Baca's bill would help immigrants with citizenship test
Rep. Joe Baca wants to prepare immigrant high school students to become good citizens.
He introduced a bill last month to create an elective class that would teach immigrants how to pass the U.S. citizenship exam.
The goal of the course is also to make sure students learn the underlying values that guide the nation's democracy.
"It would give them a better understanding of what it means to become a U.S. citizen," said Baca, D-San Bernardino.
He introduced a bill last month to create an elective class that would teach immigrants how to pass the U.S. citizenship exam.
The goal of the course is also to make sure students learn the underlying values that guide the nation's democracy.
"It would give them a better understanding of what it means to become a U.S. citizen," said Baca, D-San Bernardino.
Because Congress adjourned on Friday, the bill will have to be reintroduced in the next term, due to start Jan. 23.
The legislation authorizes $150,000 for a pilot program to help schools develop elective classes based on the citizenship exam.
Baca said the bill also would create a path toward citizenship for successful and motivated immigrant high school students.
The congressman indicated he plans to introduce follow-up legislation mandating that any student who passes three years of high-school citizenship classes with a C average or better and maintains good overall academic standing, be placed on a streamlined path for the citizenship test.
The minimum age to take the citizenship test as part of the naturalization process is 18.
"Right now, there's no light at the end of the tunnel for many of these kids," Baca said. "Even if they graduate from high school, they can't get a job and become productive citizens. As a result, many end up dropping out or working under the table."
Several bills previously have been introduced in Congress to allow illegal immigrants to become legal residents and eventually citizens if they graduate from high school and meet other requirements.
Redlands Republican Jerry Lewis is "concerned that this creates a potential (citizenship) pathway for some people that other people wouldn't have access to," said spokesman Jim Specht.
Specht said Lewis' support for Baca's bill would depend in large part on how the legislation is written.
"There's always a chance for fraud in those kinds of programs," Specht said.
Specht said Lewis also wonders what would be taught in the citizenship course that isn't covered in high school American history and civics classes.
"Those classes don't teach a lot about voting and democracy and civic responsibility," Baca said.
The president of the San Bernardino City Unified School District said she hadn't heard or read anything about Baca's bill.
"The concept sounds wonderful," Teresa Parra said. "Anytime you talk about being more civic-minded and being more involved in the process of education, that's a good thing. But I am concerned that if we are going to be asked to provide that kind of program, we would have to make sure it's funded 100 percent, which almost never happens in Congress."
stephen.wall@inlandnewspapers.com
The legislation authorizes $150,000 for a pilot program to help schools develop elective classes based on the citizenship exam.
Baca said the bill also would create a path toward citizenship for successful and motivated immigrant high school students.
The congressman indicated he plans to introduce follow-up legislation mandating that any student who passes three years of high-school citizenship classes with a C average or better and maintains good overall academic standing, be placed on a streamlined path for the citizenship test.
The minimum age to take the citizenship test as part of the naturalization process is 18.
"Right now, there's no light at the end of the tunnel for many of these kids," Baca said. "Even if they graduate from high school, they can't get a job and become productive citizens. As a result, many end up dropping out or working under the table."
Several bills previously have been introduced in Congress to allow illegal immigrants to become legal residents and eventually citizens if they graduate from high school and meet other requirements.
Redlands Republican Jerry Lewis is "concerned that this creates a potential (citizenship) pathway for some people that other people wouldn't have access to," said spokesman Jim Specht.
Specht said Lewis' support for Baca's bill would depend in large part on how the legislation is written.
"There's always a chance for fraud in those kinds of programs," Specht said.
Specht said Lewis also wonders what would be taught in the citizenship course that isn't covered in high school American history and civics classes.
"Those classes don't teach a lot about voting and democracy and civic responsibility," Baca said.
The president of the San Bernardino City Unified School District said she hadn't heard or read anything about Baca's bill.
"The concept sounds wonderful," Teresa Parra said. "Anytime you talk about being more civic-minded and being more involved in the process of education, that's a good thing. But I am concerned that if we are going to be asked to provide that kind of program, we would have to make sure it's funded 100 percent, which almost never happens in Congress."
stephen.wall@inlandnewspapers.com
our regular students don't know anything. let's teach them.
stupid jerk politicians supporting mexico.
USA is a melting pot made up by indivduals that come from all over the world. Great job Honorable Joe Baca!
Pssssst...hey Baca. Just so you know - there's a distict difference between an legal immigrant and an illegal immigrant. We get that. How come you, a lawmaker, dont?
Look, why don't we repair the melting pot by fixing the immigration process rather than rewarding those that ignore it. Yes I'm aware that most of these kids were dragged her by their illegal parents and yes I understand that it isn't the kid's fault. So lets fix the system that generates these kids.
Baca says, " "Right now, there's no light at the end of the tunnel for many of these kids," Baca said. "Even if they graduate from high school, they can't get a job and become productive citizens. As a result, many end up dropping out or working under the table."
Well, to me, this statement, along with those pesky immigration laws, is a pretty good reason NOT to sneak north across the border but instead imigrate LEGALLY then we already have an educational system in place for them. But now we want to create more legislation that says, come on in and don't worry about anything - we'll bend the laws for you later. First, we'll drop the word "illegal" when refering to you and simply call you "imigrant" and we'll evoke the great melting pot and all the other American values. Even grant you amnesty. No worries. Don't bother following the legal imigration laws....I got your back...