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WASHINGTON Three of Utahs four U.S. House members are throwing their support behind the GOP plan put forward by U.S. Rep. Maria Salazar to address undocumented immigrants and illegal immigration.

The proposal, the GOP response to President Joe Bidens immigration reform plan, would create a means for undocumented immigrants to stay in the United States and potentially attain legal status, among other things. It comes amid a heightened national focus over illegal border crossings and an apparent surge in U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border, according to the Pew Research Center.

I am proud to partner with you and my colleagues on meaningful and compassionate immigration reforms that keep families together, provide pathways for dreamers and give a voice to the voiceless, Rep. John Curtis of Provo said in a tweet.

U.S. Rep. Burgess Owens, who represents Utah's 4th District, speaks at a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, to tout an immigration reform plan crafted by U.S. Rep. Maria Salazar, a Florida Republican.

Salazars proposal puts a big focus on beefing up U.S. border security, according to a draft summary. But it would also give dreamers, younger undocumented immigrants brought illegally to their country by their parents, immediate legal status. That group has been a particular focus of the debate over immigration reform.

Moreover, her plan would allow undocumented immigrants who pass a criminal background check, pay taxes, stay employed and pay a fine to get work visas. It also creates a pathway to permanent resident status for them.

Immigration reform is a great opportunity for collaboration, and I believe in aspirational, pro-growth and inclusive proposals that will both secure and strengthen our country, Moore, the 1st District representative, said at the conference. Any bills considered by Congress should offer functional and compassionate solutions while protecting American jobs. I am proud to join with my colleagues to craft commonsense, workable reforms that streamline the guest worker visa process, strengthen our border security, support the American workforce and more.

In a statement to the Standard-Examiner later Wednesday, Owens, the 4th District representative, put a big focus on border security, a standard GOP call. But, as proposed in Salazars plan, hes also open to creating a means to allow at least some undocumented immigrants to remain in the country.

For too long, weve taken an all or nothing approach to immigration reform in this country, and for too long, we have gotten nothing, Owens said. It is time to think of solutions that are fair, dignified and provide a stable workforce. To me, meaningful policies involve securing the border and ensuring a dignified path to citizenship while also enforcing the law and prioritizing safety.

In his comments at Wednesdays press conference, Curtis, who represents Utahs 3rd District, referenced the Utah Compact on Immigration, a document backed by a cross-section of Utah leaders and officials meant to serve as a guiding document in the debate over immigration reform. The compact calls for a humane approach to reform that focuses on keeping families together, among other things.

The compact told us to do exactly what were doing today solve these problems, keep families together and be compassionate, Curtis said.

U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart, Utahs 2nd District representative, did not appear at Wednesdays event.

Salazar said her plan helps bring dignity and redemption to the undocumented population. We have a crisis on our southern border, children are being trafficked and we must do everything possible to fix our immigration system once and for all, she said.

Border security has been an intense focus of attention of late in the wake of Bidens moves away from some of the measures touted by his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, including additional work on the U.S. border wall. Some GOPers have accused Biden of making it easier for undocumented immigrants to cross into the United States.

We are facing a serious crisis at our southern border that is threatening the safety of Americans. Too many drugs, criminals and child sex traffickers are flowing into our country, and the Biden administration is doing nothing to stop the chaos, Owens said.

Bidens immigration reform proposal would create a roadmap to citizenship for certain undocumented immigrants who pass background checks and pay taxes. It would aim to clear backlogs of those waiting for family- and employment-based U.S. visas and also contains provisions to beef up border security via use of technology. Furthermore, it would bolster assistance to counter corruption, violence and poverty in Central America, which causes many from the region to flee to the United States.

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U.S. Reps. Moore, Curtis, Owens throw backing to immigration overhaul plan - Standard-Examiner

On Thursday, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) voted to pass H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 and H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021.

These bills help provide a path to citizenship for our nations Dreamers and Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, holders and establishes a program for agricultural workers to earn legal Certified Agricultural Workers status.

These critical bills work to make our nations immigration system fairer and more humane.

Our nation was built on immigration, families coming in search of a better life for their children and achieving the American Dream. But our immigration system is broken and needs to be fixed. Today, I was proud to vote to pass two bills to help ensure that promise remains open to people who are already integral parts of the fabric of our communities. These bills reflect our values as a nation, helping to make our immigration system more just and humane for people who are critical to our nations success, Thompson said.

The American Dream and Promise Act provides a path to citizenship for our nations Dreamers, young people who embody our nations finest values of hard work, patriotism and dedication. They are our neighbors, colleagues, service members, doctors and teachers, and they deserve to become citizens and live out their full potential here in the only nation many have ever known as home. I also was proud to vote to pass the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, legislation to help authorized agricultural workers get legal status and streamline the process for employers and employees. I urge the Senate to take action on these critical bills without delay, Thompson said.

