The United States Immigration Reform Bill, which includes reform to the asylum process and the status of undocumented immigrants, has progressed through the Senate Committee process and will now move to a full Senate vote. The vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee was approved by 13-5.
Immigration reform has proven difficult to pass through Congress because of a range of competing interests. The Bill's current proposals have far-reaching consequences for both asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants. The Bill includes key provisions to eliminate the one-year asylum filing deadline. The asylum filing deadline was introduced into law in 1996 and requires asylum seekers to apply for asylum within one year of arriving in the US. An effect of the policy is that many asylum seekers, who would otherwise have been eligible for asylum, are refused because the time limit has expired.
There is a great deal of Irish interest in the Bill, due to its provisions which may offer a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. It's estimated that there are 50,000 undocumented Irish immigrants currently in the US. The Bill also includes provision for up to 10,500 extra guest worker visas for Irish citizens. Click here to read an article from the Irish Times.
The Bill, in its current form, has been welcomed by Irish lobby groups and Irish immigrants. Denise Charlton of the Immigrant Council of Ireland said that the Bill was an example of how Ireland could reform its immigration laws. She said, “While the reforms in Washington DC are bringing hope to Irish families on both sides of the Atlantic, they stand in stark contrast to the uncertainty, fear and heartbreak facing many here in Ireland because of the failure of successive governments to reform our own immigration system.”
Ms Charlton called on the Irish Government to introduce policies on family reunification, and a clear and transparent appeals system. Click here to read a letter to the Irish Times on the issue from the Immigrant Council of Ireland.