News
Kenyans embroiled in new US crackdown on immigrants
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks about immigration reform during a meeting with members from both parties of Congress at the White House in Washington June 25, 2009. REUTERS/
Posted Friday, June 26 2009 at 22:04
In Summary
- New law to control flow of low- skilled foreigners to guard jobs for Americans
The noose is tightening on millions of illegal immigrants in the US, including thousands of Kenyans.
On Thursday, Senators from President Obama’s Democratic Party outlined plans to overhaul immigration laws to ensure all workers in the US verify their identity through fingerprints or an eye scan.
An estimated 12 million illegal immigrants live in the US. Majority of Kenyans who are in this unlawful loop are at the greatest risk of joining a steady stream of returnees.
The scheme is aimed at controlling the flow of low-skilled immigrants in order to protect jobs for native Americans.
Senator Charles Schumer, who is pushing the plans, told American media that a national system to verify work documents was necessary because the US Congress had failed to crack down on immigrants with fake documents.
Finger printing and eye scan strategy seeks to block unscrupulous workers who have been using their relatives or friends’ national social security numbers to obtain work.
No permission
“Because they have no permission to work in the US, they use their colleagues’ numbers and are hardly detected,” said a Kenyan working in the US who did not want to be named.
Mr Schumer said legislation will require the 12 million illegal immigrants to register with the government and “submit to a rigorous process to convert to legal status” or face immediate deportation.
Native Americans are unhappy with the immigrants who they accuse of taking away their jobs.
Mr Roy Beck, founder of Numbers USA, a group that advocates limiting immigration asked the senators to pass the legislation.
“Every Democrat in a competitive district knows that will be the question next year: Why did they vote for more foreign workers while 14 million workers are unemployed?”
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told foreign media that he was optimistic that the legislation will be passed. “I think we have the floor votes to do it.”
On Friday, President Obama met with 20 senators to build consensus over the matter. Attempts to pass similar legislation have been defeated by intense lobbying by companies benefiting from the same.
As some Kenyans troop back home from overseas due disappearing jobs and dwindling opportunities, others are stuck there with the hope that things will look up.
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Submitted by nationsucks2004Posted July 04, 2009 08:42 PM
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Submitted by kenmare69
maxo, while there are Kenyans living in the US (and other places) illegally, none of them in their right mind asks for it. All the same, people do all they can to survive the harsh circumstances of a 'paperless' reality. The tenor of this report creates the impression that hell is about to catch up with illegal immigrants, and that's hardly the case. Unless they're criminals who may end up in the can, illegal immigrants in the US are looking forward to getting legitimized, and the proposed immigration law overhaul holds big promise in that sense.
Posted July 04, 2009 03:12 AM -
Submitted by hremix
wonder why the senatae has issues,in history Africa has always coemto the aid of the so called Western civilizations,even though asante ya punda ni mateke,si waseme tu whats is really about
Posted July 03, 2009 12:17 PM -
Submitted by ritahroggs
some comments are annoying and from people who dont know what theyr talking about,and have never flown out(am sorry)!!so where are jobs for kenyans without papers so they can come back home???how many kenyans are languishing in NBI without jobs???if you can make you way out...work n work then go invest in kenya.there are many proud kenyans out there. student or not, you can work.many black americans are lazy,and are given free education, food stumps and even cash!!
Posted July 03, 2009 06:06 AM -
Submitted by hng88
Why this obsessiveness in some posts about the meaning of the term "native American"? Strictly speaking, of course, the term refers to so-called American Indians, but as the writer uses it, it means "native-born Americans." Why not forgive this minor error and instead focus on the substance of the article?
Posted July 03, 2009 03:56 AM
RSS
this is the same Obama Kenyans were jumping up and down about last December. Well, hopefully they will come up with something that also helps the illegals. the immigration system is broken.