Gridlock in Congress may have stalled the passing of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill, but undocumented immigrants in California will now enjoy immigration benefits despite their status. This has been made possible when California Governor Jerry Brown signed three bills into law, which will help about three million undocumented immigrants — including many kababayans. California is home to the most number of Filipinos living in America.
As The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast Balitang America reported, the first bill allows undocumented immigrants to apply for professional state licenses to work as doctors, nurses, dentists, and in other professions.
This law, however, does not automatically grant legal immigration status to these qualified undocumented immigrants. In my interview with Immigration Attorney Ted Laguatan on Balitang America, he said this law just makes it possible for employers to petition these professionals, whether it be for a temporary workers’ visa or an employment based immigrant visa, which could eventually provide a pathway to US citizenship.
The second bill Brown signed into law creates the “DREAM Loan Program.” This will give more than $9 million to state public universities for loans to undocumented students.
The third bill appropriates $3 million for non-profit organizations to provide legal representation to minors in their deportation cases.
Critics of these new laws contend that these measures will only cause more undocumented immigrants to flock to the already densely populated state of California, and get a share of the scarce resources and social services.
Another new law benefits undocumented immigrant across the nation. A new policy of the Department of National Defense will soon allow a small number of qualified undocumented immigrants across the nation to join the US military.
As Balitang America further reported, the Military Accessions in the National Interest Program (NAMVI) will, for the first time, be open to a small portion of undocumented immigrants.
To be eligible, the undocumented immigrant must have come to the US with their parents before age 16. They must be approved under the Deferred Action of Child Arrivals (DACA). Close to 1,500 of these undocumented immigrants will be allowed to serve in the US military every year.
Those targeted by recruiters in this program will likely be immigrants with language skills critical to national security.
Atty. Ted Laguatan said this is one route that may give qualified undocumented immigrants an expedited pathway to US citizenship.
What do you think? Should all other states follow California’s lead and give the same benefits to undocumented immigrants?
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
