A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

Opinion

By Peter King and Tom Suozzi
Mr. King is a Republican representative from New York. Mr. Suozzi is a Democratic representative from New York.

Americans are frustrated by the inaction of their federal government on comprehensive immigration reform and border security. So are we.

We both represent districts on Long Island, and we have both worked on immigration-related issues for over 25 years — one of us, Representative Suozzi, from the perspective of immigrant’s rights as a mayor, as a county executive and now as a member of Congress; the other, Representative King, from the perspective of border security as a former county comptroller, and now as a congressman and former chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.

We come at this from different points of view and different parties, but with a shared commitment to finding a solution to our country’s border-security issues. Together, we have found common ground to address the problems faced by undocumented immigration and the need for robust border security.

For more than 30 years, our government has failed to solve these problems. This year, the American people endured the longest government shutdown in American history when lawmakers and the president failed to reach a spending deal that centered around border security and immigration along the United States and Mexican border.

The national emergency regarding immigration reform, however, is not on the border, but in the nation’s capital. We must work together — across party lines — to address these matters in a way that receives bipartisan, bicameral support, and gives the president legislation he feels he can sign.

On Long Island, we have one of the 10 largest populations of undocumented immigrants from Central and South America, as well as countless unaccompanied minors. Many have been in our communities for decades living productive lives, attending school with our children, working six days a week and going to church on Sunday.



It is our duty, as elected officials, to provide solutions to the problems, not sound bites to the press. That is why we are proposing a realistic set of reforms that would offer legal protection for five million undocumented people and, alongside it, enough funding to make our border secure.

First, our plan would create a path to citizenship for approximately 1.9 million immigrants brought by their parents, without documentation, when they were 18 or under, the so-called Dreamers. To be eligible, they must have graduated from high school; have no record of criminal activity; and be either in the military, working full time for at least three years or attending college.

We would extend similar coverage to the 400,000 people who were invited to America and given temporary protective status after facing natural disasters, violence and extreme poverty in their home countries.




Finally, relatives of Dreamers, of T.P.S. recipients and of others who are undocumented — approximately 2.7 million more people — would be eligible for three years of protective status, renewable indefinitely, if they have been in the United States for a significant number of years and have no record of criminal activity.

Taken together, this represents five million people.

Next, to qualify for protection, an undocumented person would be required to pay a $2,000 fee. If each of the five million paid that amount, our plan would generate $10 billion.

Some of that money, in turn, would be used to cover the administrative costs of this new program; we figure those costs would be $1.4 billion.

The remaining $8.6 billion would be split evenly: $4.3 billion would pay for additional physical structures along the United States-Mexico border, as proposed by the Department of Homeland Security, and $4.3 billion would go to aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras to help prevent further out-migration from those countries, as well as to radar technology, improved ports of entry, immigration judges, border patrol personnel and humanitarian assistance along the border, as recommended by the Department Homeland Security.

For far too long, many people living in our country have been living in fear, and many others have grown frustrated by the inaction of our elected officials. The undocumented have lived in the shadows, facing the daily anxiety of potential deportation, even as they try to participate in our American communities.

As legislators, we know what we have to do: We must stand together and pass legislation that will help secure our borders while giving undocumented immigrants a path to permanent residency without the fear that at any moment they may be deported.

Peter King is a Republican representative from New York. Tom Suozzi is a Democratic representative from New York.



https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/24/o...migration.html

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

Agree with this, just please get to work and help fix the mess we are all in. If they do their part, we'll do ours.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

$2000 - wow!

I can afford that and would be willing to pay it, but dammmn

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

$2000 is not a lot.. but this will never happens :(

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

I think it should be more like $5000 per person plus legal fees

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

President Miller says "NO".

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

Hello naw, that is a lot. 2k every three years.. hell naw.. I am fine how things are now thanks

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

I don't know what some of you are complaining about.. if you can't afford $2K or $5K every few years, you are not making the most of your DACA!

I'd pay $10K if it means we could get a GC, can travel without restriction and live somewhat of a normal life without constant fear.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

its a one time payment for a GC

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

This is an awesome plan. Only $667 per year for work permit. Take some computer coding class and make minimum $50k salary as a junior programmer! Higher salaries on West coast. God I hope this passes.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

LOL what?
2k every three years is a fair compromise even for minimum wage people. If people don't want to pay that then they don't deserve to be here, they are not taking advantage of the opportunities this country offers.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

Atleast they are now looking at the concept of us paying for their border security measure for permanent relief. I know this is a hail marry but you would think POTUS being a business man would agree to something of this content.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

Sounds reasonable. Our great leader will totally agree with this proposal imo. Trump loves us and also loves his wall. Everyone wins. Trump 2020! Win win situation for everyone!

