JUSTICE FOR IMMIGRANTS
SEIU supports
a reform that is fair and practical and that will bring out of the shadows an
estimated 12 million undocumented individuals, reunite families, secure our
borders and create a legal channel for new workers to enter our economy, have
workplace protections, and join our civic society.
SEIU
Supports:
Confidentiality: REAL ID and National ID Opposition Bills (SF
984 & HF 1438)
New Americans: Ethnic Heritage and New Americans Working
Group
Benefits: Citizenship Tax Credit (HF 747 & SF 830)
Trafficking: Regulation of International Brokers (HF 1627
& SF 1480)
REAL ID Opposition (SF 984 & HF
1438)
Authors: Moua; Murphy; Chaudhary; Jungbauer; Vandeveer
Background: The
REAL ID Act is a national ID card scheme that was passed by Congress back in
2005. It turns driver’s licenses into national ID cards. There was no debate
whatsoever on REAL ID as it was tacked onto a must-pass appropriations bill to
fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Short Description: Real ID act compliance prohibition
Citizenship Tax Credit (HF 747 & SF 830)
Authors: Mariani; Hornstein;
Paymar; Kahn
Background:
Effective July 30, 2007, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
released their new fees. The cost for a legal immigrant to become a citizen
will rise from $400 to $675, a 69% increase, while the price of a green card
will jump from $395 to $1,010, a 156% increase.
A minimum-wage worker would have to
save nearly every cent earned for five weeks to afford a green card, the
Associated Press calculates. USCIS, known for long waits and lost files, sorely
needs an overhall.
SEIU Opposes:
Employer Sanctions: Pawlenty Executive Order (SF 2618)
Local Law
Enforcement/Criminal Justice: Pawlenty
Executive Order (SF 2618 & HF 3059) & Prohibiting law enforcement
non-cooperation policies (HF 3010 & SF 2681)
English Only: English as official
language (HF 2652)
Pawlenty Executive Order:
On
Jan 7th, Governor Pawlenty announced 4 executive actions and 5
anti-immigrant legislative proposals on immigration. The executive actions
include: Law enforcement working with ICE; New state employees and contractors
doing business with state will be required to verify citizenship through an
Internet-based system; The Dept of Public Safety will conduct a review of MN
driver’s license database to catch duplicate photos and examine them for
possible fraud; And the Dept of Public Safety will coordinate law enforcement
summits where State Patrol troopers, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents and
local law enforcement officers will receive training in targeting criminal
activity related to undocumented immigration.