Access Justice

As an active participant in immigration law, Access Justice has a stake in immigration reform.
Thus, AJ anxiously awaited to see the unveiling of the latest reform measures, in order to best serve our clients’ needs. On Tuesday, April 16th, 2013, congress revealed such measures.

AJ believes the current immigration system is in dire need of improvement, and we hope that such reforms will modernize the current immigration system, protect family unity, increase economic growth, promote national security, protect immigrant workers, and restore American values of equality.

So, what’s included in the latest immigration reform bill?

• “Under the proposal, undocumented immigrants who came to the United States before December 31, 2011, and had stayed in the country continuously could apply for ‘provisional’ legal status as soon as six months after the bill is signed by the president.”

• “Billions of dollars in new money would be funneled into additional border security to discourage people from avoiding detection as they crossed Mexico’s border with the United States.”

• “The proposal would expand access to both low- and high-skilled labor for American businesses, attempting to keep organized labor happy with provisions designed to keep companies from hiring cheap foreign labor or filling jobs with immigrants when U.S. workers are available.”

• “Within six months from enactment, during which time the Department of Homeland Security would set out its border security plan, the threat of deportation could end for most illegal immigrants. They would be allowed to work legally in the United States once they pay an initial $500 penalty and any back taxes, and if they can show they have not been convicted of a serious crime in the United States.”

• “After 10 years the immigrants could apply for a “green card,” or permanent resident status, through an expanded merit-based immigration system. Those applications could be processed whether or not the government achieved a 90 percent success rate in securing border hot spots.”

To see more information regarding the immigration reform bill, see the full Reuters’ article quoted above. Senators Unveil Immigration Reform Bill

And for more information regarding Access Justice’s immigration services, please visit our website or contact our office: (612)879-8092.