In a speech today at the Center for American Progress, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano made it clear that immigration reform must happen in order for her department to effectively meet the challenges and needs of the 21st century. As she set out the specific parameters of reforms, Napolitano highlighted the damage done to the U.S. economy under current laws that makes it difficult for the best and the brightest who attend U.S. colleges and universities to stay here and work upon graduation.
Secretary Napolitano views immigration reform as having three components:
- Serious and effective enforcement
- Legal channels for the entry for families and workers
- Providing for those who are already in the United States
Watch the full video from the event below, but I thought this quote was particularly striking:
Today, we have a system where America educates many of the brightest individuals from around the world and then tells them to leave the country where many of them would rather start their own ventures and strengthen their business right here in the United States. This hurts the economy for all of us and it has to change.
My moter in law was denied a non immigrant visa to come to visit her daughter graduate nursing school, interviewed by a Latino who spent all of 5 minutes with her, Surada Sapak, from Nongkhai thailand, took a bus 12 hours, and he did not look at any of the documentation I sent as a REal Estate Exeuctive, guaranteeing her income and expenses and return after graduation. I have filed a complaint with my senators and asked my congressman for help. It appears that those that break the law and enter here illegally are rewareded by the U. S. and those that follow channels and procedure are hurt and penalized.
I am VP of Intown Management in Hartford Ct., I will write Ambassador in Bangkok, and my senators as well over this problem and ask for another interview, she wants to stay a week to see her daughter graduate and her grandson after 4.5 years, both have 10 year green cards, I am an American citizen.
Hello
I came here to america to study and finished college but denied work because of laws.