Source: American Immigration Lawyers Association
More than at any time in the past decade, momentum is building to enact major reforms to America’s immigration system. As AILA’s Resource Guide on Immigration goes to print, a growing and diverse chorus of voices is calling upon Congress to pass smart, sensible legislation that serves our nation well.
The need for reform could not be more urgent. An outdated visa system keeps people waiting years to reunite with their families. Families are the cornerstone of American society, and families must be able to join loved ones in a reasonable time. At the same time, businesses cannot fill jobs, and entrepreneurs are turning away from the United States to start up enterprises that create jobs. All this hurts our economy and growth. America’s legal immigration system must be reformed to provide a flexible and smoothly functioning system that meets the needs of our families, the economy, and our society.
Reform must find a solution for the estimated 11 million people living, working, and raising their families in this country who are doing so without legal status. They are a part of America—many having lived years in our communities. Yet they are not treated as full members of society. This must change. Immigration reform should include a generous and inclusive legalization program that enables those who are undocumented to apply for green cards and eventually citizenship.
Finally, in the past decade immigration enforcement has increased dramatically and too often is conducted in abusive, unconstitutional, and un-American ways, with little room for discretion or equity. We need an immigration system that upholds the Constitution and core American values of fairness, equality and due process.
Reliable information about immigration law is hard to come by as it is one of the most complex and dynamic areas of law, yet it is also a subject about which everyone seems to have an opinion. Drawing upon the expertise of more than 12,000 members who represent businesses, families, and individuals in every aspect of immigration, AILA provides an unparalleled depth and breadth of knowledge on legislation, regulation, agency practice, and litigation.
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