Issue Position: Prioritizing Immigration Reform

Issue Position

"I strongly support enacting comprehensive immigration-reform legislation that will allow immigrants to earn legal citizenship and help the best and the brightest from around the world to live and thrive in America." -- Stanley Chang

Immigration is a central theme of our nation's history and the main source of its strength. It is also a key part of my story. My parents came to Hawaii from China to seek opportunities for my brother and I -- opportunities that were not available anywhere else in the world. Our economic future depends on our ability to continue attracting hard-working individuals to contribute their talents and strengths to our economy.

I support comprehensive immigration reform that streamlines the immigration process and defines a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants already here.

The problem with our current immigration system is simple -- it's broken. Employers are circumventing the system by hiring undocumented workers; border security measures, although strong, are still in dire need of more funding and improved infrastructure; and more and more undocumented immigrants are being deported. I stand with President Barack Obama and his plan to create an immigration system for the 21stcentury. I support building a system that is reflective of our nation's heritage of laws and immigrants -- one that is fair, effective, and common sense.

We have taken tremendous strides in improving our system. Nearly one year ago, we strengthened security measures at the border by doubling the number of Border Patrol agents, increasing surveillance, and enhancing investigative resources, to name a few. However, there is still so much more to fix within the system. Millions of people are continuously being deported because of a faulty, age-old system that does little to help illegal immigrants gain citizenship. Deportation inevitably tears families apart, costs taxpayers millions of dollars, and hurts our economy.

I strongly support enacting comprehensive immigration-reform legislation that will help immigrants earn legal citizenship and allow the best and the brightest from around the world to live and thrive in America. Such measures include mandating that undocumented immigrants undergo a provisional legal check; requiring that all green card applicants pay taxes, pass criminal background and national security checks, and other such strict requirements; and allowing children of undocumented immigrants the opportunities to earn citizenship.

I am committed to and in strong support of allowing children that are brought to America through illegal, undocumented means, the chance to earn citizenship through an educational-service exchange. The DREAM Act is one such legislation of which I am in firm support. This bill would provide permanent residency to children of undocumented immigrants who either graduated from U.S. high schools, attained higher education, or served honorably in the Armed Forces for at least two years. These children would be given an expedited opportunity to gain legal citizenship.

Overall, America needs an immigration system that is compassionate and avoids tearing families apart who want nothing more than the chance at a better life here in the land of opportunity.

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