.S. trade flow with Mexico, $13.9 billion were imports."

That doesn't sound to Raúl like a system that Arizona can afford to neglect. That's why he's going to keep prioritizing efficient cross-border commerce and travel -- rather than turning the border into a convenient excuse for anti-immigrant rhetoric, he's going to make sure ports of entry have the resources they need to keep Arizona's economy strong. Anything less would be a mistake for the people of the state, the region and the country.

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