What is our Immigration Policy?

Immigrants – people from other countries - make up nearly 10% of the population, and 15% of all workers in Washington. This state in particular has been built and developed by immigrants and their families. Washington is not unique – most other states have similar populations. One would logically assume that our country supports policies that encourage immigrants to come to the United States. However this has not been true for many years, and at this point, it appears that we have no discernible immigration policy.

On the one hand -- millions of immigrants have come illegally, without documents, and have entered the workforce and become part of our communities. As a result, in every community there are families living in the shadows, afraid that the next contact with the police, school or hospital will bring ICE deportation officers to their door. On the other hand, our relative visa policies force other families to endure decades of separation while waiting for a loved one to be able to come to the United States. Additionally, businesses are stymied due to their inability to find enough qualified workers, and are justifiably afraid of government enforcement should they accidentally hire a worker who is unauthorized.

How did this happen? At this time it is estimated that over 12 million undocumented immigrants reside in the U.S. This is a huge number of people who have no options to become legal, and who cannot simply leave the U.S. without great disruption to families and work relationships established over many years. The undocumented or illegal population is just one part of a complex problem. The legal immigration system in place simply cannot handle the demands placed on it by legitimate businesses seeking employees, and by innocent families seeking to reunite with loved ones. Our visa system includes limits set in the 1950s with restrictions added in the 1990s which cannot meet the needs of the economy today.

Our communities of families as well as businesses deserve a better immigration system. What's more important – the country's security depends on the ability to know who is in the U.S., and who should be allowed in or kept outside of the country. There are many factors for all of us to consider.

This summer and fall, President Obama and members of Congress will begin work to reform our immigration laws. Earlier this month one effort, called Reform Immigration for America, or RIFA, launched its campaign. There will be intense lobbying and media campaigns promoting and attacking various plans and proposals. What should you do?

Get Informed. Get Active. We can help.

Here are some websites to review to inform your thinking.

http://www.reformimmigrationforamerica.org/
http://www.aila.org/
http://www.aic.org/
http://www.weareoneamerica.org/