Immigration Reform

We Need Comprehensive Immigration Reform To Fix Our

Broken Immigration System

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“We lead the world because, unique among nations, we draw our people -- our strength -- from every country and every corner of the world. And by doing so we continuously renew and enrich our nation. While other countries cling to the stale past, here in America we breathe life into dreams. We create the future, and the world follows us into tomorrow. Thanks to each wave of new arrivals to this land of opportunity, we're a nation forever young, forever bursting with energy and new ideas, and always on the cutting edge, always leading the world to the next frontier. This quality is vital to our future as a nation. If we ever closed the door to new Americans, our leadership in the world would soon be lost.”

 

– President Ronald Reagan

 

As President Reagan understood and so eloquently said, since its inception the United States has always been a nation of immigrants. As a vital source of American strength, immigrants have helped to grow our economy, make our communities and our culture richer, and increase diversity. They are our neighbors, our co-workers, classmates, and our friends. They are just as much Americans as those of us born in the United States. 

 

We need comprehensive immigration reform that fixes a broken immigration system, keeps our nation safe, and provides a reasonable path to citizenship, particularly those fleeing oppression in their countries of origin, whether that oppression be based on politics, religion, race, or sexuality.

 

While we do agree that those who seek to immigrate to the US should follow our laws and procedures, and we must make sure that in letting someone within our borders we have not admitted a wolf in sheep’s clothing, we do not believe that cruelty towards those who long for “the magical, intoxicating power of America” is in any way just or creditable to us as a country.

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As President Reagan further said, “We may sometimes forget it, but others do not. Those who become American citizens love this country even more. It is bold men and women, yearning for freedom and opportunity, who leave their homelands and come to a new country to start their lives over. They believe in the American dream. They give more than they receive. They labor and succeed…their greatest contribution is more than economic, because they understand in a special way how glorious it is to be an American. They renew our pride and gratitude in the United States of America, the greatest, freest nation in the world.”

 

That’s why I will fight for immigration reform that preserves our security, grows our economy, and reflects our values

 

I will do so by supporting legislation that does three fundamental things:

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• Decriminalizes migration and refocuses enforcement on serious criminal activity–people who want to work and become Americans should not be treated as criminals, but we should be able to deport more quickly anyone who comes here and abuses our laws and citizens.

• Provides rights and due process in our immigration courts such as establishing professional, independent Article I immigration courts; and eliminates expedited removal and ensures due process to all. 

• Supports legal immigration and establishes a fair and achievable path to citizenship.