Issue Position: Fair and Effective Immigration Reform

Issue Position

Guiding principle: Solutions to our nation's immigration policy must keep America secure and preserve basic American values.

The Supreme Court's recent decision striking down most of Arizona's controversial immigration law on grounds that the issue is exclusively federal is another reminder that Congress is not doing its job. Congress' failure to act has created a state-by-state response that breeds fear and racial profiling and inconsistent public policy. It is long past time for Congress to stop the partisan bickering and do the people's work.

Shelli supports solutions in immigration reform that keep America secure and preserve basic American values, including these four priorities:

1. Comprehensive immigration reform must secure the borders.

2. Comprehensive immigration reform must strengthen enforcement of our laws in America's interior.

3. Comprehensive immigration must include a temporary worker program that relieves pressure on our borders.

4. Comprehensive immigration must include a provision that allows for residency for certain undocumented young people who were brought to the United States as children by a parent or relative and have served in the military or are attending college (the so-called "DREAM kids").

Shelli will work across the aisle for a fair and effective immigration reform bill that accomplishes those four priorities.

Shelli also supports President Obama's recent executive order on immigration which gives a group of young people -- the DREAM kids -- who grew up as Americans, some of whom have defended our country in the military, a measure of hope for the future. The executive order, however, is not a permanent solution. Rather, it is a short-term stopgap that underscores the fact that, again, Congress is not doing its job.

It is long past time for Congress to stop the partisan bickering and pass comprehensive immigration reform. Such reform should include a provision that allows a path to citizenship for young people who were brought to the United States as children by a parent or relative and, are of good character, and have served in the military or attended college.

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