WASHINGTON The National Restaurant Association has commended two members of the U.S. House of Representatives for introducing immigration reform legislation that includes provisions favored by the foodservice industry.
Called the STRIVE Act - Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy - the measure includes a temporary guest worker program and a possible path to citizenship for some aliens living in this country. Undocumented immigrants who entered the country before June 1, 2006, would be allowed to work here for two three-year periods.
To help win union support, the measure also requires employers to offer foreign workers the same wages and working conditions as U.S. workers.
However, the bill is stricter than a similar measure proposed last year by its sponsors, Reps. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., and Jeff Flake, R-Ariz. For instance, the new measure includes a "touchback provision," which would require that immigrants who have been working here for six years return briefly to their native countries before being allowed to re-enter to apply for permanent legal residency. They also would have to pay a $2,000 fine and back taxes and pass background and security checks. Once immigrants have returned to their homes and then applied for U.S. legal status, they would have to wait in line behind any green-card applicants living here or abroad.
According to the measure, the guest worker program and the path to citizenship would not be put in place until the Department of Homeland security ensures that progress has been made securing the borders.