Is Senate's "Citizenship Path" Too Onerous ?

(The above cartoon on immigration reform is by Steve Sack in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.)

I am in favor of immigration reform with a path to citizenship for the undocumented immigrants in this country. But I think that "path" should be one that most immigrants (at least the ones that have been here for a while and can pass a background check) can negotiate fairly easily. But I have serious doubts that is even possible now. The Senate bill provides a path, but it is a difficult one that far too many could not meet (or afford) -- and I'm sure it will probably be even worse after the Republicans in the Senate (and then the House) finish tacking on amendments, if it can be passed at all.

Frankly, I don't think the bill needs to have that path to citizenship made any more difficult. In fact, I am starting to believe it may already be too onerous. As a nation made up of immigrants and descendants of immigrants, we should be passing reform that will allow these immigrants to become a legal part of our society -- so they and their children can openly contribute to the future of this country. Instead, we may be getting a "feel good" reform that really accomplishes next to nothing by creating a path that few can complete for citizenship -- leaving most in the same legal limbo they are currently in.

Let us look at some of the unnecessary roadblocks on that path that the bill includes:

* First, no one can start down that path until our border is secure. I'm not sure exactly what that border security would entail, since the current rate of new immigrants crossing the border is zero (meaning more are leaving than are entering) and the Homeland Security Department already gives our border security its highest rating. This is looking more and more like nothing more than a way to prevent a path to citizenship.

* The immigrant must pay back taxes. This assumes that they have not been paying taxes, and that is just not true. They have just been paying under a social security number that is not theirs (which means they have actually paid more than a citizen would, since they could not file a return to get some of it back). Asking them to now pay "back taxes" is tantamount to asking them to pay taxes they have already paid -- an unfair double taxation.

* The immigrant must pay a fine. This assumes they have somehow taken more from this country than they have given. Again, that is just not true. In addition to paying more taxes than necessary (not just income and payroll taxes, but also property and sales taxes), these immigrants have also helped to boost our economy by the things they buy in this country. Can you imagine how bad this economy would be without the money these 11 million immigrant spend? And while they are already paying taxes and boosting the economy, they get no government services to offset that. Truly, they have given more to this country than they have taken -- making the fine just a punitive way to block the path to citizenship.

* Then after the border security goals have been met (if they can ever be met), and after the immigrant has been double-taxed and fined, they must learn English. Why? This has not been a requirement in the past for other immigrants -- and seems especially silly in states like Texas (where Spanish was spoken for over 200 years before English). Isn't this just another roadblock?

* And finally, after all of the above, the immigrant must wait 10 years (or longer) before he or she can actually take the citizenship test and become a full-fledged citizen. I fail to understand the need for this prolonged period of waiting. For those who can meet the onerous conditions above, isn't this just a final roadblock?

As I said, I would love to see immigration reform that would solve current problems and provide a real path to citizenship. But it doesn't look like we are going to get that. If we get any reform at all, it will be reform that just puts more roadblocks to a real path to citizenship. The politicians (of both parties) will brag about their "reform", but in reality, little or nothing will actually be accomplished. And sadly, that's what too many Americans want.