New visa proposal could open the door for further abuse of our laws

Dave Gibson
Examiner.com
December 6, 2011

Last week, Rep. Marco Rubio (R-FL) held a press conference in Miami to promote the Trafficking Victims Protection Act which would grant temporary residency status to victims of sex trafficking. Congressman Rubio is a co-sponsor of the bill.

Rubio said: “Oftentimes, the victims are people who are brought here illegally or are here and their visa expired. And they’re terrified about cooperating with prosecutors against their pimps or the organized crime syndicate because they believe they’re going to be deported.”

When asked if the measure could result in untold numbers of illegal aliens simply lying to stay in the country, Rubio responded: “It’s been a factor. Some people have talked about it. The concern is not the victims…The concern is that someone would exploit this and use it as a loophole to somehow game the system. You’re always concerned about somebody gaming the system. This is a law that’s designed to help victims of trafficking and exploitation.”

The bill, if passed, would allow those brought here illegally for the purpose of prostitution to stay here and help authorities prosecute sex traffickers, without fear of arrest or deportation.

However, a visa program already exists which addresses this concern.

According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, “The T Nonimmigrant Status (T visa) is a set aside for those who are or have been victims of human trafficking, protects victims of human trafficking and allows victims to remain in the United States to assist in an investigation or prosecution of human trafficking.”

What Rubio is proposing seems not only unnecessary, but yet another open invitation to those who seek to exploit our immigration laws.

• A d v e r t i s e m e n t

As is the case with so many aspects to the illegal immigration crisis…We do not need new laws, we simply need the existing ones enforced and our borders secured.

View T Visa program details here: http://http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=02ed3e4d77d73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=02ed3e4d77d73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

This article was posted: Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 3:43 pm

---

---

---

---