Issue Position: Immigration

Issue Position

Immigration Policy and Reform

Congress has made little progress in improving the United States Immigration Policy. This issue must be addressed immediately, and we should begin with these items:

DREAM ACT: As a member of Congress, I would re-introduce and/or co-sponsor the DREAM Act in order to deal with the undocumented Americans of our communities who immigrated to this Country with their parent(s).

Undocumented Americans: The Immigration and Naturalization Act(INA) should be amended to provide a pathway to either legal status, e.g., permanent legal resident, or citizenship, for undocumented Americans who immigrated to this Country years ago and who have lived productively in this Country.

Undocumented Persons In Detention Centers: The INA should be amended to a pathway to either legal status, e.g., permanent legal resident, or citizenship, for undocumented persons who have not been convicted of a felony and are in detention centers awaiting deportation where no country has agreed to accept their emigration and deportation. The amount of time in a detainee center without being deported for the reasons stated should not exceed a period of 24 months, and should be less if possible.

Undocumented Americans and Quotas: Any undocumented persons permitted to commence a pathway to legal status may not be counted against the INA's quota provisions so as to displace a pending immigration application.

Source