Napolitano Joins Fellow Lawmakers to Show Support for Senate Compromise on Immigration

(Washington D.C.)- Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano (D-Norwalk) joined a bipartisan group of House members to show support for the sweeping immigration reform agreement announced by a group of U.S. Senators this morning. The Senate proposal takes a comprehensive approach to solving the nation’s immigration problems by calling for stronger employer enforcement, a guest-worker program, and a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States.

“America will win with passage of this immigration reform. Business will win and law enforcement will win by being able to identify people,” said Napolitano. “The Senate proposal could pave the way for one of the most critical aspects of Immigration Reform – the pathway to citizenship. This country’s economy is what it is because of immigrant labor from countries around the world.”

Under the plan, the Senate would allow undocumented workers to work legally if they could prove – through work stubs, utility bills, or other documents – that they have been in the country for five years. To earn citizenship, the immigrants would have to pay a $2,000 penalty, back taxes, learn English and undergo a criminal background check. 

The Senate compromise would also require undocumented immigrants in the U.S. who have been in the country between two and five years to return to a designated port of entry, such as El Paso, and apply for a new form of temporary work visa. An additional provision to disqualify illegal immigrants who have been in the U.S. less than two years is still under consideration.

The Senate is trying to wrap up proceedings with a possible vote on the compromise measure tomorrow. The measure must still be reconciled with the House version of immigration reform.

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