Yesterday, Representative Gutierrez, along with 91 cosponsors, introduced the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP) into the US House.

The CIR ASAP Act is the result of months of conversations with communities across the nation. It includes much-needed provisions that uphold our nation's values, protects our borders, workers and families, and moves us forward together. It will not only ensure a more just system of immigration, but also contribute to the economic stability of our nation.

We have also assembled together a short one page document summarizing the main areas of the bill and how people can help work towards it's passage.

Download one page bill Summary here.

Main aspects of the CIR ASAP legislation include

Legalization

Undocumented immigrants could apply for conditional residence and, after six years, apply for green cards. Eligible immigrants would need to be in the US as of December 15, 2009, and contributing to the US through work, education, military service, or community service. They would need to pass a background check, not have a serious criminal conviction, and pay a $500 penalty. Immigrants with conditional status would have permission to work and travel. They could apply for green cards if they work or contribute, pay taxes, keep a clean criminal record, and meet English and civics requirements. Special rules for youths would allow them to get green cards and citizenship faster.

Visa backlogs

CIR ASAP would address current family and employment visa backlogs by recapturing unused visas from past years, and by removing caps for spouses and minor children of US citizens and permanent residents and for certain highly skilled workers. Other provisions would allow more consideration for parents facing separation from US-born children.

Employment verification

CIR ASAP would establish a new employment verification system, to be rolled out gradually and tied to severe penalties for hiring unauthorized immigrants. The bill contains limits on the types of information collected, and bars employers from using the system in a discriminatory way.

Enforcement

CIR ASAP would focus DHS enforcement on ensuring adequate training and equipment for border agents; security of ports of entry; and combating drug, firearm, and human trafficking. It also sets strong medical and other standards for handling immigrants held in detention; bars separation of families in detention except in exceptional cases; requires alternatives to detention for certain vulnerable groups; and places certain restrictions on enforcement actions. CIR ASAP also repeals 287(g), overrides Hazleton-like local ordinances targeting the undocumented; and sets up oversight over DHS through courts and a new ICE Ombudsman.

Integration

CIR ASAP would promote citizenship by putting greater scrutiny on future fee increases; exempting more older immigrants from the English test requirement; and setting up a New Americans Initiative to fund citizenship programs in immigrant communities. The bill also sets up grant programs to fund community organizations to aid immigrants with their applications for legalization, green cards, and citizenship. To encourage English education, CIR ASAP provides tax credits for new teachers in English programs and for employers who set up such programs. It also encourages states to create New American Councils to develop statewide integration strategies.

What can you do to help pass this bill?

Show your support for CIR ASAP by:

• Sending a Free message to your Senators at Congressman at http://icirr.org/asap
• Calling the White House and asking the president to keep his promise and pass immigration reform in 2010. English: 866.584.0773 | Español: 866.974.8813
• Joining the mobile action network by texting the word ‘justice’ to 69866