Six months into the Trump Administration and we are seeing the emergence of proposals for legislative reforms of immigration laws. A reference point for A Republican reform package is Senator Cotton’s 2017 RAISE Act.
The Center for American Progress, a self-described progressive organization, proposes a comprehensive overhaul of the U.S. immigration system. (At this time, view this proposal against Cotton’s RAISE Act.) Key legislative provisions include: modernizing border infrastructure and surveillance; reforming asylum to speed up decisions and bar misuse; expanding legal immigration and green card availability; introducing a points-based visa system; and creating an earned path to citizenship for longtime undocumented residents. The plan also urges Congress to investigate executive overreach in immigration enforcement and to fully fund a fair, efficient legal immigration system that reflects American values and economic needs.
I note three recommendations:
Major overhaul of asylum system, which would restrict who is eligible to apply for asylum and speed up the process of review. “The asylum system has, over time, been abused by human smuggling networks.7 It has become a backdoor way for people to come to the United States and work without valid asylum claims while it takes far too long to render decisions.8 At the same time, Americans must not abandon people with true asylum claims to face death or torture because of who they are or what they believe. Our asylum laws must be modernized, and the system appropriately resourced, so final decisions are rendered in weeks—not years.”
A points based system: “Supplement the existing family-and employment-based system with a new, targeted points-based system driven directly by the labor demands of the U.S. economy. Allocate additional visas based on a regularly updated Department of Labor assessment of shortage occupations and high demand occupations. Other countries, such as Australia and Canada, regularly assess their labor markets and allow applicants to qualify using a points-based system. Award points to applicants according to key characteristics including work experience, occupation, entrepreneurship experience, English language proficiency, and family ties in the United States with a priority given to individuals with a confirmed job offer in the United States. Create a program for states and cities to identify worker shortages in their communities and directly petition for more labor visas.”
Normalization for unauthorized persons: “Establish a secure, fair, workable pathway for longtime undocumented immigrants who have lived in the United States for more than ten years—more than five years for Dreamers—to obtain lawful permanent residence, followed by eligibility to receive citizenship in the future. Bar eligibility for anyone who has committed a serious crime or is a security threat in order to ensure public safety. To qualify for an earned pathway to citizenship, undocumented immigrants must: Pass a thorough criminal and national security background check. Demonstrate continuous presence in the country. Prove economic self-sufficiency. Pay any taxes owed. Pay a fine.”