{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://pearce.house.gov/editorial/compromise-america-needs", "The Compromise America Needs", "2013-10-03", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NM", "Steve Pearce", "P000588", "pearce.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "We in New Mexico see the results of a broken system in the lives of our neighbors. Many immigrants, just looking to feed their families, have risked lives and limbs because we mismanage the immigration system and the border.\nSince being elected to Congress, I\u2019ve urged that immigration reform should be a top priority.\nRight now, there seem to be two camps. One, organized around the Senate bill, says to give all undocumented immigrants amnesty or a pathway to citizenship.\u00a0 The other camp says that all undocumented immigrants should be deported or should self-deport. I do not see that we can or should do this as a nation.\u00a0 We have been stuck arguing between the two sides for decades, without any solutions for the people who desperately need them.\u00a0 We are on a dangerous treadmill, with no end in sight.\nMost of the people who came here to work and feed a family are decent, hardworking people with strong family values.\u00a0 If my family was hungry, I don\u2019t know that I would act any differently than they have.\nI support a compromise plan that is between the two sides\u2014a compromise that we could put in place tomorrow.\u00a0 The solution is to create a noncitizen guest worker program that gives people legal status immediately.\u00a0\nFirst, we completely secure the border, which has to be the first step for any reform to work.\u00a0 Then, create a guest worker program that can be utilized by both those already here and those waiting to come.\u00a0 Here is how it might look:\n Secure the border using technology and people. No other nation in the world allows uncontrolled access across its borders. I do not support the Senate plan of 20,000 new agents, and I have never supported a fence as the solution.\u00a0 It is too easily breached.\u00a0\nFix legal immigration\nThe current system takes too long\u2014sometimes decades\u2014to come here legally. We must rethink, reform, and modernize immigration.\u00a0 The process must be more efficient, streamlined, and provide prompt answers to those asking to become citizens.\u00a0\nCreate a noncitizen guest worker program:\u00a0 The program should provide legal status that allows immigrants to live here, work, contribute, pay taxes and provide for their families.\u00a0 This provides immigrants with fully legal status, but it can never lead to citizenship or provide these workers with federal benefits.\nLet undocumented immigrants choose:\nIf they want to stay here, they can register as a guest worker.\u00a0 This would give families stability and security to continue working here without fear of exploitation, substandard wages, or unsafe working conditions.\u00a0 Biometric identification would allow workers to easily travel back and forth as needed.\u00a0 This is an open, straightforward process\u2014no fines, jail time, or fear of deportation.\u00a0 Just the chance to succeed.\nIf an immigrant wants to become a citizen, they must follow current law and process.\u00a0 Reforms to our legal immigration system and the creation of the noncitizen guest worker program should aim to provide an answer within 18 months.\n \u00a0The Senate\u2019s pathway to full citizenship is unfair to the people who follow the law, waiting in their country.\u00a0 A noncitizen guest worker program will provide legal status to millions ensuring stability and safety.\u00a0 Undocumented immigrants will be able to have a job, pay their taxes, and live the American dream.\u00a0 Employers, too, will benefit from a fresh, modernized guest worker program that makes it easier to find employees.\nTogether, we can make this dream a reality.\u00a0 We can build an immigration system that is the pride of the free world.\u00a0 The challenges we face are great, but there has never been a better time to meet them.\u00a0 For over two centuries, America has been the world\u2019s hope for freedom.\u00a0 The doors into our country should not be built with darkness and broken promises, but with hope.\u00a0\nLet\u2019s act today.\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nThis column appeared in the Albuquerque Journal on Thursday, October 3, 2013, under the headline \"Offer middle ground to fix immigration\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://pearce.house.gov/editorial/compromise-america-needs"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7246090099215508, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}