Illegal immigration debate comes to IU

The United States could potentially have 12 million new felons or 12 million new citizens, depending on two sets of immigration reform legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. \nCongress, the nation and the IU community are currently taking up the debate whether to follow Monday's Senate Judiciary Committee proposal, which would create a guest worker program and presents a path toward citizenship for many illegal immigrants already in the country. On the other hand is the option to go along with the more hard-line lead of a bill the House passed last December, which strengthens border security and would make illegal immigration a felony offense. \n"Everyone can agree that our immigration policy is broken," said John Nieto-Phillips, associate professor of history and Latino studies. "There are more people who want to work than there are visas."\nEvidence that many feel the country is in desperate need of immigration reform policies can be seen in last weekend's mass protests, where more than 500,000 took to streets in several cities to advocate a change or block of the House bill. However, there may be a decisive split of how to accomplish this goal, especially whether to criminalize or welcome the estimated 12 million illegal aliens living in the country already.\n"I think immigrant workers who have established themselves in the country are eager to participate in the democratic process and to become integral members of our body politic," Nieto-Phillips said. "I think if a bill would allow for that, it would be a good thing. I don't think a bill that criminalizes or dehumanizes them ought to be passed." \nGeography professor Dennis Conway, who has researched immigration, agreed that making felons out of illegal immigrants is a solution Congress should not pursue, adding it borders on racism and discrimination.\n"I totally disagree (with criminalizing immigrants). It's an ugly bill from an increasingly house of males," Conway said. "It's just the latest passionate outcry to appeal to some of (the country's) basic instincts of population, without calling it white power and anti-immigrant, but in fact it is.\nAccording to the Senate proposal, earning citizenship would not be an easy task for immigrants, as they would first have to meet a set of requirements that include background checks, paying back taxes, learning English and paying a fine.\nAnother key part of the controversy is whether or not to include a guest worker program into the legislation. Many House Republicans do not favor having the program, as critics state concerns it will reward immigrants for being in the country illegally. However, the Senate proposal does include a provision for the creation of about 400,000 guest worker visas, which do not require them to go back to their homeland after it expires. \nNieto-Phillips said that he supports in principal this type of program, and that even a guest worker program that sends the participants back to their country after it expires would be a better alternative than criminalizing them. \nOne similarity between the House and Senate proposals is that they both include provisions for funds to increase border security staff, equipment and techniques. One of the main reasons Congress claims to be doing so is to protect the border from infiltration by international terrorists.\nSchool of Law professor John Scanlan said there is no evidence or logic to this claim. He said our nation's ports are much more vulnerable and susceptible to being used as source of entry, and the country's national security will hardly be improved.\nConway added if the country was serious about tightening its border, it would be paying as much attention to the Canadian border, which is longer and easier to cross.\nMany who don't agree with either proposal argue that the immigration policy is fine already and should not be altered. \n"It's a very fair policy at its roots, with the ability of U.S. citizens to marry foreigners and have them join them in the U.S. being the driving principle," Conway said. "The current policy is in effect based on a whole series of issues related to family reunion."\nDespite all the recent maneuvering in Congress to pass legislation, Scanlan said he believes it will be difficult for members to reach a consensus and doesn't believe any legislation is imminent. Despite the grim forecast, many hold out hope that reform and relief for the immigrants will come.\n"About 80 million people have immigrated to the U.S. throughout our history," said Jorge Chapa, professor and director of Latino studies program. "I can't see any reason why the people who are here illegally can't be given the same opportunities as given to the 80 million immigrants who came before"