touchback

n. the return of someone, especially an undocumented immigrant, to their country of origin while awaiting the processing of an application for an immigrant visa. Subjects: English, Government, Politics

Etymological Note: Probably related to the “touchback” in American football, in which a team brings the ball back to its own goal or end zone.

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Citations: 2006 All Things Considered NPR (Apr. 4) “Senate Seeks to Shorten Debate on Immigration Bill”: WELNA: The main idea Republicans are considering is letting some of those here illegally stay, those who’ve been here more than five years, or those who overstayed visas. Florida Republican Mel Martinez said others in the country illegally should at least return to their countries of origin before applying for visas. It’s the so-called touchback provision.…Senator EDWARD KENNEDY (Democrat, Massachusetts): What’s right with taking people that are here for a period of time and then what, do they go across the border and have a bed check and then come back here? 2006 Frank James Chicago Tribune (Apr. 17) “Critics: Immigration bill bordering on unrealistic”: In addition, undocumented immigrants who have been in the United States for two to five years, no matter where they live, would have to travel back to a port-of-entry on the U.S. border, such as El Paso, Texas, and go back across the border to apply for guest-worker status. Upon performing this so-called touchback, these several million immigrants could immediately return to their U.S. homes. 2007 Randy Shaw BeyondChron (San Francisco, California) (Apr. 30) “Progressives Risk Bitter Split over Immigration Reform”: On one side are those who believe that progressives should not support federal legislation that offers less than complete and unconditional amnesty for undocumented immigrants. This means no compromises around “guest worker” policies, no mandates that immigrants first return to their native countries before returning as legal US immigrants—a process known as “touchback”—, and no different rules for longtime vs. recently arrived immigrants.

Posted 29 May 07 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

So where are we with a “touchback” mandate? What defines a person to have to touchback? I have read the article but was wondering if anything new has become a stronger potential for a future policy? Do illegal immigrants who touchback have a priority over those who are waiting already for a chance to work in the U.S.? In short, who has to touchback and at which end of the immigration line do they have to wait?
Thanks for your time.

by Jacob Swanson 13 Jun 07, 0626 GMT