Texas Republican Party Adopts Guest Worker Party Platform

September 29, 2012

Texas Republican Party Adopts Guest Worker Party Platform

In June 2012, Texas Republicans met at the Texas Republican Convention to update the party's platform in preparation for the year's elections. One of the issues that party members addressed, with regards to platform, was immigration. Over the objections of some party members, the Texas GOP adopted a new stance on immigration, advocating for a guest worker program that many believe would help the state economically. Due to this platform, Texas residents should be aware of the GOP's former views on immigration enforcement and the party's new stance on allowing temporary workers in the state.

Previous Stance on Immigration

In the past, Texas Republicans have taken a hard-line approach to dealing with people in the U.S. without documentation. Two years ago, the last time the Texas GOP updated its party platform, the party advocated denying health care to undocumented immigrants, eliminating day-labor centers where many migrant workers found employment and establishing harsh penalties for employers who hire workers they know to be undocumented.

The "Texas Solution"

Now, the GOP is offering what it terms a "Texas Solution" to the issue of undocumented workers in the state. The platform calls for the creation of an "effective and efficient temporary worker program" that would allow foreign citizens to work in the U.S. for limited periods of time to help employers who cannot otherwise fill jobs with U.S. citizens, so long as they qualify for the program, which does not coincide with our current immigration laws.

In order to qualify for a temporary visa under the proposed program, applicants would need to:
-Pass a criminal background check
-Maintain personal or employer-provided health insurance
-Pay fines from any previous immigration violations
-Waive rights to any form of government financial assistance from public entitlement programs
-Prove proficiency in the English language
-Take a United States civics class
-Only work for employers who deduct and match payroll taxes
-Carry a Biometric Identification Card that would track address changes as well as any court appearances

Some members of the party oppose the proposed temporary worker program, arguing it opens the door to complete amnesty for undocumented immigrants. Others believe that the requirements of the proposed program are too onerous for any of the temporary workers to meet and it will not successfully address the issue of undocumented workers in the state, let alone the possibility that these workers may never be legally present in the United States.

Talk to a Lawyer

U.S. immigration laws are complex and change frequently. In addition to this, how authorities in different states enforce immigration laws is not always consistent. As this program is not law, and may never be, if you have questions about immigration, or this program, please speak with a seasoned immigration attorney who can discuss your situation with you and advise you of your options, before taking any action or filing any documents or forms with any of our government agencies.

Article provided by Goldstein & Scopellite, PC
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