Issue Position: Immigration

Issue Position

Despite delays in bringing meaningful legislation to the House floor, I remain committed to passing comprehensive immigration reform. I have long been a strong advocate for providing a legal path to citizenship. I supported the Comprehensive Immigration Reform ASAP Act of 2009, which would have strengthened border security while creating a straightforward program that requires undocumented immigrants to pass a background check, pay a $500 fine, pay taxes and learn English and U.S. civics in order to earn legal status that places on the path to permanent residence and eventual citizenship. I have also supported legislation to address the immigration status of specific populations, such as the Uniting American Families Act, Reuniting Families Act, the DREAM Act and the STAPLE ACT.

Immigration reform is not amnesty. Rather, it simply provides a mechanism for bringing undocumented immigrants into our system so we know who is here and can ensure they are following the rules. Undocumented immigrants would still face significant hurdles before earning citizenship, and, just as importantly, they would not take the place of anyone who has followed the proper steps to enter our country.

I am encouraged by the bipartisan framework in Senate-passed legislation, which would put an estimated eight million illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship. With so many undocumented immigrants living on the fringes of society, this is a security issue, a humanitarian issue and an economic issue. In fact, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the Senate bill would reduce the federal deficit by $35 billion over the next decade.

As I work to support a process for immigrants to follow legal channels toward citizenship, I am also committed to strengthening our borders, which allowed 300,000 people to enter this country illegally in 2009. We need to improve border security and implement meaningful employment verification, while humanizing our immigration policies through visa reform and earned legalization and integration for new immigrants. Efforts on both counts are necessary to deal with the reality and enormous scope of our broken immigration policies.

My office regularly works with constituents from the Second District who are struggling with the immigration process for themselves or a loved one. If you have any questions or need help navigating the process, please contact us at (401) 732-9400.

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