Senate deal on Immigration Reform opposed

Ajay Ghosh

Last week, a group of Senators concluded back-room negotiations and reached a deal on an immigration bill. The bill is set for a vote on Monday, May 21, to determine whether it goes to the Senate floor for debate. If the vote passes on Monday, debate on the bill will run until Memorial Day. 
 
The immigration reform package that the Senate is now considering raises serious concerns for the South Asian community. While the package creates a path to legalization for undocumented immigrants, it severely undermines the current family-based immigration system by eliminating the adult children and sibling categories of the family-based immigration system.  It also establishes an unworkable "merit-based" point system for green card applications, creates a guestworker program with no path to citizenship, and lacks sufficient due process protections. 
 
Meanwhile, the U.S. bishops expressed reservations about a immigration reform bill to be debated in the Senate next week, but added that they are in favor of continuing the legislative process. Bishop Gerald Barnes of San Bernardino, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Migration, released a statement today on the compromise immigration proposal that was unveiled last week in Washington, D.C.  
 
Bishop Barnes said: "Congress should ensure that any final legislation contains a legalization program which is workable and includes family unity and a fair and realistic path to citizenship, a new worker program which provides participants a meaningful opportunity to obtain permanent residency and the preservation of family unity as an integral part of the U.S. immigration system.  
 
Based on what has been reported, here is what is included in the bill: Elimination and reduction of certain family-based categories; New merit-based point system for green cards for all applications received after May 2005; Guest worker program for future immigrants without a path to citizenship for all through a new "Y" visa. Temporary visas would be valid for two years and can only be renewed if the worker spends a year outside the U.S. and does not bring any accompanying family members; Path to legalization for undocumented immigrants through a new renewable "Z" visa. Applicants could undergo a background check and pay a $5,000 fee in order to be eligible for a green card. They could apply for citizenship after a certain number of years and returning home during that time.

If adopted, the bill would grant legal status to the some 12 million immigrants now living illegally in the United States, while allowing them to apply for residency visas, and eventually citizenship. However, those working in the United States legally with temporary worker visas would have to leave the country in two years. The proposed legislation would also give skilled, educated workers priority consideration for residency visas, as opposed to the current system which gives precedence to family members of U.S. citizens.  

Border enforcement triggers need to be met before legalization and new worker programs could be implemented. This includes increased fences, barriers, and personnel; Due process concerns with the expansion of immigrant detention, stiffening of the definitions of "aggravated felony" and "fraud" and issues relating to state and local law enforcement.

“The Senate immigration reform compromise is unacceptable. Family reunification has been the cornerstone of our nation's immigration policy since 1965, when the U.S. government replaced discriminatory quotas that excluded Asian immigration for generations. The proposal would eliminate essential family categories that Asian Americans rely on to reunite their families. If enacted, such a policy would have devastating impacts on Asian Americans, whose families already face some of the longest delays,” said AALDEF Senior Staff Attorney Stanley Mark. “We urge Congress to reject this proposal.”

American Museum of Natural History to offer web-based professional development

In a major initiative, the world-renowned American Museum of Natural History is collaborating with the International Baccalaureate (IB) to provide web-based professional development for nearly 70,000 IB teachers in more than 2,000 schools around the world.  The IB offers high-quality and challenging educational programs for a worldwide community of schools.  For over 40 years, its programs have gained a reputation for their high academic standards and for preparing students for life in the 21^st century.

Beginning immediately, the IB is offering its teachers the Museum’s award-winning Seminars on Science program, which currently features ten online courses ranging from evolution to ocean dynamics to quantum physics.  Each six-week course, designed specifically for educators and tapping into the Museum’s immense resources and the expertise of leading scientists, is co-taught by a Museum scientist and a veteran classroom instructor.  Teachers earn up to four graduate credits and /or IB professional development credit.

“This is a collaboration that will have a profound impact on the teaching and learning of science for thousands of teachers and students,” said Lisa J. Gugenheim, Senior Vice President of Education, Government Relations and Strategic Project Development for the American Museum of Natural History.  “It marries the Museum’s finest science resources with teachers of the most rigorous school programs in the world to ensure cutting-edge, enduring secondary science education.”

 â€œThis collaboration is an exciting opportunity for IB teachers to connect with Museum scientists and the amazing classroom resources of the Museum,” said Anthony Tait, Head of School Services of IB North America.  “The subject content of Seminars on Science courses provides enrichment opportunities for IB teachers, encourages IB practitioners to engage in scholarly inquiry, and enhances the professional development of IB teachers in specific areas of interest.” 

"We are delighted to offer to IB teachers around the world the opportunity to connect with one of the world's premier scientific institutions, the American Museum of Natural History," said Jeffrey Beard, Director General of the IB.

The Museum developed Seminars on Science, its online teacher professional development program, in order to connect teachers across the United States and around the world to the latest research and to provide them with powerful but practical classroom resources.  The ten courses in life, earth and physical sciences are rich with compelling imagery and video, interactive simulations, and a lively exchange of questions, ideas, and resources via an online discussion forum.  By linking to the Museum’s scientists, laboratories, expeditions, specimens and ongoing research, teachers achieve a deeper understanding of science and of scientific inquiry.  

The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world’s preeminent scientific, educational, and cultural institutions.  It employs 200 scientists, houses 45 permanent exhibition halls, numerous research laboratories, one of the largest natural history libraries in the Western Hemisphere, and a permanent collection of more than 30 million specimens and cultural artifacts.  Reflecting its integrated mission of science and education, the Museum recently established the Richard Gilder Graduate School, a Ph.D.-granting program in comparative biology within the Museum.  This marks the first time that an American museum has been granted the authority to award its own Ph.D. degree.

Founded in 1968, the IB works with more than 2,000 schools in 125 countries to offer and develop its three challenging programs to approximately 530,000 students ranging in ages 3 to 19.  The IB encourages students to be active learners, well-rounded individuals and engaged world citizens.  It also serves in an educational advisory capacity to other educational organizations.

For more information on course offerings and schedules, visit the Museum’s Seminars on Science website at http://learn.amnh.org/ or call (800) 649-6715.  IB teachers can learn more and register for a course on the IB website at http://www.ibo.org/events/. 

2 NRIs among inducted into National Academy of Sciences

Two Indian Americans, physicist Katepalli Sreenivasan and agricultural economist Prabhu Pingali are among 72 new members inducted into the prestigious National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in Washington in recognition of their distinguished achievements in original research.

 Sreenivasan, a world-renowned experimental physicist whose major fields of interest are fluid dynamics and turbulence, is currently a professor of physics and mechanical engineering at the University of Maryland where he also directs the Institute for Physical Science and Technology.

 Pingali got his Ph.D. in Economics from North Carolina State University and is the director of the agricultural and development economics division of the food and agriculture organization of the United Nations. Pingali has devoted his entire career to agriculture. His research and advisory work focused on technological change, environmental externalities and agricultural development policy. He has authored (or co-authored) nine books and 90 journal articles and book chapters.

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