By Karol Brown
The proposed immigration reform bill on its way to the Senate floor would fix our current, broken immigration system. The “Gang of 8” proposal provides a tough but effective path to citizenship for people who are already a part of our community. This reform is good for the economy, and good for families.
The reform bill advocates a merit-based point system that encourages educated, skilled, and entrepreneurial talent to come to America, a boon to business. This legislation would also give points to those who can demonstrate family ties, such as brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens, reuniting families.
Our current complex and convoluted immigration laws forces many of the best and brightest talent from around the world to leave the U.S. and start companies abroad. The current U.S. immigration system intentionally separates husbands from wives, parents from children, brothers from sisters, for years, even when all involved obey the law. And people from China, India, Mexico, or the Philippines must wait even longer, in some cases more than 20 years, for permission to enter the country.
Some argue that foreign workers in H-1B visa status, or the millions of undocumented workers living here, steal our jobs and deny opportunities to Americans. The proposed bill provides for enforceable protections for labor, while encouraging investment and innovation in America that will boost our economy.
One UCLA economic study found that comprehensive immigration reform would generate $1,500,000,000,000 (that’s 1.5 trillion dollars) to the US economy over ten years. Salaries would rise, tax revenue would increase, and the federal deficit would decline, a win-win solution for all concerned. That’s why the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the AFL-CIO and other labor unions, religious communities, and numerous other groups applaud this reform effort.
Congress needs to pass comprehensive immigration reform that meets the needs of our economy and our families. When we treasure the rich diversity that skilled workers and family immigrants bring to our country, the United States can become both more prosperous and more humane.
Karol Brown is an immigration attorney in Bellevue. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard University and a law degree from Yale Law School.
