After months of delay, Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) have provided an outline for comprehensive immigration reform.

During a March 11 meeting with President Obama, Sens. Schumer and Graham presented an outline for their proposal, which has not been drafted into legislative language. The Senators subsequently wrote a March 17 article in the Washington Post providing additional information on the outline.

The following four pillars are outlined in the Schumer-Graham proposal:
*  Require all workers to obtain biometric Social Security cards
*  Enhance border security and interior enforcement
*  Create a process for admitting temporary guest workers
*  Implement a path to legalization for the undocumented immigrants already in the United States

Sens. Schumer and Graham gave particularly attention to the role of employers under their plan, including the use of electronic verification and the flow of immigrant workers.

NSBA has paid close attention to potential immigration reform legislation that imposes any new employer requirements, specifically with respect to policing the workforce. Under the Schumer-Graham outline, all individuals seeking work would have to obtain a fraud-proof Social Security card that stores biometric information. Previously, electronic verification systems used massive government databases that were prone to error.

Prospective employers would swipe the cards in a machine to verify individuals identity and immigrant status. Employers that refuse to swipe the card or knowingly hire illegal immigrants would face stiff penalties.

While immigration reform proponents have pushed members of Congress and the administration to back an overhaul effort this year, partisanship resulting from the recent heath care reform deliberations may prove insurmountable for Republicans and Democrats to come together on the issue. 

The House has already presented a proposal that has received considerable support. As previously reported, members of the House of Representatives pushed forward with their introduction of immigration reform – the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP) on Dec. 15, 2009.

NSBA will continue to monitor the issue and work with Senate sponsors to ensure any potential legislation considers the impact it could have on small businesses. Check NSBA’s Web site for additional details as they are made available.

Click here to read NSBA’s immigration reform issue brief.