Congressman John Duarte, R-Modesto, who represents Patterson and many communities throughout the Central Valley, has released a draft of his new immigration law to the public and is seeking feedback on it.

Duarte, who is seeking re-election in a heated rematch with Democratic challenger Adam Gray, said the bill attempts to find a comprehensive compromise on immigration and border security. The congressman has asked mayors across the Central Valley for their feedback, calling it the “1,000 Mayors Campaign.”

Patterson Mayor Michael Clauzel is well-versed in the difficulties surrounding the immigration process. He and his wife of 25 years, Efigenia, had their family torn apart for six months because of the immigration system.

“It was brutal to be separated from my wife and young children,” Clauzel said, adding that his daughter stayed with him during the trial.

It was an experience he did not expect after serving the country not only in the military but also as a police officer.

Clauzel said he and his wife attended a news conference Monday that Duarte held to discuss the new bill, which they both support.

“I hope that both sides (Democrats and Republicans) can be clear about this,” Clauzel said, adding that it is a system that has been broken for a long time and others should not go through such a long painful process, that he and his family went through.

Duarte said his bill was modeled after the Republican HR2 bill, which passed early in the House but never passed the Senate. It also includes the Verifiable Elections Act, another House bill that passed on a party-line vote requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration.

There is also a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) fix that gives these individuals “full access to the American dream.” And there is also an amnesty program for families “who have been living in the shadows,” he said.

“So families that have been here for five years or more would be eligible for an amnesty program and eventually a green card,” Duarte said. “But all amnesty programs depend on border security.”

The bill also establishes a blue card system to address the need for farm workers — something that could have a significant impact on Central Valley farmers.

“This will be good for the economy, it takes the pressure off our border,” he said, adding that when workers come over legally, they also don't enrich criminal organizations, which helps solve many problems at once.

The congressman described the current system as “rigid.” As farmers' seasons wane and wane, individuals can work on one farm for a few weeks and move to another farm if necessary. When they're not working, they can go home to their families, socialize and then come back when the work season starts again, he said.

Opponent Gray made his comments at the time of the congressman's release of the new bill.

“John Duarte gave us the most unproductive Congress in U.S. history,” Gray said. “John had two years to introduce a bill and here we are eight days before an election. John was nowhere to be found when a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced the toughest immigration reform bill in a generation. Valley voters deserve leaders who work as hard as they do.”

Duarte said that when his party forced a vote on an immigration bill that was bad for the Valley, he voted against it because it would have pushed immigrant families further into the shadows.

“For the past two years, I have worked with local leaders, organizations and families to find real solutions that work for our valley. This commitment is why many Democratic, independent and Republican leaders and organizations such as the Central Valley Leadership Roundtable, Patterson Mayor Mike Clauzel and mayors across the Valley have endorsed me. I’m proud that our immigrant families are being prioritized over partisan politics.”

For more information or comments on the bill, visit https://duarte.house.gov/forms/form/?ID=181.