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

Do it. Charge us $10k every three years if you want, I just want certainty.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

Can't afford 56/month for legal presence?

Go back to your hole

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

DOA my friends.

Maybe not a popular opinion, but please stop being worldr philanthropist

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

I wouldn't say DOA. They just have to sell it well. "The illegals are finally paying restitutions to the American people for coming in illegally". That's what many hillbillies want to hear.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

Don’t get your hopes up wether you can afford it or not. This doesn’t have a chance. This administration has clearly showed it’s not for helping immigrants.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

Maybe if it was just for dreamers it would be more ideal, but 5 million immigrants is way too much all at once...

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

I would do $2k if travel is allowed.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

2k is quite a bargain. lawyer fees would amount to over 20k for green card process. They basically turning our parents into the next DACA folks?

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

DHS has grown so much they need programs like these to pay all their contractors and employees.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

Shitty if they can't travel outside of the country.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

Yup, at that point they might as well work hard for a few years, save money and leave for their home countries to retire. We might face the same choice if we get permanent DACA.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

I don't mind becoming a racist country with a racist wall if I get status lmao. We can fix the country after we're fixed first. We'll start running for office and get this place back on track.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

Where does it say the $2000 is every 3 years? The language is not very clear in the article, but it read like Dreamers and TPS gets a path to citizenship, while their relatives are the ones that needs to pay the $2000 every 3 years for protection.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

What? First of all ,this isn't going anywhere. Not to sound cynical - but lot of congressmen/women and senators are now hashing out their "immigration reform" plans only so they can have something to say during election time on this area.

Even if this were to pass, I am not sure why some of the folks are complaining about financial aspect of this plan. 2000 dollars -- are you kidding me? I would be willing to pay $2K PER YEAR for the rest of my life as some sort of a "tax" in return of a GC.

Who cares --- 2k is NOTHING!

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

If you can't afford a measly 2k for permanent status you ought to ask for more hours from your minimum wage job. Ask to flip more burgers, cut more lawns, wash more dishes, write more for your Indian boss while you are Indian.


This is the best immigration plan ever, and that's why it won't go anywhere. It solves the problem head on.


I don't know where liberals get the idea that this place is racist. In true racist nation's we would've been hunted down and shot on sight for illegally immigrating. Here, they are so nice they let us stay in violation of immigration law.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

You would think that legislators would be able to write effectively.

This oped would’ve gotten a C in my freshman writing class.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

Isn't this just an opinion? Why is everyone going so crazy on it... get back to your real jobs!

P.S. - Nothing has been introduced and nothing will pass unless it is just for DACA/Dreamers. Adding anything above and beyond (i.e. TPS, relatives of DACA etc.) is DOA.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

You guys are all delusional if you think this will pass. How many attempts to fix DACA have come and gone? How many grand compromises , gang’s of 6,7,8 have been attempted thought the years? Go through the NEWS thread of this forum and you will see the ghosts of many failed attempts. Where is the “Si aw puede” senators? I’ll tell you where, down under dirt.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

What is the point of your post?

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

To tame down expectations and provide experience. Back in 2007, when the grand CIR bill was all the talk in this forum, I spent well over $500 in faxes to rail Senators. Guess where it got me to? No where. I’m a realist offering reality and experience.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

You're not wrong.

March 18, 2006
" [IMMIGRATION] Senators near compromise on immigration "
Source
January 1, 2007
"Immigration reform pretty much clinched in 2007"
Source

December 8, 2010
"DREAM ACT passed in HOUSE!!! Vote in SENATE TOMORROW!!!"
Source

October 25, 2012
"Obama: I'll get immigration reform done next year"
Source

April 29, 2013
"Strength in numbers on immigration reform"
Source

January 8, 2017
"Bridge/enlist/safe/RACA/ DREAM act thread updates."

Source

Feburary 15, 2018
"Our lives are in hands of 100 people starting at 2:30"
Source

It's a cycle at this point.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

Yeah this is not going to pass. Well, it will not pass in the Senate.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

It is not right to be a Doom and gloom individual. We just need one to pass. It might pass or it might not.


Just hope daca remains for the future, that's all we can hope for

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

$2,o00 is nothing! This will actually help getting it passed and not make it look like an amnesty to GOP.

I say make that $10K. I would have paid $25K to get a Green Card if I had to. If you are hungry enough to get your papers you would find a way to come up with the money.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

oh wow historically speaking, it has always been republicans fighting against us

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

Not sure if troll or a member of United We Dream.

If people cant afford that chances are that they are on welfare and cant be here draining the country.

This is the best deal until now lets see what happens.

Would be better if they asked for illegals to have their taxes straight and have the tax returns pay that fine so they stop having babies to claim large refunds.

Re: A Grand Compromise on Immigration
 

Broken promises from the Dems as well.