Our country needs an immigration plan that will grow our economy, raise wages and labor protections for all workers, and strengthen our families and communities. We support legislation that includes:
- A roadmap to citizenship so that immigrants who work hard and aspire to become citizens are not relegated to second-class status.
- A plan that builds the strength and unity of working people.
- A plan that reduces the backlog of immigration cases so that families can be reunited without long waiting periods.
- A plan that prioritizes families; guarantees the same rights, obligations, and basic fairness for all workers, no matter where they come from.
- A plan that keeps businesses competitive.
- A plan that ensures internal and border law enforcement that focuses on preventing drug cartels and other bad actors from entering the U.S. or engaging in criminal activities.
Our support for Comprehensive Immigration Reform is based on the very principles that make our country great:
All Americans come from diverse backgrounds. Out of many cultures, we are a nation of people united in our values: the spirit of hard work, fairness, equality and justice for all.
Our nation was founded upon the very powerful idea that in this land, all people have rights. No matter what you look like or where you came from, everyone should get a fair shot at life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The way that we treat new immigrants should reflect these values that we hold dear as Americans.
New immigrants have always contributed to our communities, our society and our economy. We are all the better for the contributions of these hardworking women and men who are caring for our children and grandparents, supporting local businesses and even serving in our military.
Women and men have always come to America for an opportunity to have a good job, escape political or religious persecution in their own land and make a better life for their families. As Americans we respect that because we believe that families should stick together, that we should look out for each other, and that hard work should be rewarded. What makes you American is how you live your life and what you do—not what you look like or where you come from.