The American Dream and Promise Act offers a path to legal status for Dreamers and those people with Temporary Protected Status or Deferred Enforced Departure Status. You can click here to read more about that bill.

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act establishes a program for agricultural workers to earn legal status through continued employment in their field. It also reforms the H-2A program to ensure it is more responsive and user-friendly for both employers and employees. This bill also establishes a mandatory, nation-wide E-Verify system for all agricultural employment. You can click here to read more.

Thompson represents Californias Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.

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Thompson votes to pass immigration reform bills to offer protected status for Dreamers, agricultural workers - Lake County News

Washington D.C., Mar 19, 2021 / 10:00 am MT (CNA).- The U.S. bishops conference on Friday praised the House of Representatives for passing two immigration reform bills, and urged the Senate to follow suit.

On Thursday, the House passed the American Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6) and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act (H.R. 1603). f

The former bill would grant conditional permanent resident status to eligible immigrants who entered the United States illegally as minors. It would also grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to immigrants from certain countries facing humanitarian crises, protecting them from deportation for a period of time. Among other requirements, immigrants would need to pass a background check to be eligible for permanent resident status.

The latter bill, H.R. 1603, would grant certain protections to immigrants who work in agriculture, as well as to their families.

The USCCB noted that the bills would provide a pathway to citizenship for more than three million immigrants.

Both bills earned some bipartisan support in the House. While just nine Republicans voted for the American Dream and Promise Act, 30 GOP members voted for the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.

Archbishop Jos Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. bishops conference (USCCB), and Bishop Mario Dorsonville, auxiliary bishop of Washington and chair of the USCCBs migration committee, said in a joint statement that they welcome the House passage of the bills.

The bills would help many hardworking immigrants reach their God-given potential, not only for their benefit but for that of the entire country, they said.

Inspired by the life of Christ, the Catholic Church remains committed to ensuring that all persons within our society are given the opportunity to flourish, especially those so often relegated to the margins, the bishops said.

They urged the Senate to pass the bills swiftly, adding that they once again call on legislators from both chambers of Congress to work together to enact broader, vitally needed reforms to address our broken immigration system.

We pledge to work with Congress and the Administration on this effort, which we believe is an urgent issue to uphold life and human dignity, the bishops said.

In Thursday statements, President Joe Biden offered his support to both bills.

Biden said the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 is a critical first step in reforming our immigration system and will provide much needed relief to TPS holders and Dreamers, young people who came here as children and know no other country.

He said the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021 will deliver the lawful status and better working conditions that this critical workforce deserves, as well as much needed stability for farmers, growers, and the entire agriculture industry.

The Associated Press noted that both bills face gloomy prospects in the Senate, where they are unlikely to receive the 10 Republican votes necessary to overcome a filibuster.

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U.S. bishops urge passage of immigration reform bills - Catholic News Agency

The UK Government unveiled its economic recovery plan in a policy proposal entitled, Build Back Better: our plan for growth, detailing specific courses of action and priorities essential to the rebuilding and uplifting of the British economy out from underneath Covid-19 and into the post-Brexit world. In doing so, the proposal sets out a series of reforms that highlight the three core pillars of growth needed to distribute investment and opportunity equally across the four nations: Infrastructure, Skills, and Innovation. At the core of these changes lies a paradigm shift in the UKs immigration policy, from the constrained, controlled policies of the past decade, towards a more open, supply-driven approach in which, for the first time ever, the same rules on migration will be applied to both EU and non-EU citizens.

Underscoring the introduction of a new system of work-based immigration is the awareness that the UK needs to compete with the international demand for talent in order to properly address the economic upheaval wrought by the coronavirus pandemic and prepare for their departure from the EU single market. Through a proactive global outreach strategy alongside a series of immigration reforms, the UK can attract and retain this globally mobile, high-skilled migration central to its plans to bolster the international competitiveness of its high-growth innovative businesses. To this end, the reforms announced include:

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UK Unveiled A Plan for Immigration Reform - Lexology

