Undocumented workers and US immigration policy
Is there any law coming to help undocumented workers?
Question: I have heard a lot about upcoming immigration reform and bills to help immigrants obtain jobs.
However, I know many people who have been working under the table for a very small wage.
Do know what laws may be coming and how they might help immigrants?
Answer:
The program would grant program participants temporary legal status and authorize working participants to remain in the U.S. for three years, with their participation renewable for an unspecified period.
Initially, the program would be open to both undocumented people as well as foreign workers living abroad (with the program restricted to those outside of the U.S. at some future, unspecified date).
American employers would have to make reasonable efforts to find U.S. workers.
The proposal also includes incentives for people to return to their home countries and calls for increased workplace enforcement as well as an unspecified increase in legal immigration.
Question: Are there any more bills?
Answer: The Immigration Act of 2004 also includes a “Willing Worker” program that revolves around a needed reform of the current H-2B program and the creation of a new H-2C program.
The new H-2C program is a two-year program
renewable for another two years.
Thus, if these two reform bills go through, there will be a significant boost to the legal jobs available to people in these situations.