Immigration

I am a product of legal immigration. My great grandparents immigrated to the United States to pursue a better life and provide more opportunities for their families. The same is occurring today. Families from around the world continue to take risks to come to The United States. However, certain countries’ visitor visas have very long waiting periods and often exorbitant fees. It is no wonder that human smuggling has become a problem; it is a business that fills a desperate need. It also puts lives in danger.

First and foremost, I support legal immigration and legal migration.

There is a definite need for unskilled migrant workers to provide labor for available jobs.  However the influx of illegal workers has led to the deterioration of wages and other abuses, both of the worker and of our social system. Currently, the federal government will only confer Green Cards for specified skilled labor and for permanent resident status. It is lengthy, is costly.

As a State Senator, I would promote a process that is more affordable and efficient to allow law abiding individuals to work and live legally in the State of Arizona. This will enable these individuals to be better participants in our communities; find employment, pay taxes, buy insurance…

At the state level, I propose a system to allow migrant workers, who are healthy and pass a background check, to legally work in Arizona. It should be a system the is both time and cost effective in order to service the ebb and flow of temporary work, like agricultural work. This will allow workers to fill a need legally where needed in our business community. This is not a path to citizenship nor does it have anything to do with Immigration, but it would help to take the pressure off the border by providing a mechanism for workers to legally enter. This would reduce or end the market for human smuggling.

I support securing our borders with humane, non lethal, deterrent technology.

I support encouraging our federal government to achieve Immigration reform that is comprehensive is scope. Conflicting laws have resulted in aliens being stuck with no clear way forward or backward without a well priced immigration lawyer. Amnesty, if you mean instant citizenship or a fast track to citizenship, only creates racial disharmony and distrust.  

I believe that we need systems that address migration and immigration separately- Not everyone who comes here wants to become a permanent resident or a citizen, but our current system does not do an adequate job of accommodating this.