Immigration

From our founding and at our very core, America has always been a nation of immigrants, documented and undocumented, who have made great contributions to our nation. From their labor building the transcontinental railroad and developing our nation's infrastructure, to their entrepreneurship spurring industry in our early American cities, we should all know by now that 'immigrant' is not a dirty word. Looking toward our future with our aging workforce and social security crisis, we need the contributions of immigrants, now more than ever.

The current immigration system is broken. Because of backlogs and bureaucratic delays, some must wait years, sometimes decades, to reunite with their family members who are eligible to legally immigrate to the United States. Immigrants are often deprived of due process rights that are fundamental to America’s notion of liberty.

Those in detention for civil immigration violations often face inadequate medical care, and we have seen many deaths this past year. We need to bring our undocumented population out of the shadows, so that they can contribute and help rebuild America’s economy, safely and without fear of being separated from their families.

Comprehensive Reform is Needed

A punitive, enforcement-only approach to immigration reform is not the solution. Instead, I believe in humane reform that respects the dignity of immigrant communities and recognizes their contributions to American society, while simultaneously securing our borders. We can make America stronger, not only by protecting our borders, but also by upholding our values and principles and honoring the entrepreneurial spirit of the American dream – with freedom and opportunity on our shores.

It is truly unfortunate that a comprehensive immigration reform bill failed to pass the Senate this Congress. I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure a just, humane and workable immigration system that keeps America safe and thriving.