Immigration reform is a hot topic these days, but not the same way it used to be.
For many years, the big three of the unwritten rules of "forbidden" conversation topics at the office/workplace, formal social events, Rotary Club meetings, cocktail parties, and any other occasions where ladies and gentlemen gathered were sex, politics, and religion.
Then, all of a sudden, a fourth topic seemed to become so controversial in nature that the big three became the fatal four of polite conversation killers.
That forbidden fruit of discussion was immigration reform.
It was such a hot topic, with heated opinions on multiple sides of the issues, that one dared not bring it up during the family holiday get together for fear of dire repercussions and consequences.
Today immigration reform is still a hot topic, but now for different reasons.
In fact, immigration reform discussions are now considered an intellectual exercise of the highest order.
For U.
S.
citizens, lawful permanent residents, and foreign nationals discussing changes to the immigration system in the open no longer involves alienating family members or loved ones at the dinner table.
Many so-called experts, no matter what their opinion on the various issues may be, agree that there are serious challenges concerning immigration reform, and that those challenges require serious actions.
The actions can take many forms, ranging from minor tweaks to policy all the way to the introduction of major legislation, as well as many intermediate procedure adjustments along the way.
Immigration Reform on the Table Right now there is a comprehensive bill before the U.
S.
House of Representatives for the purpose of providing immigration reform, "be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled".
It is known as the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.
The aforementioned is designated as the "short title" of the bill.
At 1,137 pages in length, however, the bill is wide-ranging indeed.
The table of contents, which follows, will give you an idea as to the complexity of this act.
Sec.
1.
Short title; table of contents.
Sec.
2.
Statement of congressional findings.
Sec.
3.
Reports on current border security status.
Sec.
4.
Border security metrics and goals.
Sec.
5.
Southern Border Security Commission.
Sec.
6.
Border Security Results Strategy.
Sec.
7.
US-VISIT Implementation.
Sec.
8.
Alternate model for border security strategy development.
Sec.
9.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform Funds.
Sec.
10.
Reference to the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Sec.
11.
Definitions.
Sec.
12.
Grant accountability Now, as one can imagine, there is a virtual cornucopia of titles, chapters, subheadings, subsections, subtitles, subchapters, addendums, appendixes and line numbers under each of the above twelve general sections.
Add to that the numbered and lettered paragraphs and subparagraphs and there is a document that will require an extreme amount of research, private and public discussions, and of course, the requisite debates between lawmakers on every aspect of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.
Although seemingly complex, the take away from all of this is that the push for immigration reform is indeed going forward.
How rapid of a pace at which it moves is conjectural at best, but it is progressing.
We'll have to see how the reform pans out, but in the mean time enjoy a bit of immigration reform discussion around your dinner table! And as an added reminder, always consult a qualified immigration attorney for legal advice specific to your situation.