Dold, Kirk Call for Moving Forward Commonsense Immigration Reform

Press Release

U.S. Congressman Robert Dold (IL-10) joined U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (IL), U.S. Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) and Illinois State Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (IL-41) today calling on Congress to move forward with commonsense immigration reform while attending a forum in Chicago, Ill. hosted by the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition (IBIC) and FWD.us, the Mark Zuckerberg-backed advocacy organization.

Since his first term in Congress, Rep. Dold has been a staunch advocate for efforts to pass immigration reform. Rep. Dold told the story of Erika Martinez, a DREAMer from Round Lake, Ill. who Rep. Dold brought to the State of the Union Address last year.

"Reforming our broken immigration system is a deeply personal issue for families all across the Chicago area. Last year, I had the honor of bringing a Round Lake DREAMer named Erika Martinez to the State of the Union Address. Every day that Congress fails to act on immigration reform, families like Erika's are forced to continue living in fear of being torn apart," Rep. Dold said. "Although divisive, partisan rhetoric may make for better TV, today's forum is proof that there is bipartisan support to move immigration reform forward. I am committed to working with lawmakers in both parties who are willing to put partisanship aside in favor of the challenging problem solving that is needed to fix our immigration system and move our country forward."

Rep. Dold invited Rep. Diaz-Balart, who has been a leader on immigration reform efforts in Congress and in his home state of Florida, to address the audience.

"I am proud to stand with Congressman Bob Dold, and the many local community leaders from Illinois who are here today. I also want to thank Bob for inviting me to join this panel today. He has been a national leader on this issue from the very beginning, and he understands how critical immigration reform is to our country and our economy," Rep. Diaz-Balart said. "We all recognize that our immigration system is broken, and we believe in finding a commonsense solution. I remain committed to working with my colleagues in Congress to find the answer that will strengthen our borders, humanely treat those living in the shadows, adhere to the rule of law and bolster the economy."

The panelists discussed best practices for engaging other Members of Congress to pass sensible reform, keep families together and secure the border.

"The American dream unlocks human potential faster and better than any other," Sen. Kirk said. "I am committed to working across the aisle to reform our immigration policies and unlock the full potential of the men and women in our state who will build businesses and boost the Illinois economy."

Rep. Dold also called on Congress to pass his bill, the STARTUP Act, which was the first piece of legislation he introduced this Congress. The bill would encourage the world's best and brightest to create jobs in the United States by creating a new visa for students who graduate from an American university with a Master's or Ph.D. degree in a STEM field. As long as the recipient remains actively engaged in the STEM field for five consecutive years, he or she would become eligible for citizenship. The bill also creates a new visa for immigrant entrepreneurs who start new businesses.

"The entrepreneurial spirit of immigrants plays an important role in growing the economy in Illinois and spurring job creation and a strong middle class for native-born Americans. Immigrants are economic multipliers because they are twice as likely as native-born workers to start businesses and, as a result, create jobs for American workers," FWD.us President Todd Schulte said. "The reality is that a strong majority of Americans reject absurd proposals like mass deportation in favor of sensible policies that are good for our economy and our country, like immigration reform. We are committed to working with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to get commonsense immigration reform done in 2017, and we encourage all lawmakers to follow this lead and put forth their own plans for common sense immigration reform."

Rep. Dold has repeatedly opposed amendments that would have resulted in blocking DACA, separating families and deporting immigrant children. He is also a co-sponsor of the ENLIST Act, which would allow immigrant children to earn legal permanent resident status by honorably serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and voted against an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would have prevented the Secretary of Defense from examining the impact of allowing DACA recipients to serve in the Armed Forces.

Rep. Dold has worked across the aisle--including co-hosting a forum with U.S. Congressman Luis Gutierrez last summer--to explore opportunities to move forward on immigration reform. As a representative for the moderate Tuesday Group on U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan's (WI-1) Advisory Group, Rep. Dold has advocated for a vote on immigration reform to Republican congressional leadership.