Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 5619 easy pathway to citizenship vs. mass deportation of nonviolent illegals, is likely to prevail. Current limits and restrictions on the number of people who can legally enter the country, puts illegal immigration in context. Under the Immigration and NaturalizationAct(INA),theannuallimitofpermanent immigrants is 675,000. The U.S. immigration laws are complex and confusing, but immigrants must fall under one of six categories to be granted permanent residency. Family-based Immigration The reunification of families is a guiding principle in governing immigration policy. Under this category, U.S. citizens or law- ful permanent residents can bring certain family members to the country. Employment-based Immigration The United States welcomes immigrants with desir- able skill sets. A person seeking employment-based immigration can apply for either permanent or tem- porary residency. Per-Country Limits Limits are placed on the number of immigrants from each coun- try who can enter the United States in a year. No group of per- manent immigrants from a sin- gle country can account for over 7% of immigrants. The Diversity Visa Program The Immigration Act of 1990 created the Di- versity Visa lottery. The program is especially valuable to individuals coming from countries where immigration rates to the U.S. are low. Refugees and Asylees The United States will allow refugees to stay in the country if the quality of life in their native country is life threatening. Comprehensive immigration reform must be shaped by consideration of economic and social strategies. We must recognize that higher legal immigration does not lowerillegalimmigration.Also,whatjustifiesexpanded immigration if it generates more in government costs than in taxes? Interestingly, it appears the benefits of immigration can go beyond taxes. By one estimate, immigrants (including their entrepreneurial activity) have increased the size of the U.S. economy by 11 percent or about $2 trillion. With baby boomers retiring, all the growth in the U.S. labor force from 2020 to 2030 is projected to stem from immigrants and their children, a study reported. These gains from expanded immigration would be magnified if we emphasize high-skilled workers. Productivity would be higher, poverty lower. This also would help low-skilled Americans, both natives and recent immigrants. They wouldn’t have to compete against new low-skilled immigrants, who would vie for their jobs and depress wages. Immigration reform will be difficult. Between the polarizing positions of immigration expansion and restriction lies a sensible moderate policy of incremental steps to provide ample opportunity to reconsider and fine-tune. United States Citizen To apply for U.S. citizenship, an indi- vidual must have had legal permanent residence status for at least five years, be 18 years of age or older, demonstrate con- tinuous residency, show “good moral character” and pass several exams, including English and U.S. history.