Immigration Reform Is Not Amnesty

By Alex Nowrasteh

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Many opponents of immigration reform have labeled any type of legalization for unauthorized immigrants “amnesty.”  In common terminology, an amnesty is a general forgiveness for past offenses. Calling immigration reform amnesty brands it with a scarlet letter in the minds of many who are skeptical of reform.  A recent video made by the Cato Institute explains just some of the many steps an unauthorized immigrant will have to go through to become legalized if the Senate’s immigration reform becomes law:

Here are some of the steps (this is not an exhaustive list) an unauthorized immigrant must follow to earn the initial registered provisional immigration (RPI) status:

• In the country prior to 2012
• Pays any and all outstanding tax bills (not back taxes)
• Goes through national security and background checks
• $1,000 fine
• $500 fee
• Then the unauthorized immigrant will receive a work permit valid for six years 

After six years, the immigrant will need to apply for another RPI permit:

• Proves that she’s been employed for virtually the entire six year period
• Be at no less than 100 percent of the federal poverty level
• $500 fee

After four years, the immigrant can apply for a green card if she:

• Proves she can speak English
• Proves she hasn’t been on welfare
• Passes another round of background and security checks
• Pays all of the normal fees associated with a green card
• The federal government meets most of its immigration enforcement goals

That doesn’t seem like amnesty to me.