The Conversation

U.S. taxpayers spend more than $2 billion annually in tax preparation fees. Nora Carol Photography/Getty ImagesThe Internal Revenue Service has postponed the April 15 tax filing deadline to May 17. If taxpayers need even more time to file federal returns, the agency added, they can request an extension until Oct. 15. This continues to be a tough time for many people, and the IRS wants to continue to do everything possible to help taxpayers navigate the unusual circumstances related to the pandemic, while also working on important tax administration responsibilities, said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. The announcement may come as welcome news for many Americans, but it also raises an important question: Why should taxpayers have to navigate the tedious, costly tax filing system at all? The case for a simple return In 1985, President Ronald Reagan promised a return-free tax system in which half of all Americans would never fill out a tax return again. Under the framework, taxpayers with simple returns would automatically receive a refund or a letter detailing any tax owed. Taxpayers with more complicated returns would use the system in place today. In 2006, President Barack Obamas chief economist, Austan Goolsbee, premiered the simple return, where taxpayers would receive already completed tax forms for their review or correction. Goolsbee estimated his system would save taxpayers more than US$2 billion a year in tax preparation fees. Though never implemented, the two proposals illustrate what we all know: No one enjoys filling out tax forms. So why do we have to? A costly and time-consuming system Return-free filing is not difficult. At least 30 countries permit return-free filing, including Denmark, Sweden, Spain and the United Kingdom. Furthermore, 95% of American taxpayers receive more than 30 types of information returns that let the government know their exact income. These information returns give the government everything it needs in order to fill out most taxpayers returns. The U.S. system is 10 times more expensive than tax systems in 36 other countries with robust economies. But those costs vanish in a return-free system, as would the 2.6 billion hours Americans spend on tax preparation each year. Maybe youre wondering whether Congress is just behind the times, unaware that it can release us from tax preparation? Not true. As an expert on the U.S. tax system, I see Americas costly and time-consuming tax reporting system as a consequence of its relationship with the commercial tax preparation industry, which lobbies Congress to maintain the status quo. The United Kingdom is among dozens of countries that permit return-free filing for some taxpayers. Loop Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Commercial tax preparation Almost 20 years ago, Congress directed the IRS to provide low-income taxpayers with free tax preparation. The agency responded in 2002 with Free File, a public-private partnership between the government and the tax preparation industry. As part of the deal, the IRS agreed to not compete with the private sector in the free tax preparation market. In 2007, the House of Representatives rejected legislation to provide free, government tax preparation. And in 2019, Congress tried to legally bar the IRS from ever providing free online tax preparation services. Only a public outcry turned the tide. The public part of Free File consists of the IRS herding taxpayers to commercial tax preparation websites. The private part consists of those commercial entities diverting taxpayers toward costly alternatives. According to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, which oversees IRS activities, private partners use computer code to hide the free websites and take unsuspecting taxpayers to paid sites. Should a taxpayer discover a free preparation alternative, the private preparers impose various restrictions such as income or the use of various forms as an excuse to kick taxpayers back to paid preparation. Consequently, of the more than 100 million taxpayers eligible for free help, 35% end up paying for tax preparation and 60% never even visit the free websites. Instead of 70% of Americans receiving free tax preparation, commercial companies whittle that percentage down to 3%. Tax savings and evasion Perhaps you are guessing that there are valid policy justifications for avoiding government and empowering the private sector. Judge those arguments yourself. One argument from commercial tax preparers is that taxpayers will miss out on valuable tax savings if they rely on free government preparation. In fact, the government software would reflect the same laws used by the paid preparers with the same access to tax saving deductions or credits. Further, tax preparers like H & R Block promise to pay all taxes and interest resulting from a failed audit. As a result, these services have every incentive to take conservative, pro-government tax positions. A second argument is that government-prepared tax returns encourage tax evasion. In a no-return system, the government reveals its knowledge of the taxpayers income before the taxpayer files. Thus, the argument goes, the taxpayer knows if the government has missed something and has reason to let the mistake stand. But taxpayers already know what information forms the government has because they receive duplicates of those forms. The incentive to lie does not increase because the taxpayer avoids weeks of tax preparation. [Youre smart and curious about the world. So are The Conversations authors and editors. You can get our highlights each weekend.] Bolstering the anti-taxers Finally, there is the anti-tax argument for onerous tax preparation: Keep tax preparation unpleasant to fuel anti-tax sentiment. In the past, Republicans argued against high taxes. But after decades of tax cuts, Americans are no longer swayed by that argument. Exasperating tax preparation, according to this argument, helps keep the anti-tax fever high. And that fuels public hate for government and the tax system. Unfortunately, the anti-tax contingents desire to force Americans to spend time and money on tax preparation dovetails with the tax preparation industrys desire to collect billions of dollars in fees. Tax preparation companies lobby Congress to keep tax preparation costly and complicated. Indeed, Intuit, maker of TurboTax, the tax preparation software, lists government tax preparation as a threat to its business model. One example is the earned income tax credit, a government program for low-income people. The credit is so complicated that 20% of the people who are eligible never file. If the government prepared peoples tax returns, that 20% would receive government support. Nonetheless, Intuit has lobbied lawmakers to make the credit more complicated, thereby driving more taxpayers to paid preparation services. To date, the tax preparation industry has kept the system complicated because the potential cost to it in terms of lost revenue is vast. Only public outcry can change the system.This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Beverly Moran, Vanderbilt University. Read more:As Australias COVID vaccine rollout splutters, we need transparency about when international borders might reopenHow American tax laws encourage inequality Beverly Moran does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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Rep. Gomez on attacks against Asian-Americans, immigration reform - Yahoo News